Tyres!

[l4dva]

Hi guys,

Im currently using 700*32 specialized borough's, just wanting to know if I were to change them for something completely slick and thinner, would I see much improvement in roll? I'm planning on doing a 70 mile charity ride in the summer, and wounder if changing my tyres could make it easier/faster for me?

Prity much all of my cyclying is done on road!

Would I need to change inner tubes if I went for slimmer tyres as well? Also what size/make of tyre could you recomend?

Thanks
L4dva

 

[RedBike]

Although wider tyres in theory have LOWER rolling resistances a thinner LIGHTER tyre at a high pressure will roll along noticeably quicker. (No point fitting rubbish).

Your inner tubes will fit a range of tyre sizes. You will need to check to see if there is a size guide printed on them. They should fit a slightly narrower tyre though.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I think other factors may be more important. I run a road bike on 700 x 23 and tourer on 700 x 32, but the difference is barely perceptible. The road bike does accelerate a little quicker than the tourer, but that's about as far as it goes.

Pressures are probably more important. Check this out: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Although wider tyres in theory have LOWER rolling resistances a thinner LIGHTER tyre at a high pressure will roll along noticeably quicker. (No point fitting rubbish).

Your inner tubes will fit a range of tyre sizes. You will need to check to see if there is a size guide printed on them. They should fit a slightly narrower tyre though.

Sorry Redbike, you also need to read http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure. Thinner tyres do not roll quicker than fatter ones.

 

[RedBike]

Sorry Redbike, you also need to read http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure. Thinner tyres do not roll quicker than fatter ones.

Oh yes they do!
Ever seen a time triallist using 32mm tyres?

All things being equal a wider tyre will roll along easier than a thinner tyre at the same pressure.
However, all things are not equal. Narrower tyres are run at higher pressures. A narrower tyre should weigh a lot less too.
When climbing or accelerating rotating mass really makes a difference.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Isn't that what my OP implied?

The original poster is not doing time trials, he is doing a charity ride.

 

[l4dva]

Hmmmm interesting!
I did actually notice the tyre roll a lotter better when I pumped them up to about 80 psi, so I can agree with that.

A thinner tyre would make sence...less resistance and all that.....What kind would you recomend?

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Don't forget that a thinner tyre means sacrificing comfort. Recommendations as to tyres are of limited use except possibly for puncture resistance.

Also, the bike you are using makes a huge difference. A supple frame will be comfortable with high pressures, whilst in general a rigid frame may be more comfortable with lower pressures. Having done a number of charity rides, I would recommend comfort over a slight difference in rolling resistance any time.

 

[RedBike]

Although pumping your tyres up to a higher pressure will significantly decrease the rolling resistance of your tyres i'm afriad even 80psi isn't going to make them roll like race specific 700x23mm tyres.

As for which tyres it all depends on how extreme you want to go.
You could in theory fit a set of Mitchelin Pro race 3 tyres. They'd be a lot quicker and somewhat irronically grippier than what you're currently got. However, you might find them them somewhat of an extreme change and a little expensive.

My recommendation is for the Conti Ultra Gators 700x25. A good value, pretty puncture proof and rolls well. The only slight downsides are they're not the lightest for their size and they don't grip that well in the wet.

Or The Conti 4 seasons. A bit more expensive but that extra cost goes into better wet weather grip and a lighter tyre.

 

[Tynan]

sod comfort, speed first

you get used to the ride on hard tyres anyway

Gators!

Scwalbe Luganos and most lately a Blizzard, work fine for me and cheap as chips

 

[fossyant]

23-25mm tyres are the optimum for weight, speed etc. TBH I notice massive differences between say Pro Race tyres and the more budget ones - the bike feels totally different.

Go for 25mm, and new tubes. I can recommend Conti Grand Prix All Seasons so far - not quite a 'race' tyre, but similar weight, with added toughness.

 

[HJ]

Although wider tyres in theory have LOWER rolling resistances a thinner LIGHTER tyre at a high pressure will roll along noticeably quicker. (No point fitting rubbish).

Your inner tubes will fit a range of tyre sizes. You will need to check to see if there is a size guide printed on them. They should fit a slightly narrower tyre though.

The following is taken from Schwalbe Technical Information:

Why do wide tires roll better than narrow ones?

The answer to this question lies in tire deflection. Each tire is flattened a little under load. This creates a flat contact area.

At the same tire pressure, a wide and a narrow tire have the same contact area. A wide tire is flattened over its width whereas a narrow tire has a slimmer but longer contact area.

