A clincher tire is a tire that uses a bead that locks into the inside of the wheel rim. There are two different types of tire - one that uses an inner tube (clincher type) and another tire that can be run tubeless (without an inner tube) This type of tire needs to be mounted on tubeless specific rims.

A clincher tire is a tire that uses a bead that locks into the inside of the wheel rim. There are two different types of tire - one that uses an inner tube (clincher type) and another tire that can be run tubeless (without an inner tube) This type of tire needs to be mounted on tubeless specific rims.

A tubeless tire, sometimes referred to as TLR (meaning TubeLessReady), is a clincher tire that is designed to be installed without an inner tube. The airtight seal is created directly by the tire itself against the rim once sealant has been inserted into the tire.

Nowadays, the term is used interchangeably. Originally, the term tubeless was used to refer to the UST standard, which used a butyl liner inside the tire. This allowed the tire to be inflated without an inner tube and without any sealant. Tubeless-ready tires originally referred to tires that could be inflated without an inner tube, but that had to be used with sealant, since it did not have a butyl liner to make it air tight. Both types can also be used with inner tubes.

First you should check the recommended tire pressure range printed on the side of your tire, then you should check maximum pressure allowed by your wheel manufacturer. Given this range to work with, you need to decide whether you want a bit more shock absorption and grip - inflating toward the lower end of the pressure range - or more speed and a firmer feel - inflating closer to the top end of the pressure range. However, compared to tires with inner tubes, tubeless tires tend to allow for lower inflation pressures.

A tubular tire is manufactured with the inner tube sewn into it and therefore creates a sealed tube- hence the name Tubular. These tires are glued or taped onto specific rims.

The best option is to check with your wheel manufacturer.

Tubeless-ready tires are clincher tires with folding beads that can be used with or without an inner tube, on a tubeless-ready wheel. A tubular tire is one that has an inner tube sewn into it and is glued to a tubular rim.

Tires are made up basically of three parts: the casing, the bead and the tread. Casing is the 'base' material of the tire, the weave of nylon or cotton where the tread will be glued onto and that will contain the inner tube or air. It is composed of threads that can differ in thickness according to the needs of the tire - a thicker thread makes a casing with lower TPI (threads per inch), while thinner threads such as those from cotton make higher TPI casings. The bead is usually made out of either kevlar (for folding tires) or steel (for rigid tires) and is what allows the tire to stay in place on the wheel when filled with air. Finally, the tread is the rubber part that will be in contact with whatever surface the tire rolls over. This is made out of one or more rubber compounds and can have different design patterns depending on what use the tire is intended for. The combination of casing, tread and bead will determine the overall quality and grip, speed, durability, comfort and safety a tire provides.

The finer the treads, the denser the weave. We express this as EPI (Ends per inch) or TPI – Treads per inch (2.54cm). The greater the TPI number, the higher the quality of the tire. Effectively TPI refers to one inch of length of casing. The casing is the heart of the tire and is made of Rubber + Treads (Nylon, Cotton, Kevlar, Corespun). Therefore, TPI is calculated by counting the number of threads contained in one-inch length of casing. A higher TPI allows the casing of the tyre to be more flexible, providing better grip. Fabric with a higher TPI count is thinner and more flexible, so the tire is able to conform much better with the surface with less shock, which results in lower rolling resistance. Vittoria tires are classed by their TPI. Nylon casings range from 26 to 220 TPI. Cotton and Corespun casings range from 220 to 320 TPI. The 320 TPI tires are considered the top of the range tires.

The reflective stripe on the side wall of the tire is for visibility in low light/dark conditions. It reflects the light from headlights and allows you to be seen by other road traffic.

Slick tires can be used for many different reasons. In MTB and Gravel, slicks or semi-slicks can be used for terrain that is not very technical and doesn't need knobs to dig into the terrain for traction (be it acceleration, climbing or braking), giving you extra speed. A good example is for beach racing, very common in the Netherlands where tires like our Tattoo Light excel. In road racing, a slick tire can be used in pretty much any condition since, contrary to popular belief, narrow, rounded profile tires do not need grooves to remove water between the contact patch and the road. Nonetheless, grooves or designs on a road tire can improve traction, especially in rough or wet conditions but are usually reserved for the sides of the tire. Vittoria offers slick or semi-slick type designs in all of our categories. Explore the Terreno Zero for Gravel, the Terreno for MTB, the Corsa Speed for Road/TT/Triathlon, the Pista range for Track and the Urbano for City & Hybrid bicycle riding.

Our XC Trail casing is our more robust and protected casing for XC tires, with an added layer of sidewall protection. Since the XC Race casing does not have this extra layer, it is a bit lighter, slightly more supple and therefore more responsive. So if you need more protection and longer lasting casing, go for the XC Trail, if you want maximum race performance, go for the XC Race casing. Click here to learn more about Vittoria XC tire casings.

Road tires are usually too narrow to fit on a mountain bike wheel. However, if they are wide enough according to the wheel manufacturer's minimum recommended tire width, then it is possible, since 29" and 700C tires have the same inner circumference. However, Vittoria makes 29" slick tires such as the Revolution Tech or the Randonneur line that would be more appropriate for a mountain bike and would give the road going capabilities. Another option is to use one of our gravel tires such as the Terreno Zero and Terreno Dry. Explore our City & Hybrid line or our Gravel line to find out more.