Folding Vs Non Folding Tires | Which one to Choose?
If you have recently shopped for your bicycle, then the variety of foldings must have caught your eye. The variation would leave you with two choices: folding and non-folding tires. That’s when you want to know folding vs nonfolding tires and which one to choose.
After looking at both tires, we picked the ones that fold up. Folding tires will cost you a few dollars more, but experts say they are worth it because they have better features than tires that don’t fold. The two rubber compounds have significant differences in the weight, flexibility, and material of the beads.
However, before concluding, you must consider many other things; keep reading.
Significant Differences Between Folding And Non-folding Tires
If you haven’t been able to make up your mind to choose either, our difference comparison regarding folding vs non-folding might help you.
| Differences | Foldings | Non-foldings |
| Price | $50-$80 | $6-$30 |
| Bead Materials | Synthetic Fiber | Steel Wire |
| Weight | Lighter | Slightly heavier than Foldings |
| Threads | 60 Per Inch | 20-30 Per Inch |
| Rubber Compound | Softer/ Dual-Compound | Average |
Why Should I Pick Folding Over Non-folding Tires
Depending on some primary circumstances, we find folding tires more beneficial for you. Here’s why:
1. Value
Hearing the rates might tilt you towards a non-folding tire since that’s budget-friendly. Non-folding tires come at $6 to $30. On the other hand, folding ones are a bit expensive; they can cost you from $50-$80 but save you money by extending the life of your existing wheels.
2. Materials
We didn’t look at the whole tire; instead, we looked at the bead. The bead of a regular tire is made of steel wire, which makes it strong and, of course, long-lasting.
Even though folding ones have the same strength, their structure is like Kevlar’s and is made of synthetic fiber. The material does make a difference in how flexible something is.
3. Flexibility
As mentioned above, folding tires offer expanded flexibility due to the material, and that is what makes those tires phenomenal. Regular non-folding tires do not provide that flexibility, and thus you can’t fold those tires into a compact bundle.
4. Weight
Another advantage that comes along with folding tires is they come lightweight. But regular tires tend to be heavier. With the right tires, your bike will perform better in all areas. The primary difference between the two is the amount of energy required to make anything spin. You save 2 ounces on each tire with the folding.
5. Threads
Even though it sounds strange, tires that fold indeed have more threads per inch. The sellers want these to be high-end products because they have everything else that’s important. You will be happy to hear that these tires have 60 TPI. They have a nylon thread design, and regular ones don’t have higher TPI numbers.
6. Rubber Compound
The soft rubber compound is another benefit that tags along with folding tires. Some might consider the soft compound to be risky because of wear. But the fact is that it offers more traction over a wider surface. But with the other tires, you don’t get that enhanced traction.
Are Folding Tires Worth It?
We can not deny that the tires we’re asking you to choose are expensive. But we also approve of what experts say; folding tires are worth the money. Compared to regular ones, you will always find them offering better performance.
Along with its innovative design, the performance comes with lighter weight, more traction, higher TPI, and on-point flexibility, making it the tire we all dream of. Although it shares more money than others, we think the features are worth the money.
Conclusion
After such a lengthy debate, it’s quite evident which one to go with if we’re debating between folding vs nonfolding tires. Choosing a non-folding tire is a perfectly acceptable option if your budget is limited. But if not, we recommend that you acquire foldable tires, which will allow you to get the most out of your vehicle.
Don’t forget to check out the owner’s Manual before jumping to conclusions.
