When to change slick tires?

Zilla who? said:

I road and MTB. Now it's obvious to me when I need to change my MTB
tires. But how do I know when to change my slick road tires? Keep
track of the mileage? Even then I assume different tires will have
different mileage. Right?

That's why the best method is to watch when the tire casing cords
begins to show. When the first sign of that, a diagonal line that
looks like fine thread, appears you have about 100 miles left on the
tire. That's when you move the front tire to the rear and put on a
new front tire.

Jobst Brandt

Zilla said:

I road and mtb. Now it's obvous to me when I need to change
my mtb tires. But how do I know when to change my slick road
tires? Keep track of the mileage? Even then I assume different
tires will have different mileage. Right?

Yes they will, but tracking the mileage won't tell you much about how
worn the tires are. Assuming the tire is not fatally damaged by cuts to
the fabric, you can ride tires until the threads begin to show. But
many tires are replaced before that because flats are more likely as the
rubber thins.

--
Ted Bennett

Apparently they are NOT more puncture-prone as they wear. At least the
experts say they're not.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Quoted message said:

Apparently they are NOT more puncture-prone as they wear. At least the
experts say they're not.

Depends on the tire and the type of puncture. Touring tires with thick
rubber probably do get a little less puncture resistant when the rubber
gets very thin. Racing tires with thin rubber probably don't change much
as they wear.

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I road and mtb. Now it's obvous to me when I need to change
my mtb tires. But how do I know when to change my slick road
tires? Keep track of the mileage? Even then I assume different
tires will have different mileage. Right?

When the casing threads are showing, or when you start to get more flats than
usual. That's the method I use. It is usually around 3k miles for me.
--------------
Alex

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Apparently they are NOT more puncture-prone as they wear. At least the
experts say they're not.

That hasn't been my experience. As the tread gets thinner, debris can cut
through to the threads much easier.
---------------
Alex

Alex Rodriguez said:

Quoted message said:

Apparently they are NOT more puncture-prone as they wear. At least
the experts say they're not.

Quoted message said:

That hasn't been my experience. As the tread gets thinner, debris
can cut through to the threads much easier.

Considering that I ride my big yellow all purpose bicycle:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/

on the same roads as some of the folks here who report many glass and
thorn flats... and because I don't have that problem, my experience
may not help here. I ride my tires until substantial areas of casing
cords are exposed, and obviously do so on inflated tires. I don't
notice an increase in flats as the tires wear thin, probably because
the kind of glass cuts I get would go through any reasonable tire
equally easily whether new or worn out.

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from "debris" out
there, only an occasional pinch flat.

Jobst Brandt

Zilla said:

I road and mtb. Now it's obvous to me when I need to change
my mtb tires. But how do I know when to change my slick road
tires? Keep track of the mileage? Even then I assume different
tires will have different mileage. Right?

Many slicks adopt a rather squared-off profile when worn. This would be
a good time to change them. When the centre of the tread starts
cracking up it's definitely due.

Interesting, why is it only "slicks" that adopt a "rather squared-ff
profile when worn"? Wouldn't tires with tread do the same?

Thanks, I'll try this method.

--
- Zilla
Cary, NC USA
(Remove XSPAM)

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Zilla who? said:

I road and MTB. Now it's obvious to me when I need to change my MTB
tires. But how do I know when to change my slick road tires? Keep
track of the mileage? Even then I assume different tires will have
different mileage. Right?

That's why the best method is to watch when the tire casing cords
begins to show. When the first sign of that, a diagonal line that
looks like fine thread, appears you have about 100 miles left on the
tire. That's when you move the front tire to the rear and put on a
new front tire.

Jobst Brandt

Quoted message said:

Apparently they are NOT more puncture-prone as they wear. At least the
experts say they're not.

I've never found that to be the case, either. Since the outer rubber isn't
providing much of the puncture resistance, it makes sense. In fact,
it provides a nice grippy place for sharp things to lodge and work their
way in. If grip didn't matter, a kevlar outer would be ideal IMHO.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Quoted message said:

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from "debris" out
there, only an occasional pinch flat

Quoted message said:

From what I've observed, experienced, and read about here, the

frequency and causes of flats seems to vary tremendously where
conditions (roads and equipment) for different riders appear to be
pretty similar. My own experience, (30 + years of riding in NYC and
environs on roads full of potholes, glass, and debris) is exactly the
opposite of this. I've never had a pinch flat in my life. I've had
one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake heating on a long
steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by bits of glass, sharp
stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I switched to kevlar-belted
tires and have not had a single flat since, by far the longest
flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the belts, could be the tread
compound, could be the tire width, could be nothing more than a run of
good luck.

Someone said:

Quoted message said:

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from "debris"
out there, only an occasional pinch flat

Quoted message said:

From what I've observed, experienced, and read about here, the
frequency and causes of flats seems to vary tremendously where
conditions (roads and equipment) for different riders appear to be
pretty similar. My own experience, (30 + years of riding in NYC and
environs on roads full of potholes, glass, and debris) is exactly the
opposite of this. I've never had a pinch flat in my life.

