Rolling Resistance of tyres.

[Yellow Saddle]

Most "rolling resistance" is actually caused by friction in bearings, and in leading edge deformation

That machine will cause very little leading edge deformation like a road would do, and would become negligible on the road. Tyre pressure will make a bigger difference.

Tyres are routinely tested on steel drums. The fact that the figures obtained are not the same as that same tyre would achieve on a road, is irrelevant. A steel drum can be calibrated for "smoothness" - a tarmac-coated drum or real road not. Therefore the figures quoted are not to be viewed as absolutes but as factors. The variable is the particular road and the same road will overlay the same variable.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

ok ... try this:

fit a pair of Schwalbe Marathon plus to your bike then ride for 3 months on your regular cycle routes and record your times (*and the wind speeds) ..,. use strava and make a note of the wind

then,fit a pair of Continental Grand Prix 4000sII and do the same,..., then post back here and tell us if tyres make a difference or not

That's not an experiment, that's fooling around with Strava. There's no way you'll equalise the variables by playing around like that.

 

[dim]

To plug in some of my numbers....I typically average about 160W and 22km/hr on a longer ride. Let's assume I'm running Luganos and change to the slippiest tyres. This reduces my rolling resistance from 43.8W to 15.4W. So I previously used 116.2W to overcome wind resistance and I now have 144.6W available for this. Wind resistance is proportional to the square of the velocity so this let's me increase my speed by 11.5%...from 22 to 24..5km/hr

and ... some/many people say that if you use better wheels, you can add another 2-3km/hr

 

[dim]

That's not an experiment, that's fooling around with Strava. There's no way you'll equalise the variables by playing around like that.

ok ... then forget about Strava (sounds like you are old and cannot handle new technology/gadgets and are most probably still using wireless valve radio.....

but do yourself a favour (thats assuming that you are truly interested in finding out the answer) .... test the 2 tyres that I posted previously, and tell us if there is a difference in average speed

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Tyres are routinely tested on steel drums. The fact that the figures obtained are not the same as that same tyre would achieve on a road, is irrelevant. A steel drum can be calibrated for "smoothness" - a tarmac-coated drum or real road not. Therefore the figures quoted are not to be viewed as absolutes but as factors. The variable is the particular road and the same road will overlay the same variable.

That's not what I am saying.

I am saying that products such as tyres, can be developed to perform well on test machines. It does not necessarily translate to advantages in the real world.

 

[Ajax Bay]

How significant is this [200% greater rolling resistance of one tyre cf the 'best'] in the real world for someone who doesn't race but does do long rides so doesn't wish to waste energy?

tell us if tyres make a difference or not

Who suggested that tyres did not make a difference?

some/many people say that if you use better wheels [the resistance will be less]

What's this got to do with the OP question (see quote above)?
@Banjo - you will go a bit slower the lower down the rr list the tyre you choose is. But some will offer better endurance (last longer), will be more robust (reduced chance of puncturing), will be lighter (not significant within tyre 'class'), prices will vary (Luganos v cheap), and some come in different colours which may augment or enhance the beauty of your ride. There are trade offs between all these factors and only you know what's more or less important to you. Bear in mind the 'fastest' tyre (Vittorias) you compared the Luganos to are for TT and will wear out after just a few test miles, probably.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I have no idea of the answer @Banjo , but it's an extremely interesting question and it's clearly driving some lively debate which I'm enjoying, so have a like for starting the discussion.
FWIW, I seem to find myself aligned with Ajax's general view.

 

[Tin Pot]

How significant is this in the real world for someone who doesn't race but does do long rides so doesn't wish to waste energy?

Insignificant.

Now end thread before they really get into it! Quick!!

 

[goody]

I fitted a superlite ulremo with latex tube on the front wheel and a marathon plus with heavy duty tube on the back wheel, road and wind conditions were the same each time I went out and could detect no difference in speed of either wheel and tyre combo. Go figure!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

ok ... try this:

fit a pair of Schwalbe Marathon plus to your bike then ride for 3 months on your regular cycle routes and record your times (*and the wind speeds) ..,. use strava and make a note of the wind

then,fit a pair of Continental Grand Prix 4000sII and do the same,..., then post back here and tell us if tyres make a difference or not

Just ensure you include time spent fixing punctures into your average speed calculation.

 

[mustang1]

Somebody wake me up.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Somebody wake me up.

OK, that was about 8 hours. Here's your coffee. Now get up.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

That's not what I am saying.

I am saying that products such as tyres, can be developed to perform well on test machines. It does not necessarily translate to advantages in the real world.

Volkswagen doesn't make tyres.

A test machine reading translates perfectly to rear road scenario. Anything the road throws at the tyre is merely an overlay onto the base reading of the steel drum on the test machine.

 

[Yellow Saddle]

ok ... then forget about Strava (sounds like you are old and cannot handle new technology/gadgets and are most probably still using wireless valve radio.....

but do yourself a favour (thats assuming that you are truly interested in finding out the answer) .... test the 2 tyres that I posted previously, and tell us if there is a difference in average speed

Aaaah. I see you work in a lab. How do you propose I do the test? You claim you have done it but I'm still waiting for the data.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I bought a brand new Seat Ibiza 1.6d sport in 09..it had the latest V.A.G diesel offering..
it claimed over 60mpg average....it rarely managed 40mpg..
so if we believe what were told from the makers then i guess thats ok...

all i can say is after riding 20 miles on 2.35 Hans Dampf tyres with 24psi on my MTB i find 20 miles on my road bike with 23mm lugs at 100psi seems a lot easier...as does the comuter with 32mm and 70psi.

my new fit bit said i did 34500 steps on Thursday so i will be looking for faster shoes..lol