New tyres making life less tiring

[pauljonhaz]

Hi everyone

This is my first post, Im a newbie been cycling for about a month now and have been truly bitten by the cycling bug.

I have been commuting with big knobbly tioga yellow kirin 26x2.1 tyres on my Dawes XC2.2 and after reading about different tyres and how they could improve my ride I decided to go for something different.

I've went for some Continental travel contacts and wow what a difference, who would of thought it would make my already enjoyable cycle ride to work even more so

My journey is almost all road so if there is any other newbies using knobblies I would highly advise a change in tyre if mainly doing road and gravel like myself. Its sooooooo smoooth

Loving the forum guys

 

[Tynan]

damn right

and get them to max pressure and keep them there

I've just fitted a lary yellow rear tyre and it's stacks faster then the red one before it

 

[cheadle hulme]

damn right
and get them to max pressure and keep them there
I've just fitted a lary yellow rear tyre and it's stacks faster then the red one before it

Yellow tyres are 12% faster though innit?

Paul - Do Conti tyres still come with a 12 month puncture guarantee? I had Sport Contacts on my hybrid and they were very fast and robust. Keep the receipt if they still do the guarantee. I think they give you a new tyre+tube if you get a flat.

 

[Randochap]

Do not, I repeat, do not, inflate those tyres to maximum pressure.

You have made a good switch to decent road tyres with a smooth-rolling centre tread. Too bad about the side knobs -- just be careful cornering on the road as these will squirm.

Now pump them up based on surface and your weight.

The recommended inflation pressure on the Travel Contact is 65psi (maximum 85). Even if you are a heavy person and you ride only on good roads, the maximum you'd realistically need is 75psi.

More than that and you are going to compromise comfort and speed on anything more uneven than a steel roller.

Visit the other tyre threads presently high up on the beginners forum to see why this belief that high pressure/narrow tyres = performance refuses to die.

 

[Globalti]

It's a shame that new cyclists don't get advice on this kind of thing when they buy their bike. I started MTBing with my tyres so soft that they used to creep around the rims when I braked! I just thought that they were designed to run soft and squidgy, I used to get lots of pinch punctures. Then I discovered pressure, then I discovered narrow commuter tyres and began using these for Polaris events.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Pauljonhaz- Welcome to the first step to enlightenment *

I went from knobbly's with around 35 psi in them to Trail (Hybrid) tyres running at 54 psi front 60 psi rear and thought my bike had changed.

If like me you are little overweight I would work on the 10% rule. i.e. whatever psi you put in the rear put 10% less in the front. If you are not overweight then use the same tyre pressure in both tyres.


*
(Step 2 is OMG this lark is expensive)

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I agree. MTB's come with chunky tyres, so when you buy new ones you buy more chunky tyres even if you are riding on the rode or easy trails. Pays to belong to this forum and also to look at the online Cycling Websites IMHO.

It's a shame that new cyclists don't get advice on this kind of thing when they buy their bike. I started MTBing with my tyres so soft that they used to creep around the rims when I braked! I just thought that they were designed to run soft and squidgy, I used to get lots of pinch punctures. Then I discovered pressure, then I discovered narrow commuter tyres and began using these for Polaris events.

 

[accountantpete]

Listen to the tyres as they roll - the majority of that sound is the sound of wasted energy.

And you really ought to try a set of tubs at least once in your life -they are a nightmare as regards practicality but a dream to ride on.

 

[pauljonhaz]

Yellow tyres are 12% faster though innit?

Paul - Do Conti tyres still come with a 12 month puncture guarantee? I had Sport Contacts on my hybrid and they were very fast and robust. Keep the receipt if they still do the guarantee. I think they give you a new tyre+tube if you get a flat.

Yeah with the tyres got free tubes and a 12month puncture gaurentee absolute bargain. I was looking at the sports contact but do a little off road riding so opted for the travel contacts with the little knobbles on the side.