Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Folding vs no folding tires

Just rcv'd some ribmos and didn't realized they were folding.

What's the difference that I need to be concerned with?

I don't care about weight and I'm not skidding.

no differences other than they are lighter. some say they're easier to mount.

i think.

I find most folding tires to be a pain in the ass to mount and actually prefer steel beads.

Folders are lighter and easier to carry. There isnt a major performance advantage to either one, other than the rotational weight which doesnt matter a whole lot on a road fixed gear.

So, they fit just a securely as wire beaded tires?

yea, i'd like to know as well. i just picked up a maxis refuse tire that was folding, and i've only had wire beads. i'd imagine it'll be exactly the same to mount...

I find most folding tires to be a pain in the ass to mount and actually prefer steel beads.

Without ever have used them, they look to be a pain to get on.

So, they fit just a securely as wire beaded tires?

If they are good quality like the RiBMos, then yes. I have two sets of them as well as 2 sets of folding Pasela TGs, and they all mounted very easily and seated perfectly. If you've never mounted them before, the trick is to unfold them first and inflate a tube inside them off the rim so they take shape before attempting to mount them. Otherwise, they will fight you like a mad snake.

Folders are lighter and easier to carry. There isnt a major performance advantage to either one, other than the rotational weight which doesnt matter a whole lot on a road fixed gear.

Enlighten me as to why rotational weight doesn't matter on a fixed gear?

Right on...thanks for the info.

Throwing them on tonight.

Enlighten me as to why rotational weight doesn't matter on a fixed gear?

Because how heavy your tires are isn't an issue when taking pics of your bike.

I didnt say it didnt matter of a fixed gear, its by far the most important place to loose weight on any race bike(assuming similar aerodynamics, or in track bikes weight is usually more important than aero). But when it comes to riding around on the streets, weight isnt really an issue to be concerned about. After aesthetics, weight is the thing that gets the most time, energy, and money wasted on.

Steel bead: heavier, easier to mount (harder to pinch a tube when inflating, etc)
Folding bead: lighter, slightly more difficult to mount (easier to pinch a tube when inflating)

I didnt say it didnt matter of a fixed gear, its by far the most important place to loose weight on any race bike(assuming similar aerodynamics, or in track bikes weight is usually more important than aero). But when it comes to riding around on the streets, weight isnt really an issue to be concerned about. After aesthetics, weight is the thing that gets the most time, energy, and money wasted on.

Arguably rotational mass is most worthwhile to reduce for people who do a lot of acceleration and deceleration, e.g. riding in traffic (and not breaking traffic law).

If you have two tires that are equally durable, puncture resistant, easy to mount, and cheap then definatly get the lighter one. But I think all of those factors are more important than tire weight for anything youre not racing.

Just like with wire beads some kevlar beaded tires are easieur to mount on certain rims than others. Usually I can get folding tires on faster than wire beaded tires.

On the 930, I really don't care if they are folding or wire, but on the Bianchi... I'll take folding thank you very much or asap, tubulars.

I got my first folder the other week. put it on the first wheel i built myself. Wasn't sure what I did wrong but I couldn't get it on. Finally after about 15 minutes of frustration figured out the trick. So far I'm pretty happy with it. Definitely harder to mount than the wire bead on the same rim, both good quality tires. I'm pretty sure it was only difficult because I'd never dealt with one before.

I find most folding tires to be a pain in the ass to mount and actually prefer steel beads.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only person who feels this way. I don't consider the weight savings worth the increased cost or hassle


Because how heavy your tires are isn't an issue when taking pics of your bike.


there is this too