When I previously asked each staff member, "What was the first custom bike part you ever bought?", interestingly, 4 out of 5 of us, including myself, answered "the saddle."

After switching from a mamachari (city bike) to a sports bike and being moved by "its coolness and exhilarating ride," and perhaps because they already liked such things, when it came time to "tinker with something (customize)," the first thing that came to mind was probably the "saddle," which has the largest contact area with the body and offers a noticeable change in appearance. Incidentally, I distinctly remember mine was a "BROOKS B17 leather saddle."

Now, to digress a bit, this time I'd like to talk about the "benefits of tire replacement" as a recommended first customization!

Recommended for first-time customization! What are the benefits of tire replacement for "enjoying a change in ride quality"?

If you think of "tires" as merely parts necessary for a bicycle to move (roll) – just consumables (something to replace when worn out or punctured) – then you are missing out on a great opportunity to discover and enjoy changes in your bicycle's ride (performance).

(Hybrid bikes, road bikes, cyclocross bikes, gravel bikes... etc.) This applies not only to sports bikes but also to city bikes, but...

"Tires" are, in fact, more important than choosing a frame or components, and they greatly affect changes in ride quality.

(Puncture resistance, durability, comfortable ride minimizing fatigue, lightweight for faster climbing, high grip for stable cornering... etc.) The tire section has an inseparable relationship with bicycle riding performance.

It's not just about replacing them when they wear out or get punctured. If you change your tire choice based on various usage situations, considering performance, width, and tread patterns, you can experience the enjoyment and benefits as if you were riding a "different bicycle"!

Why "Tires" Significantly Affect Bicycle Performance

Because all actions in bicycle riding – "going," "turning," and "stopping" – are ultimately performed by "the tire, which is the only part touching the road surface."

Imagine this: What if, hypothetically, the tires were floating and not touching the ground?

No matter if your components are Dura-Ace, or if you have a carbon or chromoly frame, or whatever, terms like "stiffness" or "flexibility" – their supposed performance and effects – would mean absolutely nothing except for aesthetics.

A bicycle's structure is such that "the bicycle moves forward = the tires roll on the road surface."

• Light rolling resistance ⇒ affects climbing and acceleration
• Road-following and high grip ⇒ affects power transmission and cornering stability
• Suppleness ⇒ absorbs road shocks, reducing rider fatigue
• Puncture resistance ⇒ avoids repair troubles
• High durability ⇒ reduces maintenance costs

Whether it's the functional performance of the frame and components, absorbing road shocks to reduce fatigue, or maintaining the bicycle itself, it is the "tire, the only part that makes contact with the road surface," that makes or breaks it.

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Tires, often a cost-cutting measure on many complete bikes

For many years, popular renowned brands... many complete bikes incorporating parts from SHIMANO, highly regarded for their performance and quality, have been available at affordable prices and are so-called long-sellers. The overall balance is excellent, making them recommended models for beginners who want to "get into road biking."

Even with such models, the tires are where "cost-cutting was unavoidable" to achieve that affordable price.

In most cases, the performance of "how it rides"—such as speed, comfort, and fatigue reduction—is secondary; the primary goal is to provide tires that allow riders to "ride a road bike" in the first place.

As you can see, many complete bikes from various manufacturers actually cut costs on tires to achieve "more affordable prices." (Conversely, if you think a complete bike's list price is high, it might actually come standard with good tires!)

The joy of getting a new bike is exceptional. Of course, the satisfaction level is very high at that stage. However, that is merely the starting point of your journey with that bicycle.

From there, make changes to the tires according to your desired conditions and performance, and help your bike evolve into a "more user-friendly and satisfying" ride!

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Enjoy the effects and benefits of tire customization!

●Light rolling, ●Road adherence/grip, ●Suppleness, ●Puncture resistance, ●Durability, ●Width... etc. Tires offer a wide variety of immense effects on bicycle performance.

Speaking for myself, for example, even with 700x33C cyclocross tires, I use 4 to 5 different types based on the situation: Challenge BABYLIMUS for slippery courses, Challenge CHICANE for courses with many hard surfaces, Challenge FANGO for wet grass surfaces, and the more affordable Challenge CHICANE RACE for everyday forest road cycling, etc., each chosen for its specific functionality.

Even within the same manufacturer and the same 33c width cyclocross tire, including tread patterns, weight, durability, ride comfort, lightness, and price, each has different characteristics. Enjoying the ability to use them for different situations, including how they roll, is a great pleasure.

For road tires, I think it's good to choose with a focus on: ●speed and lightness, ●all-around performance, or ●durability and puncture resistance, with the goals of preventing punctures and reducing running costs.

There are various models considering price, design, color, brand image, tread pattern, and weight.

Furthermore, by changing the tire width and tread pattern, it's possible to change the types of road conditions you can approach. Nowadays, there are also tubeless/tubeless-ready, hookless, and so on.

This isn't limited to tires, but it's really enjoyable to "customize your beloved bike" by imagining the roads you'll ride and trying out different ideas.

Among these, tire customization is the category that most significantly impacts "riding performance."

Rather than just focusing on "price," why not consider the performance aspects when replacing your tires?

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