jodelvalle

Hi,

I am planning to purchase a bike for my daughter. She currently has an old 24" MTB and I was thinking to get her something like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/24-Roadmas...-Bike/21191080

However, I would like to permanently set this bike more like a hybrid, with hybrid or road bike tires. I have not been able to find any hybrid road bike for under $100. She is only 9 years old and will use it around the neighborhood and when we go to a trail we frequent in FL which is a completely paved trail. Can I just replace the tires and use road/hybrid tires and tubes? What would you recommend?

Thanks,

JD

TampaRaleigh

Welcome, JD!

I would say you're on the right track with just replacing the tires and tubes. I don't know exactly what width the rims are on your daughter's bike... but you should certainly be able to find an inexpensive "street" tire that will fit her 24" rims. That would be the least expensive/easiest route to take.

leob1

Get her the bike, let her ride it, as is, if she really, really, really needs smother tires, get them. She's 9, so she'll use it for one or two years before she needs a larger size.
Don't worry about it and ride.

dsbrantjr

If you decide to change the tires, be aware that there are at least 2 different sizes called "24 inch"; ISO 507 and 520. There is also a less-common 540 size. The size you need will be clearly molded into the sidewalls of your present tires.

pierce

the tire selection in 24" is pretty limited. she'll outgrow that bike long before she wears out those stock tires. I put my kids on used bikes as they went through sizes way too fast. My boy started on a 20" 'bmx' style kids bike with a front hand brake, rear coaster, then graduated to a 24" specialized hotrock 'mountain' bike that was like new and $60 at a garage sale, then a older GT mountain bike in a small frame size, taller seat post and bar riser for said GT, then a vintage trek TX series steel road bike that he still has, which I outfitted with a mix of older 105 and ultegra, bar end friction shifters on a 2x8 setup, which he's taken to college with him, along with my old stumpjumper.

wrk101

+1 I see a ton of used kids bikes at thrift stores, garage sales, whatever, and they are always cheap. Something to consider....

ksisler

JD; I am normally not one to recommend any bikes from Wally World or similar department stores... However that one looks pretty good and the price is excellent. I'd say do it. As you have found, not much anywhere under $100... Most folks on these forums would see that as a fair price for a good pair of skewers for their twitchy QR racer boy weight-phobic wheels. So for a relatively decent complete bike. Sure nuff. Now to the other questions... What is the other name for a bike trail that is paved? That would be a sidewalk! So the tires it comes with are more that adequate for such duty. When they eventually wear out, you might consider a tire a bit more exotic, but I don't see any real "riding environment" driven reason. This come from a guy who almost always buys only $80 each tires for all his bikes (by choice).

BTW: Please ensure your rider has a good helmet, padded riding gloves, a water bottle and lots of patient mentoring. I would also put on one of those long fiberglass masts with the hi-visibility flag.

Bill Kapaun

Tire selection is pretty limited in the 24" size.
With minimal searching, it appears a 24x1.75 is about the smallest.

You might look at these-
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/searc...linchwire=true

hybridbkrdr

https://www.niagaracycle.com/index.ph...er_id=&sort=3a

pierce

note there's two different '24"' sizes. one uses fractional (24 x 1-3/8") and the other uses decimal (24 x 1.50"). the fractional ones are ISO 540mm, andt he decimal ones are 507mm. some of those tires are meant for wheel chairs.