How to Care for Bicycle Tyres

The great outdoors are best experienced on two wheels. As you pedal along, breathe in the fresh air and get that adrenaline pumping, the smallest inconvenience can dampen the joy. And the worst thing would be troublesome bicycle tyres. A puncture or flat, bottomed out flaccid tyre can harsh your mellow or even threaten your safety on the road. To be a responsible, safe adventurer, it’s essential to have hands-on knowledge of bicycle tyre care. This ensures that, no matter what the bicycle tyre price, you know how you should treat your tyres and what you could do if you have an issue.  Below are a few handy pointers on protecting your ride from the forces responsible for wearing out your bicycle tyres.

Avoid Punctures- 
If you’re a rider in the city you’ll already know how it pays off to have puncture protection tyres. Sharp objects from city roads and even uneven stones when you ride off-roads tend to lead to unexpected flats all the time. Ensure no matter if you use cheap bicycle tyres or expensive ones, the first thing you should do for your tyres is stop unnecessary stress. Maintain the right tyre pressure, even if you use tubeless bicycle tyres, so the tyres are strained less from the excess pressure while moving over changing surfaces. When you know you’re about to go over a pothole, or ride over an even patch to take a shortcut in the city, or even go over uneven surfaces like gravel, we say slow down! Do not put your tyre through unnecessary strain, instead ride over such challenges slower. 

Clean Your Tyres- 
No matter what material your bicycle tyres are made of, start by never using harsh cleaning agents or chemicals on your tyres. These are most likely to degrade the material the tyre is made of and ruin your tyres over time. Whether you ride a thin tyre bicycle in the city or a mountain bike with large tyre and a different tread pattern, we suggest you clean your tyres regularly. Tyres must be hosed after they have been used over lose terrain as material tends to build up within the tread patterns of the tyre. Even city bikes tend to gather smaller objects within their treads and these rub against the surface of your tyres as your ride. Clean your tyres with either a hosepipe, or use a mild solution of detergent and water. 

Keep a Spare-
If you’re really passionate about riding, you already know how valuable it is to have a spare lying around in the house. Not only do you automatically learn how to replace your own tyres, you’ll also be able to go on rides, when faulty tyres are being fixed at the store. Having a spare is usually a quick save for any cyclist, but if you’ve got a way to get your hands on a new bicycle tyre when needed, then you go down that route instead.

Examine Your Tyres- 
Go down on your haunches and take a look at your big tyre bicycle closely each time you return from the outdoors. If you use a city bike, take a look at your tyres at least once every week. Inspect the tread patterns to check for any wear one tear. Move your hand along the surface of the sidewalls to see for any breaches on the surface of your tyres. Look along the rim to see for any damages. Identifying an issue early on will not only help you save it from getting worse, it will also help keep you safe while you ride on the streets or in nature.

Get a Toolbox-
It’s always handy to have the needed tools to fix your bicycle when you need to. Whether it’s just tightening a bolt or replacing a tyre, you’re going to need some basic tools to get around these tasks. Simply looking for a bicycle repair toolbox online and you’ll have all the things you might need put into one place. It’s also always handy to have spare parts like inner tubes, values as well as a tyre pump with a built-in pressure gauge.

If you’re new to cycling, you can pick a tyre that’s easy to maintain and good for urban commutes as well as the occasional mountain trail. Hartex has a great variety of hybrid bicycle tyres:

Hybrid Bike- Xtra Action
 

For those who swear by the motto - “two wheels, one life.” - bicycle maintenance is serious business. The state of your bicycle tyres are a reflection of your passion as a rider. Keep your bike shiny and new by taking good care of the one part of your machine in constant contact with the road. Stock up on the right bicycle tyres recommended by Hartex, rubber manufacturers specializing in bicycle tyres.