Why Do Some Bikes Have Fat Tires?

‍One of the many modern trends related to bike riding is fat bike tires. But, why do some bikes have fat tires?

Some of the key reasons behind fat bike tires are: greater comfort, reduced need of maintenance, easy to bike in any kind of weather, improved balance, and greater physical exertion.

When fat bike tires initially found their way into the market, a lot of people treated them like they were life forms from a different planet. Even the people who did embrace this new kind of tires, did so out of curiosity more than anything else. With time, though, bikers started understanding the hype behind fat tires, and many became strong advocates for it.

Our extensive research, including interviews from bike and tire manufacturers, has allowed us to cover the various reasons why an increasing number of modern-day bikes have fat tires.

‍Why do Some Bikes Have Fat Tires?

1) Fat tires allow bikers to explore new places:

Fat bike tires are particularly alluring to bikers who do not want the weather or road conditions to keep them confined in their homes. With fat tires, bikers can enjoy greater traction and grip, even on the most complicated of terrains. Be it a muddy path, snowy hill, or wet stone, bikes with fat tires have you covered.

Gone are the times when bikers avoided falling into holes by tying their bikes to trees and covering the remaining distance on foot. The extra grip associated with fat tires means that these wheels will now be able to successfully get the better of pretty much every surface.

With fat bike tires, you can even ride your bike on the mellowest of beaches – something that is not possible with conventional MTBs. Bikes comprising fat tires are not going to lose balance on wet grounds, nor will they form cracks upon coming into contact with any icy corners.

2) They allow biking in any weather:

Many people who purchase bikes are of a sporty nature, which means that inclement weather conditions are unlikely to hold them back from a training session.

Fat tires are specifically designed to handle any type of weather. Neither do these tires slip on asphalt or wet stone, nor do they sink inside snow or mud. This means that bikes with fat tires can prove to be the ideal commutation mode, particularly on days when public transportation is slow or inactive.

Besides, since the weight of a fat tire is higher than that of a regular MTB, the former will be able to provide better resistance against strong winds, while ensuring the safety of the biker.

3) Provide greater riding comfort:

Since fat tires do not require high pressure to provide a comfortable riding experience, you will not need to inflate such tires very much or often. In fact, a pressure level as low as 10 psi is good enough for a fat tire.

In addition, bikes with fat tires are usually rigid, and do not contain any suspension system. This is because such bikes do not really require suspension of any kind, since it is already present in the tires. At low pressure levels, fat tires can turn squishier, which means that the rubber elasticity allows for better shock absorption and, consequently, riding comfort.

4) Require little maintenance:

As we mentioned, bikes with fat tires are rather rigid. This means that manufacturers are not required to put in a great deal of effort in the bike frame. Therefore, a fat-tire bike does not contain a lot of parts that are vulnerable to damage and would require reparation.

So, even though a bike with fat tires might seem costlier than one with conventional tires, you will save a lot of maintenance money in the long-run. Hence, see a fat-tire bike purchase as a long-term investment.

5) Provide greater physical challenge:

Although bikes with fat tires are easier to ride on soft or snowy surfaces, riding them is no walk in the park. This is because a lot of such bikes have only a single speed, and therefore, need a great deal of physical exertion for moving forward.

In addition, since fat tires contribute to the bike’s overall weight, they have slower movement and are harder to handle. Having said that, a ride on a fat-tire bike is bound to give you the ideal workout for both your lower and upper body.

6) Better balance:

Since the area that comes into contact with the ground is greater, fat tires can also offer improved balance. For this reason, bikes with fat tires are ideal for those who are still perfecting the skill of riding a bike.

Through consistent practice, even inexperienced riders will be able to comfortably ride a fat-tire bike in a short amount of time. Also, since these bikes are not as fast as those with regular tires, a beginner, unless he possesses a lot of muscle power, has a lower probability of sustaining serious injuries.

7) Offer greater enjoyment:

The unique features and appearance of fat-tire bikes makes them more fun to ride. Riding a fat-tire bike allows you to cover local trails and obtain new perspectives.

In addition, the semi-suspension that comes with these tires allows bikers to check out local area locations which might only be accessible on bikes consisting of wider rubber.

Furthermore, a fat-tire bike provides an excuse for socialization. The slower speed of these bikes offers opportunities to bikers to better interact with their fellow riders.

The unusual appearance of these tires might make them seem comical to observers. However, until you ride a fat-tire bike for yourself, you will not be able to understand why it is the talk of the town. Fat-tire bikes are not about speed. Instead, they are about taking deeper breaths and enjoying your surroundings at a pace that is more comfortable and calming. Having said that, you need not get rid of your daily bike in exchange for a fat-tire one, but you should at least give it a shot to see what the hype is all about.