Selecting the "right" tire for your recumbent bicycle or trike is essential. Don't overlook the importance of tires! Tires are your point of contact with the road. The right tire not only helps you roll smoother and faster, but also keeps you from spilling under various weather conditions. Furthermore the right tire will also smooth out your ride giving you a much more enjoyable experience.

There is no one perfect tire... you'll need to constantly make trade-offs in weight and performance vs durability and puncture protection. Buy the tire that suits you bike and riding style.

I recently upgraded the old Specialized Fatboy's to Schwalbe Duranos's as noted in the review on another part of Recumbent Bicycle Source. And while I think I may have dropped a mile or two per hour, I'm also now running tire liners for added convenience as I hate to repair flats on the road. I gave up a little speed for a lot of convenience and puncture protection... and I would do it again!

Below are links to Amazon Reviews where you can see what other people think of a particular tires. And yes Amazon is not a bike shop and there are other places to read reviews of tires, Amazon does have on thing most others do not - they seem to carry everything!

The first link with the DOT is the main link to all tires by that manufacturer, the sub links are to specific models of the tire. Enjoy!

• Contiental Bicycle Tires

Continental Sport Contact

Continental Grand Prix

Continental Ultra Gatorskin

• Kenda Bicycle Tires

Kenda Kwest

• Maxxis Bicycle Tires

• Michelin Bicycle Tires

• Panaracer Bicycle Tires

• Primo Bicycle Tires

Primo Comet

Primo Racer

• Schwalbe Bicycle Tires

Schwalbe Big Apple

Schwalbe Durano

Schwalbe Durano Plus

Schwalbe Kojak

Schwalbe Marathon

Schwalbe Marathon Plus

Schwalbe Marathon Racer

Schwalbe Marathon Winter

Schwalbe Marathon Supreme

Is it too much to ask for companies to be ethical?

I had a miserable experience with them, just left a bad taste in my mouth like they were trying to trick me. Their customer service is pathetic (My opinion your mileage may vary).  Different prices on their different sites for the same products!  I don't view this a differentiation I view this as a deceitful practice from a company who is trying to "game" every last penny out of customers.

Are there any legitimate Online Vendors anymore?

I've had good luck with some LBS's, AEbike, Colorado Cyclist (So So Customer Service), Chain Reaction Cycles, Performance Bike (Pathetically Slow Shipping), and TreeFort Bikes to name a few.  I had a very bad experience with Nashbar when they billed more than was advertised on their site.  Then sent me additional bills later on.  I will also never buy another item from JensonUSA after they tried to pass off used equipment on me.

I try to buy from local shops, but they do not always have what I need/want.

Sad.

Bicycle Parts

List of Parts and Wheel manufacturers

• Aero Spoke Wheels - Aerospoke is one of the most recognized and respected names in composite wheels

• Alex Rims - manufacturer of bicycle rims.

• Bontrager Wheel Works - They are not built for recumbent bikes, but I ride these on my mountain bike and haven't needed a truing in 2 years.

• Chris King Precision Components - Headsets, Hubs, Bottom Brackets and Tools.

• Dave's Wheels - aka Dave Thomas's Speeddream.com - custom wheel maker with a reputation among cyclists for quality. Located in Fountain Hills, Arizona.

• E Bike Kit Electric Wheel Conversions - Manufactures what I believe to be the best all around Conversion kit for recumbent use. Wheels are built in USA from imported parts.

• Ecospeed - Portland Oregon based company manufacturers and electric assist motor kit for recumbent bicycles.

• Epic Wheel Works - Looking for a new wheel set for your Recumbent Bike then Portland Oregon based Epic Wheel Works should be on your short list.  I'd also like to say that my dealings were direct with Jude the owner and she's very polite, attentive, positive minded and knowledgeable.  Seriously if you need quality wheels (Not the same old prepackaged off the shelf junk) then you should take the time to visit Epic Wheel Works.  If you are the kind of person that wouldn't buy their suit "off the rack" and feel the same way about your bike then Epic is your Wheelbuilder for sure.  Highly recommended.  I don't say that often about vendors, and I don't get paid to say it.

• HED Cycling - Seems like everyone winning races is running these wheel sets.

• Mavic - Another Rim manufacturer that doesn't really make recumbent specific rims, but I've ridden their mountain bike rims with great success. Good product!

• Pantour Suspension Hubss - Want to take some of the "ouch" out of bumps without a huge weight penalty? This is it! Carlsbad, California.

• Power on Cycling - Dealer specializes in recumbent parts and customizing Rans, Challenge, M5 and easy tour recumbent bicycles. Want to build your own this might be a good start to selecting your components. Site is plain vanilla but fairly detailed. Plant City, Florida

• Schwalbe Tires - If these are not the best tires you can buy, they are pretty damn close! You should be avle to find Schwalbe tires at quality bicycle dealers worldwide. Schwalbe North America - Victoria, British Columbia Canada.

• Security Bicycle Accessories - Distributes bicycle parts to dealers. Also has an excellent "links" page of parts manufacturers.

• Specialized Bicycles - Yes I know they don't make recumbent bicycles, but they make some highly durable thorn resistant tires. I was getting flats about every 3rd ride from the thorns here, then I switched to Specialized Armadillos and I've had 1 flat in a year and a half!

• Spinergy Wheels- Another high end wheel set manufacturer.

• TerraCycle - USA (Oregon) manufacturer of Recumbent Parts and Accessories. Acquired FastBack Products in late 2007.

• Topolino Technology - High end wheel set manufacturer specializing in 700C Wheelsets, including Carbon Tubular with Kevlar spokes. These wheels feel great to ride and are featured on specially spec'd Carbent's.

• Velocity - Wheels, Rims, and accessories including a line of recumbent wheels in 349, 406, 559, and 700 sizes. Lots of wheel builders build on Velocity Rims. It's my understanding the Velocity Hubs are OEM Formula Hubs. I tried contacting Velocity direct about building a wheel set via e-mail with no response.

• Ventisit - Ventilated Recumbent bicycle seat pads - no more sweaty backs in warm riding conditions. Based in Nederland - NOT USA.

• Wellgo Pedals - You'll find Wellgo Pedals spec'd standard on a lot of recumbent bikes.

• Windwarp Fairings - Makes Lexan® plastic fairings compatible with a large range of recumbent bikes and trikes.

• Wheels for Bikes - More manufacturers listed at this personal website