There are a bunch of things that dictate how good or bad your bike ride will be. Your ability to ride the bike well ranks first but the kind of tires you have on your bike is a very close second. If you have talked to any professional bike rider or just someone who loves riding bikes and has been doing that for a long time, you will know that their foremost concern when it comes to their bike is almost always related to the tires.
You do not have to be a genius to figure that out. If you have a slashed tire, a punctured one, a tire running too high or too low on air, etc, it is kind of a given that you will not be enjoying your ride. Bike tires like any other bike parts have tonnes and tonnes of varieties in them and choosing best bmx tires for street from those can be a little tricky.Â
Choosing the right tire is pretty important because if you do not, it will continue to be a recurring problem. Tires are not as expensive as other bike parts but when you invest into the right one, you will see the significant difference that it makes on how enjoyable your rides are.
There are a lot of things that dictate how good a tire is essentially. The grooves on the tire, width, traction, component material etc. For you to have an easier filtering process, here is a list of best bmx tires for street riding that have been a pretty sweet ride to me and to a billion other people.
The following tire listings are of those tires that have been ruling the bike market ever since they hit the shelves and the ones that will make you fall in love with riding your bike, all over again. All of the links are Amazon links, in case you can’t find these tires at your local bike parts shop.
Top 5 BMX bike tires for street riding
Kenda K-905 K-Rad BMX Bike Tire
Kenda has been around for quite a bit, providing bike tire rims, tires and cranks. This bike tire from kenda is made of standard rubber compound and it is great for street and park riding as well as dirt jumping. It is not too expensive as far as good quality rubber tires go and fits rather snugly in the moderately priced bike tire section.
For a BMX tire, this is one of the more slim tires which helps reduce the overall weight of the bike. But this is not to say that they made any compromises when it comes to safety and traction. The grooves on this bike tire has got traction covered. It has an inverted tread design and a knurled tread surface which take care of the traction and help you remain grounded and land all of the jumps that you might want to make with your bike.
These tires are the wire bead type with SRC compound which helps not only in lowering the rolling resistance but it also comes with both tread longevity and durability of the tire as a whole.
A con to this bike tire is that it is not the most suitable tire you can get for wet or snow covered routes. Due to the narrow tire design, it is a little difficult for the tire to maintain grip on slippery surfaces, moreover these tires don’t have spokes on them which help in keeping the bike grounded in case of snow.
Overall if you want bike tires for street riding and daily use, the price at which these come, make it a hard deal to pass.
KHE MAC2 Street Wire Bead BMX bike tire
These tires come in a pair and are built specifically for street riding and dirt jumping purposes. KHE initially started off as a BMX bike company and only started selling individual bike parts in the last few years. Because of their virtual and understandable know-how regarding bikes, they can prove to be extremely trustworthy when put in comparison with newly formed bike brands, for the most part.
I am sure we are all aware of tire tubes that are puncture proof, which means they contain sealants in them that repair a puncture/slash almost immediately. Having tires that puncture is a nightmare and having ones that do not can only be described as a dream. Well, consider it done with these tires.
The Mac2+ tires are puncture resistant because of a variety of different reasons. The first reason being, the reinforced sidewalls of the tires, most of the heavy blows affect the side walls first before any other part of the tire, when you land a jump, the pressure travels upwards and because of this pressure, tires with weak side walls give in and explode. The second reason is the existence of a sealant in the tires which is to aid any minor punctures that may occur due to tiny rocks, nails, pins, glass shards, etc. Because of both of these reasons, these tires almost never need puncture related repairs.
The tires are 2.3 inches wide which is wide enough for street riding since you do not need a lot of traction at least not as much as you would need while off roading. They weigh 570 grams which honestly is pretty heavy. So if weight is something that matters to you more than durability, you might not like these. They are wire(steel) beaded.
All in all, for the price and the quality, you really will not be overpaying.
Maxxis Aggressor EXO/TR BMX bike tire
This tire is also meant to be used on mountain bikes but the slim design of it makes it more suitable for BMX/road bikes. Since you do require the tires for street riding, there is nothing that can stop you from using this tire with its multiple benefits and versatility. This tire is a dual compound material based exon tire. This all just goes to ensure the durability of the tire and the traction that comes with it. You will not be face planting on to the pavement anytime soon.
