Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Folding Bikes
Reload this Page >

24? wheel experience?

Search
Notices
Folding Bikes Discuss the unique features and issues of folding bikes. Also a great place to learn what folding bike will work best for your needs.

24” wheel experience?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-04-25 | 11:44 AM
  #26  
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 574
I not only focus on rolling resistance, there are other advantages for a folding bike and a not folding bike.

For a folding bike, 20" wheels allow to have wider tires that not only roll better but roll smoother on bad road surfaces and of road without having a too big overall wheel diameter that increases the folded size (I am pretty sure that Helix limited the tire width to 40mm to also have a not too big overall wheel diameter and keep the folded size small, the
Helix fork for instance has almost no clearance above the wheels).

Another effect of smaller wheels is reduced wheel inertia that gives a more reactive bike that accelerate faster which is interesting for city riding with a lot of speed variations due to crowded roads and lots of traffic lights.
Lower inertia is also good when there are many uphills and downhills, race road bike uses low rim height and low weight wheels for mountain races to reduce inertia and high height rims, heavier wheels for flat high speed races where cyclist are riding in grouped.
Jipe is offline  
Reply
Old 11-08-25 | 06:59 AM
  #27  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,760
Likes: 2,117
From: Madison, WI

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Originally Posted by Jipe
Yes, true and there are also several touring tires (meant for cargo bikes with ETRTO507 wheels) but all 50mm wide or more.

What is missing is 40mm wide or less high performances tires (there was a Schwalbe Kojak with decent performances when the Helix project was started in 2015, but that size was discontinued by Schwalbe), its the reason why Helix asked a small company to make a special narrow lightweight tire for Helix but, as far as I know, its only available from Helix?

Note also that most BMX tires since they are not meant to be used on open roads have a limited puncture resistance.
I have about four or five spare 507X40 tires, so not buying any more as I think I have a lifetime supply for my Airnimal.

But a quick search found that Airnimal lists a Kenda K-West 507X40 on one of their bikes, my folder is a much earlier version of this bike model that I built up with drop bars:
https://airnimal.co/products/joey/commute

Found that tire at a few suppliers, but would involve tariffs to import them.

And some years ago I bought some Intense tires as spares, have not installed them yet. But a five minute internet search tells me that the company that made Intense is long gone.

So, looks like 507X40 is extremely rare with only one tire model available, that is from Kenda.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Reply
Old 11-08-25 | 09:54 AM
  #28  
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 574
The Kwest is also what Helix mount as standard tire but its a cheap basic rigid 60tpi city tire and its not listed on the Kenda website anymore.
Jipe is offline  
Reply
Old 11-08-25 | 12:31 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,760
Likes: 2,117
From: Madison, WI

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Originally Posted by Jipe
The Kwest is also what Helix mount as standard tire but its a cheap basic rigid 60tpi city tire and its not listed on the Kenda website anymore.
Then I am glad I bought extras when I realized how rare that size is.

Thanks.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Reply
Old 11-08-25 | 03:52 PM
  #30  
Senior Member
5 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 574
While searching for the Kwest on the Kenda website (didn't find it?), I found two narrow BMX tires in ETRTO507 the Konversion Pro 40x507 and the Happy Medium Pro CX 32x407 but both without puncture protection so not really for road use.
Jipe is offline  
Reply
Old 11-08-25 | 05:57 PM
  #31  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,760
Likes: 2,117
From: Madison, WI

Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.

Originally Posted by Jipe
While searching for the Kwest on the Kenda website (didn't find it?), I found two narrow BMX tires in ETRTO507 the Konversion Pro 40x507 and the Happy Medium Pro CX 32x407 but both without puncture protection so not really for road use.
Thanks for checking, but I use that bike so little that I am sure I have a lifetime supply of tires. Not buying any more.
Tourist in MSN is offline  
Reply

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.