Need ideas for 36" tire tread

If it requires cannibalizing a brand new 36" tire, how much are these
things likely to cost? Or could you use the tread from two "regular"
tires? That could be a lot cheaper, and also give you way more choices.
But still it sounds pretty expensive...

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Let me clarify. The tire company makes cotton and silk casings. All I
need to do is supply a continuous loop of rubber tread that they will
vulcanize to the casing to complete the prototype. If it goes into
production, they will be more interested in sourcing the treads
themselves.

So the tread has to be a continuous loop of rubber. I wasn't suggesting
that it absolutely had to be from a new 36" tire, although that would
seem to make it easier and guarantee the right size. But it cannot be 2
pieces fused together. Then you would have a sound and possibly a bump
twice per revolution.

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Very interesting. I really would like a 36" tire at half the weight. No
matter how long it would last or be priced.

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unijuul

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As long as the two joins are made neatly and accurately, I don't think
that you would notice any kind of bump when riding. And, as been
mentioned already, the choice of 26" tyre treads is extensive (and
cheap). The fact that it's a prototype should be enough of a reason
to choose a good tread design firstly and worry about the slight joint
mis-match less.

STM

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semach.the.monkey
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semach.the.monkey said:

worry about the slight joint mis-match less.

Which surely can be sanded/shaved off afterwards for the prototype?

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Kieron said:

I tell u wat they would have to be a very commited pedo to learn to ride
a unicycle in order to mingle with us, steel one of us and rape us in a
bush.

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unisk8r nice going, looking into a lighter tire/tube for the 36" wheel.
This combo tire tube is something I'm not familiar with, but sounds
like a great solution.

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Chrashing

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Ken

I've been flying.......
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Here's a thousand more words:

http://www.worldclasscycles.com/dugast_strada_cotton.htm

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unisk8r
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unisk8r said:

Around 50 sounds good. I know the Nightrider is rated to 65psi, but what
do folks think about that? I have only briefly inflated a coker tire to
that pressure, and it is too hard for my liking. The idea of a tubular
tire would make for less rolling resistance at 30-50psi. Thus
maintaining some semblance of tire suspension effect.

hence maybe I just get a 4mm thick piece of rubber and cut a loop to
shape.

Since the big goal here is to make a light tire, the best
combination would be a very thin tread layer and very high pressure.
If the Coker tire you briefly inflated to 65 psi felt too hard it's
probably because the tread is very thick. I would imagine it's around
5 or 6 mm. It would feel like you're riding a truck tire. I like to
keep my tire pumped up to at least 80 psi. When it gets down to 60 or
70 it starts to feel soft, a little slow to turn and vulnerable to
bumps.
If you thin out the tread to 2 mm and add that to the casing which
is probably less than 1 mm then the tire becomes suitably light. It
also is much more pliable than a thicker tire. Not only will this very
thin tire need high pressure to maintain its support but it will feel
great precisely because it is so pliable.
I just took my callipers and measured a new Continental Contact
tire 28 X 1 1/4 X 1 3/4. (It's my preferred tire right now.) Its total
thickness came in under 3 mm. So if you were to glue a 4 mm tread to a
casing that would put the tire thickness up at about 5 mm which would
translate to a needlessly heavy tire.
The tires on that link you gave us can be inflated up above 100
psi. Now those are fast and light tires! I'll bet they're less than 2
mm thick.
What are they using in their casing? Given the option, I'd
recommend getting a layer of kevlar in there. I wore my last two tires
down to the threads without getting any flats.
A light tire is so much more responsive in accellerating and
turning. I always find riding one of those fat tires to be really
sluggish and cumbersome. Yes, they're perfect for Muni and Trials but
if you want to cover some distance then we'll need to keep developing
skinnier tires.
Even though sew ups give me the heebie jeebies, they are apealing if
the alternative is a 1900 gram lunk run at 50 psi.
Thanks for putting in the work on product development. This is how
great ideas become standard production models.

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naturequack

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naturequack said:

Not only will this very thin tire need high pressure to maintain its
support

Yes, I think that you're looking at high pressure, and a thin tire. An
Airfoil-width tubular at 50 psi would be a mushy nightmare, I imagine.

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Greatly appreciate the input, you guys are on the right path here. I
agree the harshness of a higher pressure would be offset with the
suppleness of a thinner tread. So maybe I shoot for 2mm thick tread?

Problem is still finding a continuous loop with a 113" circumference.
Further thoughts?

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Why not use a rubber rim strip? Or are they too soft..

The biggest problem I see with a flat piece of rubber is that without
all that little detailing, which I guess is tread, that you see on
bmx/road tires, turning will suck. But having a working prototype would
be enough, I agree.

sew up 36 tires sound cool. Especially so if having to carry a spare
meant only as much as a 29er tube weighs now anyways. I tend to ride my
coker at 60psi or so when doing long distance, I hate the mushy feel
when I'm riding up hills, so I could see myself having 80+ on a 'pure
road' unicycle, especially with thin tread.

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unisk8r said:

So maybe I shoot for 2mm thick tread?

Problem is still finding a continuous loop with a 113" circumference.
Further thoughts?

2 mm sounds perfect to me. About the only source that I can think of
is cutting apart an innertube. You'd gett a nice thin rubber strip
that is already curved to fit the casing.
Of course it's too soft and would wear out in about 5 miles, but this
is a prototype after all.

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I still can't see why you cant just use a flat strip of rubber which
could just be butted up to itself in the vulcanizing process.

I am sure that these tires would be expensive if they ever become a
production item. Could you repeatedly get your tire re-treaded when
they wear out? Or would they be done once the tread is worn through?

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Wouldnt it be a 34" tubular? if the tire is going to be the width of the
rim (approx 1"😉 would the diameter not decrease by 2". if your doing
that there is going to be at least one seam, and if your having one
seam why not make it 2?

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unicyclist.ca said:

Wouldnt it be a 34" tubular? if the tire is going to be the width of the
rim (approx 1"😉 would the diameter not decrease by 2".

Might want to re-read this thread. No one suggested the tire would be
the width of the rim. The tire section will be at least 2", but I don't
think it necessarily needs to be the current standard of 2 1/4". The
section plus the tread = the total diameter.
Plus, tubulars are more supple than clinchers, so we may not need the
full section width to get a suspension effect with the tire.

Quoted message said:

if your doing that there is going to be at least one seam, and if your
having one seam why not make it 2?

I never said there was going to be a seam (referring to the tread). The
ideal tread is a continuous loop of rubber, which is adhered to the
casing. Think a large rim strip!

And yes, tubulars can be re-treaded! As long as the casing stays in
good order.

I'm going to ejukate you guys on tire technology whether you want it or
not! 😄

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unisk8r said:

Might want to re-read this thread. No one suggested the tire would be
the width of the rim. The tire section will be at least 2", but I don't
think it necessarily needs to be the current standard of 2 1/4". The
section plus the tread = the total diameter.
Plus, tubulars are more supple than clinchers, so we may not need the
full section width to get a suspension effect with the tire.

I never said there was going to be a seam (referring to the tread). The
ideal tread is a continuous loop of rubber, which is adhered to the
casing. Think a large rim strip!

And yes, tubulars can be re-treaded! As long as the casing stays in
good order.

I'm going to ejukate you guys on tire technology whether you want it or
not! 😄

AHHHHHH! (runs away from the man with the tire edumacation)

this thread is really interesting, so would these tires essentially be
tubeless?

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Matt said:

Yeah I do, but, I'm lazy you see... it's this disease and uh, I haven't
taken my medication?

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