Most riders don’t spend a lot of time thinking about whether their bike is equipped with folding bead vs wire bead tires. Our focus tends to be on: “Hey, what’s going to hold up best for the longest amount of riding time?”
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When I first started cycling several years ago, I had no idea what folding bead or wire bead meant. I just wanted to enjoy my rides without thinking about anything else. But different types of tires can make a difference in how our rides feel, which affects how long we want to be out on the trail or the road. And for those newer to cycling, the “bead” is the part of the tire that touches the rim. So let’s dive into the meat and potatoes of our tires.
Kevlar, that strong, flexible, versatile wonder material, is the key component of folded bead tires, the part that makes them “foldable.” Folding bead tires are sold folded up; whereas wire bead tires cannot be folded because they are made with steel wire. This material makes them very stiff. They resemble hula hoops when you see them in a bike shop.
Folded bead tires are manufactured with softer rubber compounds. Softer tires can provide greater traction. These tires are ideal for wet, rough, and/or muddy riding conditions. However, because they are softer, they will wear out faster, which means the need to be replaced more frequently.
Wire bead tires are made with what’s called a dual compound rubber. Dual compound rubber greatly improves the life expectancy of the wire bead tire. The center line of the tire that most often touches the road is the stiffer, more typical rubber compound that can enhance traction. The sides of wire bead tires are made of a softer rubber that enhances cornering maneuvers.
Tire flexibility makes a difference in the way they’re packaged and how they’re stowed for travel. If you’re planning a long-distance bike trip, you’ll likely require more than just extra tubes. You’ll probably also want extra tires, just in case. Folding bead tires are much more flexible and are easily packed. A wire bead tire is just too stiff for packing.
Folding bead tires weigh about 2 ounces less than wire bead tires, which is an added bonus for traveling. Lighter weight can also equate to better performance, because you’re using less energy and effort to pedal. For some riders, that extra 4 ounces with wire bead tires for riding won’t necessarily make that much difference.
Folding bead tires usually cost more than wire bead tires because Kevlar and softer rubber compounds are premium materials. Riders who prefer folding bead tires testify that the higher price is worth it for a better riding experience. However, other riders may not notice the difference in the ride quality.
Tubeless technology is exactly how it sounds—installing the tire directly onto the rim without a tube. Instead, the tire is designed to create an airtight seal with the rim. Sealant is applied to help maintain that seal if and when the tire experiences punctures. Many riders are choosing to go tubeless with their tire set up nowadays. Tubeless is pretty much the default for mid to high end mountain bikes, gravel bikes, and is even becoming more common in road bikes.
In order to ride without tubes, the tire must be what is commonly referred to as tubeless compatible or tubeless ready. It’s important to note that very few wire bead tires are tubeless ready. Therefore, if you plan to set up your bike with tubeless tires, foldable tires will most likely be your go-to option.
The choice between folding bead vs wire bead tires boils down to how and where you ride. The performance of each depends on the individual cyclist’s wants and needs. I use both types, just not on the same bike. If I try it that way, I’ll let you know how it goes!
Still not sure which is best for you? Stop by the store and we’ll provide our recommendations based on the information you give us.
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.
For more information, please visit Tire Bead Wire.
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.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of tire fabric. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.