Originally Posted by
Andy_K
The big difference between steel and foldable beads is the weight. For the Gatorskins it's only about 50 grams, so that's probably not very important.
There are a couple more differences. Folding bead tires are portable, so you can pack a spare. They're also easier to get on and off your rims. Wire bead tires typically (though not always) have stronger sidewalls. Personally, I prefer folding beads.