Fat tyres are a type of bicycle or motorcycle tyre that has a larger width in comparison to traditional tyres. Their width may range from 3.7 inches to 5 inches, while traditional tyres have width generally range from 1.9 inches to 2.5 inches. The wider width of these tyres provides a range of advantages, making them a hot favourite of many bikes. Fat bicycle tyres can provide improved traction, stability, and comfort. They also generally run at a lower air pressure than traditional tyres in order to provide better grip and absorb bumps.
Ultimate all-terrain capability
One of the biggest benefits of a fat cycle tyre is its unrivalled adaptability to a diverse type of terrain. They are ideal for traversing rocky paths, muddy roads, sand, snowy trails, and more. Bigger tyres have the capacity to provide improved buoyancy, which helps in keeping the bike from sinking into soft surfaces. The larger widths of fat bike tyres are able to provide excellent traction on a wide range of surfaces, including mud and loose gravel.
Improved traction and stability
In comparison to typical bike tyres, fat tyres have a greater surface area in contact with the ground. As a result, they are more grippy and stable. This makes fat bikes ideal for riders who want to feel safe and in control at all times, no matter the surface they are on. Owing to this increased traction, riders are able to go on difficult trails without much of a hassle.
Fat bike tyres are especially well-suited for beginners or riders looking for a stable ride. The wider tyres and lower tyre pressure tend to allow for a larger contact patch, thereby improving stability and lowering the odds of slipping or skidding when riding offroad.
Comfortable ride
Fat bicycle tyre is able to naturally absorb shock and vibrations from the road due to their greater width. This would invariably mean lesser stress on your bones and muscles, and a more relaxing ride on the whole. The cushioning effect of fat tyres makes riding over tough terrain like uneven trails or rocky routes a lot smoother and more comfortable.
While many people associate fat bike tyres with riding on rocky terrains, hills and snow, they are also well-suited for typical street riding. One of the biggest benefits of using fat tyres for street riding is the improved comfort they can provide. The wider tyres are able to absorb vibrations and bumps in a more effective manner than traditional tyres, which ultimately results in smoother rides. This benefit can especially be a huge boon for long-distance riding or with riders with back/ joint pain.
Another huge advantage of using fat bicycle tyres for street riding is the high degree of stability they are able to provide. The larger contact patch of such tyres ensures improved control and balance, which can be quite advantageous in urban areas of India where the road surface might be uneven or unpredictable.
Opting for tubeless tyres
While fat tyres are surely advantageous, our choice of choosing the right tyre for our bicycle does not end there. We also need to think about whether to use typical tube type tyres or go for more modern tubeless bicycle tyres. After all, the tyres do have a major impact on our riding safety and performance. All our power output, steering input, and braking force shall ultimately be mediated by a small contact patch between our tyres and the tarmac.
Ideal for imperfect roads
While riding our bicycles on the streets of Indian cities and towns, we are quite likely to come across uneven and imperfect surfaces. These surface imperfections may create reverberations through the touchpoints of our bike, like its handlebar, pedals and seat. This ultimately increases fatigue. Tyre pressure is the most effective way of absorbing road surface flaws, which is one of the reasons wide, fat tyres are hugely popular. Tubeless tyres can provide lower rolling resistance, which can eventually lead to better speed, comfort and grip.
For several decades, almost all bikes had tube-type tyres. These tyres were fitted with inner tubes, which set an inherent lower limit to tyre pressure owing to the risk of pinch punctures. Hitting a bump and bottoming out a tyre with an inner tube inside tends to compress the tyre, and therefore the inner tube, against the rim of the wheel. As a result, it was not uncommon to find the inner tube to be pinched, resulting in two ‘snake-bite’ style holes. On the other hand, tubeless tyres do not have an inner tube. The only thing to be pinched in their case is the tyre itself, which is not only more durable than a butyl or latex tube but is also filled with sealant. This sealant helps the tyre stay inflated and on the rim, and it can even plug in any holes caused by pinches or sharp debris.
Wrapping up
Tubeless fat bicycle tyres are ideal for off-road cycling, mountain biking, street riding and more. The ability to adjust tyre pressure to match terrain conditions provides a more comfortable ride, reducing fatigue over long distances or rough trails.
Author bio: The author has a lot of experience in the field of automobiles. He has been working in the industry for more than two decades. In his free time, he likes to write and impart knowledge on diverse types of automobiles and their components.
