What is Wheel diameter

Wheel diameter is something to be aware of depending on whether you intend on commuting Read this on a road, touring, cyclocross, mountain or another style bike.

Road, touring and urban bikes will typically feature 700c wheels. Due to their size, these wheels roll well and provide a smooth ride thanks to the increased air volume over smaller wheels.

While you’ll struggle to find variances in the size of road, touring or urban wheels, mountain bikes typically come equipped with either 29in, 27.5in or even 26in wheels.

If you are commuting on a mountain bike, a great option is to purchase a set of ‘slick’ tyres to replace the typical mountain bike tyres that feature a highly pronounced tread pattern and carry additional weight. These are often sold as either urban or touring tyres. Of note, 29in wheels share a tyre diameter with 700c tyres, so your options are plentiful.

Other features
Reflective sidewalls: Visibility is a key consideration when riding on poorly-lit roads so to aid safety many tyres suited to commuting have reflective sidewalls. This increases the chance of other road users seeing you and giving you sufficient space as the reflection is coming from the farthest points of your bike instead of the handlebars or seatpost like traditional lights.

Valve types: Valves are bonded onto tubes in order to be inflated and road tyres have two options; Schrader and Presta. Presta valves (aka – high pressure or ‘French’ valves) are most commonly found on higher-end bikes and are easy to recognise because they are significantly narrower than Schrader valves.

Schrader valves are most commonly found on recreational and entry level road bikes, they are also the same valves used on car tyres. As each valve is different, unique connections at the pump head are often required to pump up the corresponding tyre. Schrader connections require a pin to push down the spring, whereas presta valves are opened via the lock ring. Read our How to Pump Up a Bike Tyre article for more information on valve tyres.

Mudguards and Fenders: These add-ons can make riding in inclement weather much more bearable, shielding you from the spray of water, mud, and grime. The only consideration you need to make is does the mudguard or fender impact the maximum tyre size allowable? There needs to be sufficient clearance for some mudguards so it’s worth checking this before purchase.