Yes, you absolutely can change tires on a gravel bike. This is one of the key features that makes gravel bikes incredibly versatile.
Gravel bikes are designed to handle a variety of surfaces, from smooth pavement to rough gravel roads and even some singletrack. Their ability to accommodate different types of tires is central to this adaptability.
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A gravel bike already works well on the road, but the great thing about gravel bikes is that they're so versatile, you can just swap out the tires (and maybe chainrings) to get them to excel on pavement.
This confirms that swapping tires is a standard practice for optimizing a gravel bike for different riding conditions.
Why Change Tires on a Gravel Bike?
Swapping tires on your gravel bike allows you to tailor its performance to specific terrain. Here are some common reasons:
- Optimizing for Pavement: While gravel bikes are capable on roads with their standard tires, switching to narrower, smoother road bike tires can significantly improve speed and efficiency on asphalt. This makes a gravel bike a great option for commuting or road rides when needed.
- Tackling Rougher Gravel: If you're planning a ride on particularly loose or technical gravel, you might opt for wider tires with more aggressive tread for increased traction and stability.
- Mixing Surfaces: Some riders prefer a balance, using tires with a smooth center tread for rolling on pavement and more aggressive side knobs for grip when leaning into turns on softer surfaces.
What Tires Can You Use?
Gravel bikes typically have generous tire clearance, allowing them to fit a wide range of tire widths. While the exact range varies by bike model, you can generally fit:
- Wide, Knobby Tires: For maximum off-road grip (often 40mm to 50mm+ wide).
- Medium-Width Gravel Tires: The standard versatile option (often 35mm to 45mm wide).
- Narrower, Smoother Tires: To mimic the speed of a road bike (potentially as narrow as 28mm or 30mm, depending on the rim width).
The Process of Changing Tires
Changing tires on a gravel bike is similar to changing tires on any other bicycle. It typically involves:
- Deflating the current tire.
- Using tire levers to unseat the tire bead from the rim.
- Removing the old tire (and inner tube, if not running tubeless).
- Installing the new tire, ensuring the rotation direction is correct.
- If using a tube, inserting a partially inflated tube.
- Seating the tire bead back onto the rim.
- Inflating the tire to the appropriate pressure.
Many modern gravel bikes use tubeless tire setups, which require specific tubeless valves and sealant, but the principle of swapping the outer tire remains the same.
Changing tires is a relatively simple and effective way to unlock the full versatility of your gravel bike.
