Folding bead vs. wire bead MTB tires. When looking to buy a mountain bike tire there are many options that can make it difficult when trying to choose the right one. With different compounds, tread patterns, casing options, and more, it can be hard to break it all down. We’ve decided to compare the differences of folding bead and wire bead tires in the following article to make it a little easier.
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The terms “folding bead” and “wire bead” refer to the construction of the tire bead. The tire bead is the part of the tire that interfaces with the rim of the wheel. The bead’s primary function is to maintain the connection between the tire and the rim, preventing the tire from coming off during use. Both folding bead and wire bead are used in mountain bike tires, and each has its own advantages and considerations. You can see where the bead is located on the image below.
The folding bead is typically made from materials like Kevlar or other lightweight and flexible materials. The key characteristic of a folding bead is its ability to be folded or rolled up. This makes the tire more portable and convenient for transportation and storage.
Material: Folding beads are commonly constructed from Kevlar, a high-strength synthetic fiber, or other lightweight and flexible materials. These materials offer the necessary strength and flexibility to allow the tire to be folded without compromising its integrity.
Portability: One of the primary advantages of folding bead tires is their portability. The ability to fold the tire makes it more compact, making it easier to carry as a spare or to transport when traveling with your bike.
Weight: Folding bead tires are generally lighter than their wire bead counterparts. This weight savings can be particularly important for riders who prioritize a lighter overall bike setup, such as those involved in cross-country racing or riders looking to reduce rotational weight.
Performance: Folding bead tires often have a more supple feel, providing better traction and a smoother ride compared to some wire bead tires. The flexibility of the bead can contribute to a tire that conforms better to the terrain, enhancing the overall performance.
Mounting and Dismounting: The flexibility of folding bead tires can make them easier to mount and dismount compared to some wire bead tires. This can be an advantage, especially when dealing with trailside repairs or changing tires.
It’s important to note that while folding bead tires have these advantages, they may come at a higher cost compared to tires with wire beads. When choosing MTB tires, riders should consider factors such as weight, portability, and performance based on their specific riding preferences and needs.
The wire bead is typically made from steel wires, and it provides a rigid and durable structure. Unlike folding beads, wire beads are not designed to be folded or rolled up.
Material: The bead of a wire bead tire is typically made of one or more steel wires. This provides a rigid and durable structure, ensuring that the tire maintains its shape and stays securely attached to the rim.
Construction: The steel wires are typically formed into a ring or a loop at each edge of the tire, creating the bead. Unlike folding bead tires, wire bead tires do not have a flexible or foldable bead. The rigid nature of the wire bead contributes to the stability of the tire.
Durability: Wire bead tires are known for their durability and resistance to deformation. The steel bead adds strength to the tire, making it less susceptible to damage during aggressive riding, impacts, or encounters with rough terrain.
Weight: Wire bead tires are generally heavier than tires with folding beads. The weight of the steel bead can contribute to the overall weight of the tire. This may be a consideration for riders who prioritize a lighter bike setup.
Cost: Wire bead tires are often more budget-friendly compared to tires with folding beads. This makes them a popular choice for riders looking for reliable and durable tires without the additional cost associated with certain premium features.
Riding Style: Wire bead tires are commonly used in disciplines where durability and reliability are paramount, such as downhill mountain biking or enduro riding. The sturdy construction of wire bead tires makes them suitable for handling the challenges and impacts encountered in these more demanding riding conditions.
While wire bead tires may be heavier compared to folding bead tires, they are valued for their robustness and cost-effectiveness. Riders often choose wire bead tires when durability and performance in challenging conditions are more critical than reducing the overall weight of the bike.
When choosing between wire bead and folding bead MTB tires, riders should consider factors such as durability, cost, and the specific demands of their riding style. While wire bead tires may be heavier, they offer robustness and reliability. This makes them a suitable choice for riders tackling challenging trails and terrains. On the other hand, folding bead tires will be lighter, more portable, and provide better traction. The better traction will typically lead to a smoother ride.
