
A Guide to Bike Tire Sizes
- Traditional Sizing Systems. The traditional sizing systems were based on the measurement of the outside of diameter of the tire, so it would be listed as diameter x width.
- The ISO. ...
- Tire Diameter. ...
- Tire Width. ...
How to measure bike tire size [5 steps]?
Wait...What do the Numbers Mean?
- Stand the bike up using a kickstand, or just lean it against a wall.
- Diameter. Place a tape measure against the center of the bicycle wheel, and then extend the tape in a straight line towards the tire’s outer edge.
- Width. Measuring width is just as easy. ...
- Now all that’s left to do is to combine the measurements. ...
What is the best tire size for a mountain bike?
What’s the Difference Between 26″, 27.5″ and 29″ Mountain Bike Wheels?
- 26″ mountain bike wheels were the old standard. For years, 26″ wheels were the only option for mountain bikes, until 29″ wheels came along and changed the game completely. ...
- 27.5″ mountain bike wheels are the new standard. ...
- 29″ mountain bike wheels are heavier and accelerate slower, but have a larger contact patch, meaning they have superior grip. ...
What is the standard tire size for road bikes?
Road bike-style commuting bikes might accept a tyre of around 28mm width, often with space for mudguards, but some commuting bikes, and those based on mountain bikes, will take up to a 44mm tyre. To help you choose the right tyre for your bike, tyres are made to a common standard, so you can easily find a tyre to fit your wheels.
How to measure a bike tire?
ways to measure your tire.
- The standard method. Lean the bike against a wall or use the kickstand to keep it upright. ...
- The ISO method. Check to see if the ISO standard is used to measure the wheels on your bike. ...
- Calculate the circumference of the bike's wheel. Take a circumferential measurement. ...
- Check Bike's Manual. ...

What does 700c mean for bike tires?
700C tires The "700" refers to the rough outer diameter of the tire, although the actual outer diameter will vary greatly, depending on the type of tire and tread pattern. The "C" means NOTHING; it does not stand for "centimeters." Think about it--a 700-centimeter tire would be HUGE, over 21 feet tall!
Are 27 wheels the same as 700c?
No, a 28" tire is 700c generally, but a 27" tire will not fit. Tubes, on the other hand, will work just fine. Show activity on this post. 700 c tire will is too small to put on 27" rim...
How do I know what size tire my bike needs?
Check your tire's sidewall—the numbers there indicate your tire size (roughly its outer diameter and its width, but not always in that order). Typical road bike tire: 700 x 32c indicates a tire that has an outer diameter of 700mm and a width of 32mm.
What size is a 700c bike tire?
700c. A standard road tire is 700c x 23mm, indicating a tire diameter of approximately 700mm and a width of 23mm. When shopping for road tires, you'll look for 700c x your preferred width, 23mm being the slimmest option and going up to 36mm.
Which is bigger 27 or 700c?
The rim diameter of a 700c wheel is actually slightly smaller than that of a '27inch'. 700c bead diameter is 622mm whereas 27" bead diameter is 630mm.
Can you put 27.5 tires on a 700c?
On 700c wheels, maximum tire clearance on frames usually hovers around 40 mm while frames that can take 650b wheels can then accommodate 2.1″ (53mm) or even 2.2″ (56 mm) tires. Knolly gives you options to run up to 700×45 tires or 27.5×2.1″ on its Cache, and still have clearance for fenders.
What does 700x32c mean?
Here's the simple answer: At its most basic, a 700x32c tire is around 27 1/2 inches by 1 1/4 inches (or 1.26 inches).
IS 700C the same as 29?
29" (ISO size 622) is actually the same rim diameter as 700C, although most 29" tires will not fit 700C road rims because they're too wide. 29" tires are popular with mountain bikers; search for 29" MTB. 650B (ISO size 584) is used for some randonneur bikes and other specialized bikes.
What size bike do I need for my height?
Fitness And Hybrid Bike Size ChartRider HeightSuggested Frame SizeFeet and InchesCentimetersInches5' 1" - 5' 5"155 - 16515 - 165' 5" - 5' 9"165 - 17517 - 185' 9" - 6' 0"175 - 18319 - 203 more rows
Which is bigger 700C or 29er?
