Bicycle- Road Tires

[stuartj]

Im a bit intrigued. I put a new bike on the road 12 months ago, and on it a pair of new Continental tires. A 25mm Conti "GrandSport Race" (Chinese) on the rear and a 23mm GrandPrix (German) on the front. I normally buy Conti tires, I don't care which- i buy whatever Conti the online shop Im buying bits from has on sale, because Ive never been abe to discern a difference. I normally get ~5000km out of a rear tyre and 5500-6000 out of the front.

The Chinese Conti on the rear was changed for an identical tire at 6200km. Im keeping a drive line maintenance log on this bike, I made a note "good tire, maybe 500km left in it".

But- the bike has just ticked over 10000km (6200m). The front tire is still going strong. Looking at the wear indictors, Im guessing it has 1000-1500km left. I cant quite believe it.

My riding patterns, locations, surfaces, pressures, haven't changed. My only theory is that this bike pitches my weight further back over the rear wheel. But I seem to be getting extended life on the rear too. Any ideas?

Also, this is by no means a complaint…

[rwest]

The rear gets more weight, torque from the driveline and braking. I get almost double the life on my front and less flats as well.

I generally buy 3 tires at a time and swap the rear once and then replace both, etc.

[rwest]

I wonder if the fact that the front wheel steers puts less load on it due to cornering? The rear wheel maybe slides sideways in turns?

[slow&rusty]

I ride about 2,500 miles per year and change the tires on my road bike once per year. Typically I buy Michelin Lithion tires as they are bit more "hardy" (puncture resistant).

[red-beard]

I used two types. Gatorskins for regular training, since they are a bit more puncture resistant, but not crazy heavy like the Specialized Armadillo. I keep those on a specific set of wheels.

For the road races/events, I used Grand Prix 4000 (now 5000).

[gatotom]

I have had really good luck with TuFu clincher road tires, I like them because I can pump them up to 170lb pressure, like sew up tires, I buy them from bike tires direct.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by gatotom

I have had really good luck with TuFu clincher road tires, I like them because I can pump them up to 170lb pressure, like sew up tires, I buy them from bike tires direct.

What do you ride on? Glass?

[gatotom]

always have rode on sew up tires 170 lb pressure, like them hard, they are tough tires, will get easy a yr of riding. We don't have goat heads around here, just have to watch for broken glass or whatever. My weight is give or take a few pounds at 180, if I ride a lot 175 or less. Not a lot of resistance on the road from the my weight.

Road surface is usually asphalt or concrete, no gravel.

[mepstein]

I used to ride sew ups at 125. Latest studies have shown that lower pressures roll with less effort. It takes a bit to get used to because the tires feel a bit mushy at first but I like it. It should have been obvious since I went from 40-45 to 25 on my mt bike years ago. So wider and lower is faster - who would have guessed.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by mepstein

wider and lower is faster - who would have guessed.

With a footnote. The pressure needs to go down as the roughness of the surface goes up, so a super smooth surface is actually faster at higher pressure. But yes, for normal less than smooth roads, wider and softer is faster (the rougher, the softer the tires should be)

[nota]

not a racer or distance rider

so I go as big as will fit for traction/stopping /dodging grip
car drivers here will try to kill you

some bike's like my alan [early screwed and glued alloy] can't take much over a 27mm 700c
on others I run up to 38mm for better grip