Buying a fat tire bike will help keep you riding all year round, especially if you live somewhere that gets frequent snow or rainfall. When looking to get your first fat tire bike, always check out the manufacturer’s size guide. They will usually provide recommendations based on your height.

That said, finding the right size fat tire bike will involve getting the ride frame size, and the right tire size as the primary items you will want to think about when purchasing. Frame sizes will show in inches or centimeters, while the tire size will show up as a inches.

Getting the right frame size

Bear in mind that you can make several minor adjustments to a bike to fit you perfectly. However, you will be fighting a losing battle if you start with a frame that is way too large or too small for your body.

Going for a test ride is the best way to make sure you are getting the right size fat tire bike for you.

You need your fat tire bike to handle the conditions you want to ride it on. So just as important as the frame size is the wheels and tire set up. Getting this right the first time around will prevent you from having to shell out for new tires straightaway. 

Fat tire rims

Fat tire bikes come with rims that are designed to handle the added width of fat tires. However, some fat-tire bikes have also been designed to accommodate standard mountain bike tires.

Worth checking out if you are looking for a bike you can use all year round without slowing you down and don’t mind buying a second set of wheels. The wider the tire you want to use, the wider the rims will have to be. However, there is a balance as wider rims are heavier and more cumbersome than narrow wheels. 

A fat tire bike needs to be able to help you conquer any terrain. The wider the tire, the more comfortable the ride and more control you will have over uneven and slippery surfaces. Five-inches tires give you more control and comfort over soft ground such as snow and sand.

However, if you ride them on harder terrain, they are slower and more bouncy than thinner tires. Thinner tires are faster and better for drier trails. So the width of the fat tires depends entirely on where you will be riding.