In recent years it seems more and more brands are producing folding bead tires as opposed to wire bead tires. Folding bead tires are lighter, as well as easier and more cost efficient to transport. They are also considered to be the superior racing option because of their ‘premium’ Kevlar construction. With Kevlar being lightweight it helps in reducing rotational weight, which leads to quicker acceleration.
Looking for a new mountain bike tire? We have a large variety of folding bead tires in stock from Maxxis, Continental, and Schwalbe. Over 70 tire models available from these three brands. Click here to shop our full tire selection. Remember that we offer free shipping on all orders over $149CAD. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 business hours as well.
Spend less and ride the best with TBS Bike Parts.
For more information, please visit Tire Bead Wire.
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When tire shopping for the first time, you'll notice a stark price difference between two seemingly identical tire models.
Today we seek to clarify a key aspect of the tire purchasing process. In this article, we will showcase the difference between a Wired tire and Foldable tire, explaining the reasons for the cost difference as well as the potential performance gains.
The primary difference between a Foldable tire and a Wired tire comes in the construction of the tire’s bead. The Tire Bead is a technical term for the inner edge that sits against the Wheel / Rim upon installation.
In the image above, the yellow strands exiting the tire’s bead represent the Kevlar material. For now, you can ignore the TPI metric. That is a topic for another time and does not pertain to the Foldable vs. Wired tire conversation.
Folding tires feature a bead produced from Kevlar. The Kevlar material is extremely lightweight and flexible. You can easily identify a foldable tire through its packaging as they can be neatly folded up (hence the name). The Kevlar material produces a more pliable tire allowing it to conform into shapes like the image below.
Wired tires features a steel wire bead. These tires offer more rigidity and are incapable of folding. Unlike Kevlar, Steel is a heavier and stiffer material causing Wire tires to weigh a bit more than folding tires. The difference in weight is considered the primary drawback of Wired tires.
Folding tires are considered to be the superior racing option because of their ‘premium’ Kevlar construction. The Kevlar bead produces a lighter tire, which assist in reducing Rotational weight. This is attractive to racers because lighter tires accelerate quicker. Similar to most things on a race bike, Lighter = Faster!
On the other hand, Wired tires provide more rigidity thanks to the stiffer steel bead. However, it’s hard for a wired tire to compete with a folding tire in terms of performance. As you’ll soon learn, Wired tires have their advantages outside of pure performance though.
Wired tires are considerably cheaper than Foldable tires. The simplicity of the steel tire bead cuts down on manufacturing cost producing a cheaper tire. As a result, you get a tire that is nearly identical to it’s more expensive Foldable sibling but at a cheaper price.
For some racers, the sheer difference in price may be the sole reason they choose Wired over Foldable.
Keep in mind that the performance benefits between the two tire beads is nearly negligible on track. there is a difference, but it’s pretty damn hard to notice a few 100 grams during the heat of battle. If you’re wondering on which to buy, that answer depends on your budget and the goal of your build.
Budget conscious riders will be more incline to pick up Wired tires. With the continually increasing cost of tires these days, it may be best to purchase quantity over quality. With the performance benefits being so marginal on track, some might seek value over performance.
On the other hand…
If your goal is to build the lightest race bike out there, then foldable is the way. Toe-to-toe, foldable tires are the superior choice, hence the price hike. If you’ve already invested into an expensive wheel set and use lightweight tubes like tubolitos; you should stick to folding because steel beads will counteract the performance benefits you're seeking with the expensive tubes/wheels. If the budget allows for it, then foldable is usually the way to go.
Ultimately you will have to decide for yourself. You can save a few bucks by purchasing a slightly heavier tire, or you can spend a little bit more and get the lightest tire possible! Regardless of which you choose, we have a full collection of the industry’s best tire models and manufactures. Click here to browse all the tires we have in stock or get in touch with us for any questions concerning BMX Racing.
Full Tilt Bike Co. is a specialty race shop based out of Minnesota. We’re rider owned and operated, sourcing many of the latest bmx racing products. You can catch us at the USA BMX nationals supplying racers nationwide.
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