Mountain bike tire size and width.
Mountain bike tire width sizes.
Tires come in three diameters.
The sizes you commonly see for mountain bike wheels like 26in 27 5in and 29in all refer to the outside diameter of the wheel with the tire fully inflated.
Once you ve identified your tire diameter 29 27 5 or 26 you ll want to dial in your width.
Tires are also measured in width.
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.
This varies from 1 6 to 2 5 inches.
26 inches 27 5 inches and 29 inches.
Downhill bikes which are meant to withstand the abuse of drops and rock gardens are typically equipped with tires up to 2 5 wide.
Typical mountain bike tire.
A cross country bike will have tires in the 1 9 to 2 25 width range.
Some special tires can even be wider up to 3 inches with some models.