If you glance at a tyre, particularly a bike tyre, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the structure is incredibly simple. After all, modern tyres are so thin and lightweight that there can’t be all that much going on underneath the rubber surface – right?
In reality, the diverse range of bike tyres on the market, and their various fitments and fittings, means that different cyclists and different applications use different tyre designs. One of these is known as a tubular tyre – combining the rubber surface of the tyre with an inner tube that holds the air and is glued to the wheel rim for maximum performance.
This blog is all about the design of tubular tyres, their benefits and limitations, and why professional cyclists tend to choose these over other types of bike tyre.
What is a Tubular Tyre?
A tubular tyre is a kind of tyre which boasts two main layers:
- The outer layer is constructed from the rubber, complete with tread design to maximise traction and grip on the road surface
- The inner layer is what holds the air, and is glued or fixed to the tyre rim – removing the need for beading
The Benefits of Tubular Tyres Over Other Designs
Tubular tyres remove the need for beading, relying instead on the inside tube which is fixed directly to the rim of the tyre. This means that tubular tyres are a lot lighter than other tyres which require beading and can afford to be more flexible when handling and navigating complex turns.
But being lightweight doesn’t mean tubular tyres are weak. In fact, these tyres are noted as offering superior strength and can operate at both incredibly high and low pressures, which offers the rider increased versatility in the terrain they can enjoy.
Another benefit of tubular tyres is the superior comfort offered, as well as the fact that the lack of beading reduces the risk of pinched-punctures and blowouts. Instead, any significant damage to the tyre is likely to cause a slow puncture, which is safer to manage especially when racing.
