After riding your bike for a long time, a time will come where you have to change your wheels.
Bikes with mileage up to 20,000 miles depending on the road conditions, weight, and your style of riding might need a wheel change.
It will cost about $30 and above to change bike wheels which of course dependent on the type of bike.
Wheels made of steel will likely cost less than $100 to change while high-end bikes with modern drivetrains might cost more.
A BMX bike of good quality will cost over $150 and $200 to change the front and back wheel respectively. High-end road and mountain bikes with carbon rims can cost over $1000 to replace.
For some bikes, it will cost you more to change the wheels than to get an entirely new bike. Especially bikes got in superstores like Walmart.
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Can I change the wheel size on my bike?
It is possible to change the size of your tire although that might require you to make other changes to the bike. The size of your wheels can be changed as long as you use the appropriate size.
Bike wheels usually have a range of widths that will be suitable for it. It is necessary that you change the tires with the exact range of width.
The dimensions of tires can be complicated but there is an easier way to know the current size of your tire.
The size is written in the sidewall. The outer diameter and the width are indicated. As long as your new tires match the set of numbers, the new tires will fit.
Tire size that is found on mountain bikes is indicated with 29 x 2.3 where the 29 indicates the outer diameter while the 2.3 indicates the width.
Road bikes usually have tire size of 700 x 25c. The outer diameter is 700mm while the width is 25mm width.
What size bike wheel do I need for my height?
When looking for a new bike wheel to replace your current one, choosing the right wheel is essential. Choosing the right size of wheel largely depends on your height, weight and the condition of the road.
Generally, 26-inch bikes are preferred for most people because of their excellent combination of stability, speed, and durability.
26-inch bikes are designed for those who are five to six foot tall. For those who are taller, your bike should have larger tires and more space for better comfort.
You might need to seat on the bike to find out if it is the perfect match for you. When in the bike, reach for the handlebars and check if you can operate the levers with ease.
Check if your feet can touch the ground when seating. Also check if you can pedal comfortably. If everything checks out, you can take the bike for a test ride.
Can I put smaller wheels on bike?
While this is possible, you might want to stick to the factory size as putting a smaller wheel might require extra modifications like changing the type of brakes.
Smaller wheels does have it advantages as you can accelerate faster and need less energy to ride the bike.
Smaller wheels are also more suitable for smaller riders. riders with hight might also find smaller wheels useful especially when used as stunt bikes or for less smoother roads.
It is important to note that most bike frames fit only one size of wheel or two similar sizes. So it is preferable if you stick to the size your bikes comes with or get a new bike.
Is 26 inch wheel bike for adults?
A 26-inch bike can be used by adults as far as they are of good height enough. The height of the rider actually determines if a 26-inch ride is appropriate for it. An adult who is five to six foot tall will be a good fit for the bike.
Kids and teens can also use it if they are tall enough. Adult who are 4.5 feet and below might need to consider the 24-inch bike.
Is 24 inch wheel bike for adults?
24-inch wheel bike was made for children and teenagers but adults especially females who are 4.5 feet or small in size will find it useful.
Should I get a 26 or 28 inch bike?
When considering the size of bike to get, it is important you consider the purpose for buying the bike, your height, and the condition of the road. Also, the wheel material and bicycle style may vary.
26-inch wheel are more suitable for mountain bikes as they have better traction in rough roads making them faster.
28-inch wheel are more suitable for road bikes as they have smoother and tighter tires that is suitable for paved roads.