Is the bike industry divided over new tire and wheel rim-size regulations?

New recommendations have created a split within the world's tyre and rim organisation

future
(Image credit: Future)

Unbeknown to most cyclists, a Brussels-based organisation, called the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organisation, most commonly known as ETRTO, has been debating the safety of hookless (straight walled) wheel rims and compatible road bike tires. And their decision could impact your ride.

Made up of experts from wheel and tire manufacturers, the ETRTO committee is responsible for producing the recommended  safety standards on, as you might have guessed, all aspects of wheel rims and tires - including those on bikes. 

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Hannah Bussey

Hannah is Cycling Weekly’s longest-serving tech writer, having started with the magazine back in 2011. She has covered all things technical for both print and digital over multiple seasons representing CW at spring Classics, and Grand Tours and all races in between.

Hannah was a successful road and track racer herself, competing in UCI races all over Europe as well as in China, Pakistan and New Zealand.

For fun, she's ridden LEJOG unaided, a lap of Majorca in a day, won a 24-hour mountain bike race and tackled famous mountain passes in the French Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Himalayas. 

She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection.