Bike tyres Black Friday: deals on road, gravel, and mountain bikes

What to consider before buying a bike tyre during Black Friday?

The bead diameter, the second number in the ETRTO rating (622, 584, 559, 406…), must match your rim exactly. The width, the first number, can vary if the rim and frame allow it. Then there's the fitting: a tube tyre works with all rims, a tubeless ready tyre requires a compatible rim, a dedicated valve, and sealant. The guide to sizes and pressures is on the permanent page of bike tyres for all wheel sizes; this page is to buy during the promotion.

Discount tyre: align the version with the struck-through price

The same brand name often covers several versions, and the promotion may only apply to one of them. Before comparing the struck-through price with the displayed price, check the product sheet to ensure these points match:

• The rating: a 28-622 and a 32-622 often carry the same name.
• The bead: TR for a rigid steel bead, TS for a flexible, lighter, and foldable bead.
• The fitting: TT, for tube type, refers to a tube tyre; TLR indicates a compatible tubeless model.
• The protection: Exo or Double Down, Hardskin, Raceguard or K-Guard, Shieldwall affect cut resistance and weight.
• The rubber and sidewall: a soft downhill compound wears out quickly, and a beige sidewall, known as tanwall, is another reference than a black sidewall.

Also, check if the offer is for a single tyre or a pair, and if the model comes in front and rear versions, like the Wild Enduro from Michelin.

Road, gravel, MTB, city: where to look

On the road, before moving from a 25 to a 28 or 30 mm, check the clearance under the brake calipers and in the rear triangle; road tyres on Black Friday isolate these models. In gravel, the tread ranges from semi-slick for smooth tracks to shoulder lugs for loose dirt. In MTB, the use decides, from light cross-country to downhill with thick casings: check the MTB tyres on Black Friday. In the city, puncture-resistant belts and reflective sidewalls take priority over weight. With the tyre, think about inner tubes on Black Friday, or bike wheels in the promotion if the rim is marked. Outside the promotion, clearance sells off end-of-line products, while new arrivals are the latest entries.

Bike tyre brands during Black Friday

Continental assigns a family to each practice: Grand Prix 5000, in S and All Season versions, for road, Terra Trail and Terra Speed for gravel, Cross King and Mountain King for MTB, Ride Tour and Contact Plus for city.

Hutchinson offers its MTB tyres Python, Skeleton, and Taipan, and gravel tyres Caracal and Touareg, in reinforced Hardskin or Racing Lab competition versions.

Schwalbe pairs the Marathon family, including Marathon Plus and Marathon Mondial, with the G-One for gravel, the One for road, and Nobby Nic and Rocket Ron for MTB.

Michelin organizes its tyres into lines: Access, Performance, Competition, and Racing: Protek for city, Power Cup and Power Adventure for road and gravel, Wild AM2 for MTB, Pilot SX for BMX.

Maxxis lines up Minion, Assegai, Dissector, and Rekon for MTB, and Rambler and Re-Fuse for gravel; its Exo, Exo+, or Double Down casings and its rubber types Dual Compound, MaxxTerra, or 3C Grip make for multiple versions of the same tyre.

Frequently asked questions

When is Black Friday for bike tyres?

The event is set for the day after Thanksgiving, a Friday, a few weeks before the holidays, but the tyres on promotion at Vélo-Store remain discounted throughout November: enough time to change your tyres before winter roads.

How can I tell if an offer on a tyre is good?

Compare it to the exact same reference: matching rating, bead, casing, rubber, and fitting. A competition tyre with a rigid bead is not worth its reinforced soft version.

Can I buy tyres in advance and store them?

Yes. Keep them in a dry, cool place, away from direct light and heat sources, without crushing them. A soft tyre can be stored folded as delivered; unfold it a few hours before fitting.

Is it okay to use two different tyre models on the same bike?

It's common in MTB: a more knobbly tyre in front for steering, a smoother model at the back. Keep the same diameter and similar widths, and follow the rotation direction indicated on the sidewall.

Can a tubeless ready tyre be fitted with an inner tube?

Yes, with a tube of the right size, which is handy if there's a cut too large for the sealant. The opposite doesn't work: a tyre designed only for a tube isn't made to run without it.