What To Look For
There are two major divisions for bicycle tires. The first is if you are buying a tire for road use or off-road use. In the latter case, you will want to pay particular condition to surface conditions (rocky, muddy, sandy?) and let that guide your choice of a mountain biking tire and the sort of tread that tire has. The second division is if you are a recreational or a competitive cyclist. Racing cyclists should be buying tubular tires, which are lighter but also more expensive and harder to maintain. Casual cyclists should get clincher tires.
Common Pitfalls
Many casual cyclists who spend most of their time on the road misunderstand their tire treads. For a bicycle tire, the road surface itself offers all the traction your bike needs. Treads on road tires actually increase resistance and reduce speed without offering much in the way of additional grip. Many road tires with treads only have them because of this misunderstanding. If you are buying road tires, try out a "slick" tire with little or no treading.
Where To Buy
Since bicycle tires come in standardized sizes, it pays to use the range of choices available on the Internet to go bargain hunting. The only reasons to go to the bike shop to buy a tire are if you need one right away, are seeking expert advice or simply want to hang out and chat with the owners.
Cost
There is a vast array of mountain, road, clincher and tubular tires on the market, but they are generally affordable. The price range for bicycle tires in 2009 was between $20 and $95.
Comparison Shopping
Mountain bike tire manufacturers with high marks include Bontrager, Hutchinson, Maxxis and Kenda. Kenda's road bike tires also received good reviews from Gear and Bike magazine, as did Vittoria's Diamante tires.
Insider Tips
Another factor to keep in mind for choosing both road and mountain bike tires is the tire's thread count. What holds a tire together is not the rubber, but the thread frame inside it. However, high thread count means less of the rubber that creates the durable cushion of the tire. Tires with 100 threads per inch (TPI) or greater are more supple and lighter, but they also have shorter lifespans. These are the tires that a road racer would want. Tires with lower thread counts are better suited for rough off-road or everyday use.