29er wheels are just wider 700C wheels. Same diameter as a road bike.
What does 700x38c mean?
700x38c is the size of your bicycle tire. 700 is the nominal diameter of the tire in millimeters. 38 is the width of the tire (as seen if you were looking at your bike from the front/back). C refers to the old French system of classifying wheels according to their Bead Seat Diameter.
Are 700C and 26 the same?
What Is The Difference Between a 26 Inch and a 700c Wheel? This brings us around back to the same answer; they are the same diameter, but a 26-inch tire will fit onto a 700c rim but not the other way around because of the difference in rim thickness.
What is the difference between 27.5 and 700C?
27.5”/650B rims have a bead seat diameter of 584mm, and 29”/700C rims have a bead seat diameter of 622mm. Adding to the confusion, and counter to what the industry might lead you to believe, 650B is nothing new. It's actually been around for quite some time (see boxout below).
Is 28 inch the same as 700C?
28”/700C/29er The tyres can differ, but the 28”, 700C and 29er are all the exact same rim diameter. The 700 markings will be followed by the width in mm, and the 28 or 29 markings will be followed by the width in inches. This is the most common wheel size, so look out for familiar markings (such as 28x1.
What is the difference between 700C and 26 inch wheels?
A 26 inch, or a 650c wheel is about 1 inch smaller (about 2 inches smaller with road slicks) in diameter than a 700c. On smaller bikes, that 2 inches is a big help in building the perfect size without sacrificing performance.
How many inches is 700C?
27.5 inchesThe most straightforward answer to “700c to Inches” is that 700c equals 27.5 inches. But unfortunately, as you'll see in the table below, it's not as straightforward as that. If you simply bought a random set of 27.5″ tires, they probably wouldn't fit your bike as wider tires require more clearance.
How wide should a bicycle tire be?
Tips regarding bicycle tire and rim sizes: Generally speaking, the width of the tire should remain within the interval obtained by multiplying the inner width of the rim with 1.45 and, respectively, 2.
What size tire fits a 29er rim?
Therefore, a 20-622 tire is a tire 20mm wide that fits on a rim with 622mm in diameter (typically a road bike rim or a 29er one). Also, the rim’s diameter expressed in this manner coincides with the inner diameter of the tire. There is also the French system that measures the sizes we’re talking about – 700x20C.
What is a 20-622 tire?
Therefore, a 20-622 tire is a tire 20mm wide that fits on a rim with 622mm in diameter (typically a road bike rim or a 29er one). Also, the rim’s diameter expressed in this manner coincides with the inner diameter of the tire.
What does the letter "D" mean on a tire?
The first number reffers to the tire’s outer diameter in millimeters, the second number the tire’s width in millimeters, while the letter stands for a certain rim width, A being the narrowest, and D the widest. Currently, this system is used less and less since it became possible to mount tires on rims of virtually any width.
What happens if a tire is too wide?
If the tire you mounted is too wide for the rim, then you risk damaging the tire’s side walls if you have V-brakes, or you risk the tire simply coming off the wheel in stressful conditions.
What happens if you squeeze a tire?
If you squeeze a tire so that its lateral ends completely stretch apart, the distance between those 2 ends should be equal to the width of the tire expressed in the ETRTO standard multiplied by 2.5. If the tire you mounted is too narrow for the rim, then you risk damaging the 2 components, as well as yourself.
How to find the right size bicycle tire?
If you are unsure of your bicycle tire size, you can look into a bicycle tire table where you can easily and simply find just the tires that fit your bike. Most lists the tire size both English, French and German targets and rim circumference in millimeters. This means that you can easily find the right tire size, although it is a Danish number.
How many differances are there in a 16x75 tyre?
Could I fit a 16 x 75 tyre , as there is only 1/8 differance
What size tires are on a 1967 Raleigh?
I have michelin tyres on my 1967 junior Raleigh racing bike. the size is 22 x 63.
What size wheels are 700 x 35C?
The first set (700 x 35C) gives you an answer. 700 size wheels with 35″ width. 28 is another way of representing that 700 designation. (see http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html)
Is 700x35C the same size as 700x37C?
