Before You Buy Vol. 5 Tires
Okay, we have touched on this in the past. We need to revisit and expand on the topic. This is not about mtb’s. Most of my customers seldom seldom ride anything more off road than hard pack clay or loose gravel.
Most who come to me for an e-bike conversion are riding a mountain bike or something else with marshmallow tires that harken back to the balloon tires of the 50’s. Yes, they are still more efficient and reliable than factory e-bikes, but they could be so much more.
Let’s debunk some myths. Fatrer tires are not more puncture resistant. In fact fat bike tires are most susceptible to punctures. If they weren’t thinner rubber, with a wide contact patch to pick up everything, you couldn’t pedal them and they would not have much grip on the trail. The same can be said for any half way decent tire over 2″ wide.
Wider tires are not more stable and do not handle better. We are on relatively light bikes, not in heavy cars. Our sidewalls are tall, not low profile. Wide tires may inspire confidence, but they actually squirm more. They can be more comfy, but ride quality is better determined by your frame and fork geometry (not suspension) rather than by tires.
Wider tires have taller, softer sidewalls. This is helpful on varied surface trails, sand and even some heavy gravel. When you turn on pavement squirm can cause your bike to lurch. When stopping, they shift even more weight to the front causing dive and longer stopping distances.
Yes, racers are going to very slightly wider tires on rougher rides. This improves performance by reducing fatigue. These are tires under 30c, not racing to hybrid tires. The extra rolling resistance is greater than ride fatigue on bikes without racing geometry.
When e-bike customers chose Wider, heavier tires, they are choosing sluggish acceleration and dramatically shorter range. When Chef Chris switched from mtb tires to basically gravel tires, he gained more than 2mph with the same effort. They greatly extend his range now that his is an e-bike.
Today there are more puncture resistant tires. I have not had a flat in 16000 miles. Still, the most puncture resistant tires are heavier and ride rougher. The best way to avoid flats is to stay away from the edge of the road. There is not enough room for you and a motor vehicle in the same lane. If a motorist knows they must change lanes to pass, it is easier and safer for you both.
It is not often I recommend an e-biker consult their bike mechanic about their e-bike. This is one time when lycra lads can be a big help. They can show you the tire that will give you the best ride without compromising range or performance. Let us know where and how you intend to ride as well as any concerns about range or performance.