Need some wheel/tyre advice

[Sapper]

Sapper: Marathon Plus have a reputation for being virtually bullet proof, so no worries on that score, the only down side is that they are heavy, but that is the price you pay for such p*nct*re resistance.

jimbo: Conti recommend that Sport Contact be pumped to at least 80 psi, given your weight (trying not to be personal about this) 105 psi is probably a good idea.

Well currently Im a fat git with a weight of about 105 kg. My tyres suggest no more than 7 bar? should I increase it?

In terms of weight of tyrre Im no doing huge distances. If it takes me an extra 5 minutes over 10 miles then ts 5 more minutes of burning calories

Adrian

 

[HJ]

Well currently Im a fat git with a weight of about 105 kg. My tyres suggest no more than 7 bar? should I increase it?

In terms of weight of tyrre Im no doing huge distances. If it takes me an extra 5 minutes over 10 miles then ts 5 more minutes of burning calories

Adrian

7 bar is about 105 psi, so that should be enough, for some reason Schwalbe consider the average rider to weigh only 75 Kg. Narrower tyres generally can take more pressure, but you need to check that your rims can also take the pressure. For more info on tyres see here...

 

[Mr Pig]

I use Specialized Nimbus Armadillo tyres which I pump up to about 90 psi. In five years I've only had one puncture and that was when the tyre was very worn and a metal staple scored a direct hit. Even at that it was a slow, heard it ticking off the ground for ten minutes before the tyre was down.

I'm sure the Conti tyres will be fine too, I've not used them but as long as they've got good kevlar belting in them and they're pumped up as hard as you can get them most unfriendly objects will just bounce off. I can ride over a sea of broken glass on the Nimbus with no worries. I'm fifteen stone incidently.

The other benefit if high tyre presures is low rolling resistance. You'll be surprized by how fast you can go! :0)

 

[Nigeyy]

Yep, 40 psi is way too low for road tyres. I'm not familiar with the Contis you have, but would guess you should be about twice that psi (look on the tyre, it should be printed on it -I'm guessing that's why you have put in 100psi).

And can't agree with you more -the mini pumps are good for emergencies, but generally not really any good for pumping up tyres regularly. It took me a time to invest in a floor pump, but once I did, I've never ever regretted it!

Good luck tomorrow!

Ok, so I picked up a decent pump on the way home from work and just put it to work on the tyres. Both the back and front wheels were at around 40 psi... What an ejit Just shows.. although the tyres felt hard before, they weren't 'rock hard'. Those mini pumps are good enough to get you home if you get a punchure etc, but they don't get enough air in the tyre for general use.

So anyway, pumped em up to around 100psi now and they seem much, much better. Never thought I'd say this but I'm actually looking forward to work tomorrow, just so I can test out the new ride. I'll hold off on the new tyres purchase until I test these ones PROPERLY!

Thanks guys. Been a great help.

No way dude. I'm loving my Sub 10. Was lucky enough to get it for £400 in that big Evans sale a few weeks ago.

 

[Nerazzurri]

Quite the opposite: tread picks up things like flints and holds them until each successive rotation pushes it through the tyre.

Hmm, thanks Tim, that's good advice. Isn't it swings and roundabouts though, as the raised parts of the tread will give you an extra 3 or 4mm of protective rubber?

 

[Mr Pig]

tread picks up things like flints and holds them until each successive rotation pushes it through the tyre.

I don't think that's true, not on a 'road' tyre with tight tread and kevlar belting anyway. I'm not saying you need tread on a road tyre but I don't think it causes punctures.

The thicker the rubber you've got between you and sharp objects the better.

 

[Tim Bennet.]

The thicker the rubber you've got between you and sharp objects the better.

What if the sharp objects are between the thick bits - ie 'in the treads'? That's where they tend to get held in tyres like Conti 4 Seasons, etc.

If you want to have thick rubber on your tyres, it would seem to be best to have it all over the contact area of the tyre - why cut grooves in it making some bits thinner? Neither makes sense or works out in practice: For a given weight of tyre, those that are smooth suffer less punctures from picking up flints and the like, than those with tread.

 

[Nerazzurri]

If you want to have thick rubber on your tyres, it would seem to be best to have it all over the contact area of the tyre - why cut grooves in it making some bits thinner? Neither makes sense or works out in practice: For a given weight of tyre, those that are smooth suffer less punctures from picking up flints and the like, than those with tread.

Yes, for a given weight of tyre, but isn't that the thing - treaded tyres are generally heavier? And they're not made thinner by cutting grooves - the tread is formed on top of the equally thick running surface?

IMHO

 

[Nigeyy]

My quick input on tyres -doesn't make that much difference having tread or not -it's the brand, material quality and design of tyre (some tyres with tread pick up bits more easily that work in the tyre, some slicks don't offer good flat protection).

I have tyres with and without tread -the factors mentioned above have far more to do with flat resistance and performance than the categories of slick/treaded.