26’’, 27.5’’, 27.5+’’, 29’’. Bicycle manufacturers offer a wide variety of tire sizes. Let’s try to better understand the differences between them.
If we were to compare with a pair of skis, the idea would be to choose your tires in the same way you would choose a ski length: depending on your expertise level, your style, your size, etc.
One theoretical point to bear in mind: angle of attack. The larger the wheel circumference, the easier it will be to overcome a given obstacle.
22.6”: Initially it served as the tire size of reference for all bikes but is now slowly fading away, for better or worse. The smallest of all mountain bike tires, it is also the most dynamic, agile and demanding in terms of required force and precision. Nowadays you will mostly find this tire size on junior bikes.
27.5”: Gradually replacing the 26” tires, the 27.5 inches are more and more coveted because of their versatility. Considered as a 26” XL, they offer good rigidity and crossing capacity, all the while maintaining a reasonable center of gravity.
27.5+”: Designed larger (2.8” to 3”), these tires offer superior comfort when crossing obstacles but more specifically, increased traction.
29”: The tire that goes anywhere with ease. It will overcome obstacles and handle the softest of terrain without issue. The width and circumference off these tires offer the best traction, allowing the user to save energy and shift it over to allow for faster pedaling.