The flattened area can be considered as a counterweight to tire rotation. Because of the longer flattened area of the narrow tire, the wheel loses more of its “roundness” and produces more deformation during rotation.
However, in the wide tire, the radial length of the flattened area is shorter, making the tire “rounder” and so it rolls better.

Why do Pros ride narrow tires if wide tires roll better?

Wide tires only roll better at the same inflation pressure, but narrow tires can be inflated to higher pressures than wide tires. However, they then obviously give a less
comfortable ride.

In addition to this, narrow tires have an advantage over wide ones at higher speeds, as they provide less air resistance.

Above all, a bicycle with narrow tires is much easier to accelerate because the rotating mass of the wheels is lower and the bicycle is much more agile.

At constant speeds of around 20 km/h, the ride is better with wider tires. In practice, the energy saving is even greater than in theory as the elasticity of the tires absorbs road shocks, which would otherwise be transferred to the rider and so saves energy.

But then what to Schwalbe know about tyres....

 

[Gerry Attrick]

The following is taken from Schwalbe Technical Information:



But then what to Schwalbe know about tyres....

I believe my paraphrasing was accurate

 

[RedBike]

You can more or less read that quote any way you like!

Why do wide tires roll better than narrow ones?

The answer to this question lies in tire deflection. Each tire is flattened a little under load. This creates a flat contact area.

At the same tire pressure, a wide and a narrow tire have the same contact area. A wide tire is flattened over its width whereas a narrow tire has a slimmer but longer contact area.

The flattened area can be considered as a counterweight to tire rotation. Because of the longer flattened area of the narrow tire, the wheel loses more of its “roundness” and produces more deformation during rotation.
However, in the wide tire, the radial length of the flattened area is shorter, making the tire “rounder” and so it rolls better.

Why do Pros ride narrow tires if wide tires roll better?

Wide tires only roll better at the same inflation pressure, but narrow tires can be inflated to higher pressures than wide tires. However, they then obviously give a less
comfortable ride.

In addition to this, narrow tires have an advantage over wide ones at higher speeds, as they provide less air resistance.

Above all, a bicycle with narrow tires is much easier to accelerate because the rotating mass of the wheels is lower and the bicycle is much more agile.

At constant speeds of around 20 km/h, the ride is better with wider tires. In practice, the energy saving is even greater than in theory as the elasticity of the tires absorbs road shocks, which would otherwise be transferred to the rider and so saves energy.

or

Why do wide tires roll better than narrow ones?

The answer to this question lies in tire deflection. Each tire is flattened a little under load. This creates a flat contact area.

At the same tire pressure, a wide and a narrow tire have the same contact area. A wide tire is flattened over its width whereas a narrow tire has a slimmer but longer contact area.

The flattened area can be considered as a counterweight to tire rotation. Because of the longer flattened area of the narrow tire, the wheel loses more of its “roundness” and produces more deformation during rotation.
However, in the wide tire, the radial length of the flattened area is shorter, making the tire “rounder” and so it rolls better.

Why do Pros ride narrow tires if wide tires roll better?

Wide tires only roll better at the same inflation pressure, but narrow tires can be inflated to higher pressures than wide tires. However, they then obviously give a less
comfortable ride.

In addition to this, narrow tires have an advantage over wide ones at higher speeds, as they provide less air resistance.

Above all, a bicycle with narrow tires is much easier to accelerate because the rotating mass of the wheels is lower and the bicycle is much more agile.

At constant speeds of around 20 km/h, the ride is better with wider tires. In practice, the energy saving is even greater than in theory as the elasticity of the tires absorbs road shocks, which would otherwise be transferred to the rider and so saves energy.

I'm sticking to my original post. Narrower tyres, as in 23/25mm, roll along quicker than wider 32/35mm tyres.

 

[l4dva]

Thanks guys I think thats enough justification for me to spend some money lol

Now for choosing a tyre, I don't particularly want to spend a huge amount of money, £50 max on both if possible! I quite like the look of the gatorskins...Whats the difference betweent these two...ones folding the other isn't...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_Ultra_Gator_Duraskin_Tyre/5300002585/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_Ultra_Gator_Duraskin_Folding_Tyre/5360028710/

Is it worth paying extra for folding?!?

Dose anyone know if the inner tubes I have already would need changing as well? I'm riding a spech tricross only about 2/3 months old...

Will these be lighter than wat ive already got?