There’s a lot more to tyres than it may at first seem, and fixing one isn’t always as easy as just popping on a new one. The exact types of tyre on your bike will depend on what terrain it is intended for cycling, road and offroad bikes having wildly different tyres. It’s good to have a working knowledge of them so you can change and adjust them on the go.
Tyre: Another fairly self-explanatory one, your tyres are what fit around the wheel as a whole to give you a proper grip on the terrain. The specific type of tyre you’ll want for your bike depends on what you want to use it for, so be aware of the type of terrain you’ll be cycling on and choose appropriate tyres.
Tyre Rim: The rim of the tyre is the metal loop that the rubber tyre itself fits around. These can be made of various materials depending on the type of bike, with some being more lightweight and some being more durable for different types of cycling.
Spoke: The spokes are multiple rods that connect the tyre rims to the hub of the tyre. There are quite a few of them, and it can be a real pain to figure out if one is broken, so take good care of your tyres!
Hub: The hub is the center of the tyre, usually consisting of an axle, bearings and a hub shell. Hub designs can vary depending on the type of bike, but they are essential to the tyres as they basically connect and hold everything together, as the name suggests.
Valve: There are two types of valve your bike will likely use, the more common is called a Schrader valve, and the other type is called a Presta valve. The valve is for inflating your tyres, so it is a good idea to make sure your bike pump is compatible with the type of valve you have or get a universal pump like Rehook AIR that works with both kinds.
If you’d like to learn more about bike parts, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide right here, which covers the bike frame, chain and tyres!