It is 29 inches in height which is a bit larger than most BMX tires so if you are a tall rider then this should only pose as an added benefit. The tire is 2.3 inches wide which is great since it is not as thick as a normal mountain bike tire would be. This reduces friction and helps you gain more speed. An amazing feature that a lot of old riders look for in their tires is the folding mechanism.
This tire does exactly that it folds! Talk about being multifaceted. The looks of this tire can quite literally put any other tire to shame. The grooves and the tread design help maintain traction but they also add to the good looks of the tire. The price range is a bit above most tires but it is completely worth it, if you ask me.
Overall, there is no reason, other than the above average price tag, why you should not buy this bike tire, an absolute riot to ride.
BSD Alex D Donnastreet Signature BMX Bike Tire
The Donnastreet tires are a collaborative creation designed by a young BMX rider Alex Donnachie(Also known as Alex D). Alex Donnachie has bagged deals with a number renowned brands in the biking industry because of his sheer talent and experience in the field. BSD and Alex Donnachie together have come out with three different products, the ALVX frame, Donnasqueak and Donnastreet tires.
The Donnasqueak tires were an initial design with the tread more towards the middle of the tires. The Donnastreet tires are a result of modification, the treat was moved to the side on these tires. This resulted in reinforced sides and consequent strength. When things are designed by Alex Donnachie, you know they are going to be more rider friendly and not complex. These tires have a simple tread design and an impeccably strong rubber compound.
These are perfect for street or pavement riding as the amount of traction on them gives you both security and speed. However these are not the best for dirt riding as the tread and grooves are very subdued and the tires do not have much to hold on to. The tires weigh about 690 grams and 730 grams, which is not the lightest but is also nowhere near being the heaviest. The width of the tires is 2.3 inches and 2.4 inches(there are two variants).
The price of the tires is quite reasonable considering the expertise and quality. If you are in love with your bike and want to treat it right, this is it.
Maxxis DTH DC Race BMX tire
Maxxis has been around for the longest time and has always delivered in terms of quality. A lot of amateur and experienced bikers seem to love their Maxxis bike parts and tires and there is always a good reason why. Now this tire is not necessarily a street BMX tire and honestly you can use any type of BMX tire on the street as long as traction is promised.
This tire was designed to be used in races, specifically the Olympics. What makes this tire perfect for races is the lightweightedness of it. These tires weigh 245 grams which is as low as BMX tires could possibly go. It has a dual compound design which makes it unbeatable in terms of quality and durability. The dual compound protects the tire against minor shock repairs and punctures. And we have not even gotten to the best part. This tire is available in eleven different sizes!
Specifically to make sure that no rider finds a size that does not accommodate them or their bike. The sizes range from 20 inches in height and 1.125 inches in width to 24 inches in height and 1.75 inches in width. So you can be sure to find a tire that fits you and your bike perfectly, no more compromising. The tire is foldable for easy storage when not in use.
The treads are more towards the side to reinforce the sidewalls and induce strength. Because of all of these features and the design, the tires are somewhat expensive. But if you want real speed and Olympic quality tires then the price tag should not be a surprise. If you have the money to invest and actually plan on getting a good quality tire, then you probably should look into getting this one.
Conclusion
Bike tires like every other bike part, can be quite confusing to buy. With the amount of upgrades and improvements made in previous generation bike tires and their availability in the market, you can never be too sure of getting the best for your money.
You need to get something that is both at par with today’s designs but it is also worth your money and good quality. All of the above mentioned products have been used and loved by a wide majority of people and worked for every one of them. So you can also be sure to find a tire that perfectly fits both your budget and your needs.
Make sure that once you get your tires you check the pressure valves and for any damage that might have been caused by the shipping procedure. Before riding your bike with new tires, always try to ride on smooth surfaces before taking it out for a spin to know about potential problems beforehand.
At the end of the day all your tire needs to do is sustain a long while and make you a good ride, all of the other advancements and designs are secondary.