Road Bike Vs Mountain Bike Wheel Size

These widely used measurements refer to the tire s diameter and are typically paired with a tire width in inches when written out i e.
Road bike vs mountain bike wheel size. Mountain bike size chart. 29 x 2 0. Bikes wheels come in a wide range of sizes including 16 18 20 24 26 and 29 inch. A hybrid of road and mountain tires cyclocross tires are labeled as 700c and have widths indicated in millimeters like road bikes yet are knobbie like mountain bike tires.
The size is still referred to as 650b when used on road or gravel bikes but it has also been adopted and renamed by the mountain bike industry. There are multiple tires to consider and it s important to understand tire size. And right behind those big 29ers are wheels of yet another size. While 26 inch wheels are still considered the standard for mountain bikes 29 inch wheels are fast on their heels.
Bike frame sizes are most commonly listed in centimetres e g. In general smaller wheels accelerate faster and are more responsive. The sizes you commonly see for mountain bike wheels like 26in 27 5in and 29in all refer to the outside diameter of the wheel with the tire fully inflated. Answer a road bike needs to be comfortable sized for the rider when mounted a mtb needs to be slightly physically smaller to be moved around by the.
Whether you are mountain biking on dry trails in utah or through the waterfalls of iceland having the right tires is crucial for the best riding experience. 27 5 also know as 650b or 29 called 29ers with traditional 26 wheels reserved for dirt jump freeride and kids bikes. Sometimes referred to as 650b the 27 5 inch wheel fits right in between the 26 and 29 inch offerings. 48cm 54cm inches e g.
Other bicycle wheel size options. In recent years mountain bikes have been moving toward larger wheels and when 650b was re purposed for off road it became known as 27 5. Most mountain bikes today are offered in one of two wheel sizes. Conversely on a mtb you want to be able to move the bike and body so they re in the right places relative to the ground for balance and applying force to the bike through the bike to the ground.
Mountain bike sizing can be affected by suspension and your tire choices. For standard hardtails our mountain bike size chart should be a god send. So make sure you look at a tire size chart and try a full suspension mountain bike for size before buying. As a general starting point bike sizes are.
Larger wheels tend to maintain speed better. These sizes can be thought of as a sort of shorthand for decimal sizes each with a corresponding iso measurement. Each size has its own set of pros and cons.