Mountain Biking - wire or folding tires?

Wire or folding bead tires? It would seem for MTB riding that a folding bead tire would be better because you run low tire pressures and the folding bead can take lower tire pressures. With a wire bead tire, the sidewalls would be stressed as you go over a bump and the sidewalls flex out. A folding bead tire's sidewalls are designed to flex. The folding bead would take the stress of the sidewalls flexing on every bump and undulation. Plus with a folding bead you would get a lower profile tire offering more traction.

You can fold a folding bead tire better than a wire bead. Saves about 60 g per tire. Otherwise not too exciting. Sidewalls and beads are different things, though.

Wire or folding bead tires? It would seem for MTB riding that a folding bead tire would be better because you run low tire pressures and the folding bead can take lower tire pressures. With a wire bead tire, the sidewalls would be stressed as you go over a bump and the sidewalls flex out. A folding bead tire's sidewalls are designed to flex. The folding bead would take the stress of the sidewalls flexing on every bump and undulation. Plus with a folding bead you would get a lower profile tire offering more traction.

Incorrect on all points.

Do explain...

Really depends on what you're looking at. Often when you look at a description for a specific tire, there will be more differences than just the bead.

Let's take the Nevegal XC tires for instance...all the same size tire, yet 4 different applications:

1-DTC/UST F/R 26x2.35 Folding 120 30-50 993±52g $52.99
(dual tread compound / thick casing for tubeless application/kevlar bead)

2-STICK-E F/R 26x2.35 Folding 60 30-50 763±40g $52.99
(squishy tread compound / kevlar bead)

3-DTC F/R 26x2.35 Folding 120 30-50 698±37g $52.99
(dual tread compound / kevlar bead)

4-STICK-E F/R 26x2.35 Wire 60 30-50 1190±69g $52.99
(squishy tread compound / wire bead / 2 ply construction downhill casing)


What kind of terrain are you riding on?
How aggressive do you ride?
How much do you weigh?
Are you smooth or do you ram your bike into everything you see on the trail?

-I usually stick with a 2.35" folding bead DTC tire for all around trail riding. (DTC lasts longer than Stick-E)
-If I were riding chunkier stuff up where the Scrub rolls...I'd most likely be on a slightly larger 2.5" tire with a FR casing for the bigger drops and rocks.
-If I were to ride up in the Pacific Northwest with the elderly...I'd switch to a 1.8" semi-slick non-UST Stan's converted tire and run it at around 20psi for comfort. 15 is a little too low for a 200lb'er like me.

-If I were to ride up in the Pacific Northwest with the elderly...I'd switch to a 1.8" semi-slick non-UST Stan's converted tire and run it at around 20psi for comfort. . .And, pray tell, where in the PNW would you be running this setup? The Burke-Gilman Trail (http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/trails/regionaltrailssystem/burkegilman.aspx)? :lol:

Wherever you guys do your wheelchair races;)

^^ Wherever there' dirt and rocks, man.

http://www.whistler.net/images/bike/events/header.jpg

http://images.go211.com/images/members/F/fourcross/l/366427455.jpg

http://images.go211.com/images/members/F/fourcross/l/542671316.jpg

Damn, Doug, did you crash again? Sorry to see it's more serious this time...

Naw, those are all Stacy Kohut. Whistler has some pretty gnar resident chair racers - - guys and gals.

Naw, those are all Stacy Kohut. Whistler has some pretty gnar resident chair racers - - guys and gals.

I thought he looked familiar, was on the first few NWD discs? I'd like to see Ed keep up with a few of the "geezers" in PNW I've ridden with (or rather tried to keep up with)...

Ed can't keep up with Midwest geezers...let alone PNW Geezgnars.