The tyres on a fat bike are wider than those on a mountain bike, which is the main difference between the two. Fat bike tyres range in width from 3.8" to 5.2". (96-132mm). Standard mountain bike tyres are between 1.9" and 2.6" wide (48-66mm).

Fat bikes have wider rims than mountain bikes because they have tyres that are so wide. Fat bike wheels are at least 55mm wide, and most are 65mm. The width of most mountain bike wheels is about 30mm. The wheels on a fat bike are either 26" or 27.5" in diameter. 

With the big tyres, the wheels have the same diameter as the 29" wheels found on most mountain bikes today. So, if you are looking to buy a fat bike, here are some benefits you should know.

You can ride fat bikes in deep snow, loose sand, and mud.

This is possible because the wide tyres spread your weight, the weight of the bike, and the weight of your gear over a larger area. Less force was put on the ground by the big tyres. This lets the tyres roll over snow, sand, and mud instead of sinking in and getting stuck like a normal mountain bike tyre would. People often call this part of rolling over "floatation."

Also, the extra-wide tyres make a bigger contact area with the ground, which is great for traction on snow, ice, and sand, which are all slippery. When you hit a slippery spot, the fat bike won't try to slide out from under you. 

Installing tyres with spikes can help you get a better grip on ice. A fat bike can go places that other bikes can't. Because of this, fat bikes are a great choice for people who live in places with a lot of sand or snow. One of the best things about fat tyre bikes is that they can do this.

Riding a fat bike is smooth and comfortable

The big, fat tyres can run with a very low amount of air pressure. Because of this, the tyres are very soft. Soft tyres take in vibrations and shocks from the road or trail. When you hit a rock on the trail, the tyre deforms around it and takes the impact instead of bouncing off. 

This makes the ride more comfortable and less tiring on rough terrain because you don't bounce around as much. On a fat bike, the ride is much smoother. Some fat bikes also have a fork with suspension to make the ride even better.

Most fat bikes also have a comfortable upright riding position because of the way the frame is made. This isn't hard on the back, neck, or shoulders at all.

Excellent traction/grip

Fat bikes are the Best Bicycles when it comes to traction. Tyres that are wider and have more air in them make more contact with the ground than narrower tyres. This increases traction by making the tyre and the ground rub against each other more.

You can also run fat tyres with air pressure as low as 5 to 8 psi. This makes the tyre soft, so more tread can touch the ground. This will help you even more. The extra grip is important when riding on surfaces like snow, ice, sand, and wet rocks that are slippery. With more grip, you can also turn, speed up, and, most importantly, stop harder without your tyres slipping.

You can ride a fat bike all year long, no matter the weather

If you live in a place where it snows a lot, you probably put your bike away after the first snowfall. With a fat bike, you can ride all year long instead of just 7-8 months. Fat bikes are great for riding in snow and ice. After all, that's what they were made for to begin with.

Fewer cracked rims and broken spokes

Tires with a lot of surface area act as shock absorbers. When you hit a bump or fall from a ledge, the rims and spokes don't take much of a hit. Wide rims also have a stronger structure than mountain bike rims because they are made of a lot more material.

Also, the wheels on fat bikes are usually smaller (usually 26" or 27.5"). The spokes on these smaller wheels are shorter and stronger than the spokes on 29" wheels, which are longer.

Because of this, broken spokes and cracked or warped rims happen to fat bikes much less often. You can also carry more weight without worrying that the wheels will break. This is useful when bikepacking or touring by bike. Check out my guides on carbon vs. aluminium rims and 32 vs. 36 spoke bike wheels for more information on wheels