700x35C and 700x37C are the same size. The reference is just different. My tyres have mixed references 37-622 (700x35C).
Can you buy studded tires for BMX?
It ‘ll come as no surprise that there are bicycle tires in many different forms. There are big differences in pattern, size and above target. You can buy everything from studded tires and tires for BMX bikes to regular tires with a different pattern for adult and children’s bikes.
What are the sizes of road bike tires?
Road bike tires generally come in three widths: 23c, 25c, and 28c (their width in mm). The letter at the end of a tire size is a throwback to an old French system when the letters a, b and c designated different inner tire diameters – it DOES NOT stand for cm.
What is the sizing of a tire?
The traditional sizing systems were based on the measurement of the outside of diameter of the tire, so it would be listed as diameter x width . However, the evolution of tires and rims has made these measures inaccurate when it comes to compatibility. Each manufacturer had their own set of sizing standards that only applied to their bikes, so it was hard to buy tires, tubes, and wheels from different manufacturers with confidence that they would be compatible.
What is the ISO of tires?
The ISO. To remove the headache that was trying to decipher manufacturer’s varied measurements, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created a system to regulate tire measurement. Most new tires will now show the ISO measurement of: width x diameter.
What happens to the width of a tire?
Tire Width. The second, smaller number is the tire’s width. As the width increases, the tire will have more contact surface with the road , making it more stable and comfortable. As the width decreases , there is less rolling resistance or friction, and therefore is faster.
What is the best width for a bike?
Generally speaking, a width of 25mm will work for most riders. They are widely recognized as the best compromise between comfort, weight and performance. Racers will opt for a smaller width, or if you’re tackling rougher roads, going up to 28mm may be the best option.
Can you replace a tire with a number?
In most cases, if you’re replacing a tire you can just look at the numbers on the old one and match them. However, this can become an issue if the old tire isn’t available, or if you’re not sure which number to go off.
Is there a standard system for marking bike tire sizes?
It doesn’t help that in the early days of cycling , there was no standard system for marking the sizes. Here’s what you need to know about bike tire sizes.
How many tire sizes are there?
The following table shows all common tire sizes This table lists, where applicable, a corresponding ETRTO-size for virtually every tire size.
What is the diameter of a 29 inch MTB tire?
When the 29 inch MTB tire size was introduced a few years ago it had the same inner diameter of 622mm, known as 28″ in Europe.
What is the size of a 26 inch tire?
For example, diameters 559 mm (MTB), 571 mm (Triathlon) and 590 mm (Touring) are all classified as 26 inch. Tires with diameters 622 mm and 635 mm are both classified as 28-inch. Oddly enough, tires with an inner diameter of 630 mm are classified as 27-inch.
What is the diameter of an ETRTO tire?
The ETRTO size specification 37-622 indicates the width of 37 mm and the tire inner diameter of 622 mm. This dimension is clear and allows for precise classification of the rim size.
How do you read bike tire sizes?
The diameter of your wheel is shown by the first digit. Tire diameters in sizes such as 26, 24, 20, 27.5, 29, and 700c are commonly used. The width of your tire is represented by the second digit (after the X). For the most part, the widths are between one and three inches wide.
What do the 3 numbers mean on tire size?
It is the breadth of a tire measured in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall that is known as the tire width. The width of the tire is represented by the first three digits of the tire size code. For example, the breadth of a tire with a size of P215/65 R15 is 215 millimeters wide.
What does 700 mean on a bike tire?
A number of European-style cruiser motorcycles are equipped with 700C tires as well. The number “700” refers to the approximate outer diameter of the tire, however the actual outer diameter will vary widely depending on the kind of tire and tread pattern used in the construction.
Is 27.5 the same as 700c?
In the same way that a 700C wheel has the same diameter as a 29″ (29er) wheel, a 650B rim has the exact same diameter as a 27.5″ (29er) rim. Wheels have bead seats of 584mm in diameter on 27.5″/650B rims and 622mm in diameter on 29″/700C rims feature bead seats of 584mm in diameter on 27.5″/650B rims.
Can I use 60 instead of 65 tires?
In fact, the only major variation will be a shift in what is considered a reasonable ratio between tread width and sidewall height. If the middle number is lower than one, it indicates a lower tire profile, and if it is more than one, it indicates a greater tire profile.
Can I put 29er wheels on a 700c bike?
A 700C tire will fit on a 29-inch rim without the need for any additional width or casing length changes. A 29-inch wheel is the same as a 700C wheel in terms of diameter. In fact, a 29-inch tire will fit on your 700C wheel without the need to adjust the width or length of the wheel at all.
Can I put 700c wheels on a mountain bike?
You may use 700c wheels on mountain bikes made for 26- inch MTB wheels, but you will have a restricted selection of tires to choose from in this situation. These bikes have the least clearance, and their fork arches and chainstay bridges are only capable of supporting 700c wheels that are not too large in diameter. This happens to be the standard tire size for road bikes, and it is the most common size available.
How to find the right size bike tire?
Tire dimensions can be complicated, but you have a straightforward way to find out the size of your current tire: Check your tire’s sidewall—the numbers there indicate your tire size (roughly its outer diameter and its width, but not always in that order).
What size tires are on a mountain bike?
A tire size you might see on a mountain bike: 29 x 2.3 indicates a tire with a 29" outer diameter and a 2.3" width. A tire size you might see on a road bike: 700x25c indicates a tire with a 700mm outer diameter and a 25mm width. A third type of tire size might appear on either a mountain or a road tire:
How wide are road bikes?
Downhill bikes: up to 2.5" wide. Road bike tires: Most road bikes have a 700mm outer diameter, with widths starting at 23mm. Most road tire widths are less than 30mm, but you can also find tires as wide as 45mm on bikes intended for gravel roads.
How to tell when it's time to get a new bike tire?
Your bike’s handling has gotten noticeably worse. Your tire tread appears rounded or uneven. You notice a thread pattern (hashtags) on the sidewall of the tire.
What is a 700x32c tire?
Typical road bike tire: 700 x 32c indicates a tire that has an outer diameter of 700mm and a width of 32mm. (Note that the “c” does not stand for centimeters; it’s a holdover from an old French system that designated tire sizes using the letters a, b and c.)
Why fold a bike tire?
A big reason to get a foldable tire is to save weight. Because it can be folded up, storing and carrying the tire is also easy.
What is the tread pattern on a mountain bike?
On mountain bike tires, the tread consists of a wide variety of knob patterns. On road bikes, the tread pattern ranges from none (slicks) to more subtle grooved patterns. Below is an overview of types of tread. Translating all of that into the type of tire you need, though, is less straightforward.
What is the perfect number for how to determine bike size?
Stack and reach is the perfect number for how to determine bike size.
How to measure bike frame size?
To measure your bike’s frame size, take a measuring tape and place the tape in the center bolt of your bike’s cranks. If it is just the frame, this will be the center point in the bottom bracket shell. Now run the measuring tape up your seat tube. When you reach the end of the seat tube, you have your frame size.
How to find the size of a bike frame?
If you want to know the sums then to find your road bike frame size, take your inseam length in centimeters and multiply it by 0.70. For a hybrid bike, take your inseam and multiply it by 0.69. For mountain bikes, take the same measurement and multiply 0.6, you will then need to change the centimeters into inches.
How to measure inseam length?
How to Measure Your Inseam Length 1 Find a nice wall. 2 Stand with your back against the wall, as flat as possible and with no shoes or socks. 3 Place your feet shoulder width apart 4 Take your book and run it up to the top of your inner legs. 5 Get your friend to measure from the top of the book to the floor. 6 You have your inseam length, and it will more than likely not be the same as your trouser leg measurement.
How many wheels does a mountain bike have?
Mountains bikes now come in three different wheel sizes. You can find them with 26” wheels, 27.5” wheels, or 29” wheels. If all three have a 15” frame, there will be a height difference between them due to their wheel size. Bike frames are measured from the middle of their bottom bracket to the end of their seat tube.
How are adult bikes measured?
What you will see in these charts is that adult bikes are generally measured by their bicycle frame size. Wheel size is a very important metric if you are a child because you need to be able to stand over your bike if you want to ride it, and wheels that are too big won’t let you do that.
Is the inseam length the same as the leg length?
You have your inseam length, and it will more than likely not be the same as your trouser leg measurement.
