On road bicycle tires, what is the difference between folding beads and wire beads?
What are the pros and cons to each? What are the reasons for having one or the other? Which would you recommend?
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July 25th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
The lightest clincher tires have a folding – usually Kevlar – bead. Many manufacturers make otherwise identical tires with a choice of a wire or Kevlar bead. The tire with the wire bead is always a little heavier and less expensive.
If you are racing – road or off-road – the Kevlar bead tire would be lighter. But, unless you are in absolutely top form, the weight difference is meaningless.
If you are riding cross-country with a loaded touring bike, use a wire beaded tire. The wire bead resists stretching a little better and therefore is less prone to blowing off the rim if the tire pressure builds up on a hot day (had it happen on my tandem – learned the hard way).