The Three Types of Bicycle Tyres Explained

Many cyclists take their tyres for granted. After all, it's just a small piece of rubber that touches the ground per tyre. However, when you consider that in order to perfectly balance the bicycle on two wheels at car-like speed, your tyres need to have a solid grip, especially on rain-slick concrete or muddy backcountry trains, you'll start to appreciate the work that your tyres put in more. And while handling, traction and control are imperative, tyres also need to offer decent wear, resist punctures, withstand rain, sunshine, ozone, and survive the abuse you put it through on a daily basis.

Luckily, nowadays, there are many manufacturers that offer a wide range of cycle tyres for sale that check all of the aforementioned boxes. From built-in armour that protects against punctures, to supple casings that conform the road surface for outstanding handling, modern tyres offer a wide range of benefits and features. Nowadays, you'll come across three different types of cycle tyres for sale - tubeless, tyres with tubes and tubular tyres.
Most bicycles use tyres with tubes. The tube is made of rubber, features a valve through which it's inflated, and is just the right shape and size to fit inside the tyre. When inflating or deflating such a tyre, you're pumping air into the tube that's inside the tyre, which fills the tyre. If you get a flat tyre, all you have to do is remove the tyre and replace the tube.

Tubeless tyres, on the other hand, are similar in design to automobile tyres. Tubeless tyres feature a tyre-rim system to seal the tyre and keep the air inside. The advantage of these tyres is their ability to run lower pressures with little to no risk of flattening, even when riding on extreme terrain, which is incredibly important for having smooth rides and more control. And due to the fact that there's no tube inside the tyre, the tyre is the only thing you feel. However, repairing this type of tyres requires a special repair kit.
Lastly, tubular tyres can be found on high-end road bikes, and they're specifically designed fo racing. Their name comes from the fact that they feature a round, tubular profile. Tubular tyres require a special type of rims that have a flat surface on top, as the tyres are glued onto the rims when they're being installed. When you flatten a tubular tyre, you don't repair it, you just peel it off and install a new one.