Then you never rode into the sharp edge of one of those many potholes
of which you report. I assure you that, for instance riding up a 3"
high curb without lifting the bicycle WILL cause a pinch flat at
speeds above 10mph. That you haven't had any tells me that you don't
ride on rocky trails or cobbles as in Paris Roubaix.

Quoted message said:

I've had one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake heating
on a long steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by bits of
glass, sharp stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I switched
to kevlar-belted tires and have not had a single flat since, by far
the longest flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the belts,
could be the tread compound, could be the tire width, could be
nothing more than a run of good luck.

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on pinch
flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in four
years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than ride
from their house to the bus stop and back, something like taking a
bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

Jobst Brandt

Quoted message said:

Then you never rode into the sharp edge of one of those many potholes
of which you report.

Not so. I do this frequently. It's very hard not to where I ride.

Quoted message said:

I assure you that, for instance riding up a 3"
high curb without lifting the bicycle WILL cause a pinch flat at
speeds above 10mph. That you haven't had any tells me that you don't
ride on rocky trails or cobbles as in Paris Roubaix.

I try not to take curbs aggressively, but I can't always avoid doing
so. Never had a flat as a result. I ride the cobbles of Tribeca and
the West Village (which are square edged and ill-maintained) on a
regular basis. I haven't been to Roubaix, but I have been to Paris.
The cobbles there are like a billiard table compared to what we've got
here.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've had one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake heating
on a long steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by bits of
glass, sharp stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I switched
to kevlar-belted tires and have not had a single flat since, by far
the longest flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the belts,
could be the tread compound, could be the tire width, could be
nothing more than a run of good luck.

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on pinch
flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in four
years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than ride
from their house to the bus stop and back, something like taking a
bike tour on weekends.

I think you don't know me or my riding habits well enough to make this
kind of assertion. I commute (current round trip 23 miles) 2-3 days a
week, frequently take longer rides on weekends/vacations, and used to
do a bit of loaded touring. While nowhere near the mileage of many
others, it's pretty active, and it's certainly enough to put myself in
the way of plenty of puncture causing objects. For most of my riding
life, I got my share of flats. I don't recall *ever* not being able to
find a puncturing object, nor do I ever recall seeing the tell-tale
snakebite, despite lots of agressive riding on very bad roads. This
led me to state that I don't think I've ever had a pinch flat.

Since switching to kevlar-belted tires(follwing a spate of
glass-related flats), I have not gotten a single flat. I didn't say
kevlar prevented pinch flats, and I understand why they wouldn't. I
just said that since installing said tires, I haven't had a flat caused
by puncturing object. Just noting the correlation, not asserting
causality.

John

John,
What size tires do you use?

bfd said:

John,
What size tires do you use?

Specialized Armadillos, 700C x 26 (per what's written on the sidewall;
I haven't actually measured them)

John

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Someone said:

Quoted message said:

I ride many rough unpaved roads and never had a flat from

"debris"

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out there, only an occasional pinch flat

Quoted message said:

From what I've observed, experienced, and read about here,

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

frequency and causes of flats seems to vary tremendously

where

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

conditions (roads and equipment) for different riders appear

to be

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

pretty similar. My own experience, (30 + years of riding in

NYC and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

environs on roads full of potholes, glass, and debris) is

exactly the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

opposite of this. I've never had a pinch flat in my life.

Then you never rode into the sharp edge of one of those many

potholes

Quoted message said:

of which you report. I assure you that, for instance riding up

a 3"

Quoted message said:

high curb without lifting the bicycle WILL cause a pinch flat

at

Quoted message said:

speeds above 10mph. That you haven't had any tells me that you

don't

Quoted message said:

ride on rocky trails or cobbles as in Paris Roubaix.

Quoted message said:

I've had one (very memorable) blow-off flat caused by brake

heating

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on a long steep downhill, and countless punctures caused by

bits of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

glass, sharp stone, nails, etc. Three or four years ago I

switched

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

to kevlar-belted tires and have not had a single flat since,

by far

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the longest flat-free period I've enjoyed. Could be the

belts,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

could be the tread compound, could be the tire width, could

be

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

nothing more than a run of good luck.

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on

pinch

Quoted message said:

flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in

four

Quoted message said:

years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than

ride

Quoted message said:

from their house to the bus stop and back, something like

taking a

Quoted message said:

bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

How do you remember all those details for your ride report? Do
you take notes -- dictate while you are riding: "I am now riding
up a gentle grade on modestly rough pavement . . ." I do wish
there had been more mention of tree species. And what, no
red-winged black birds?

My ride reports are like "Chris (my riding buddy) kicked my ass
on Larch Mountain." http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecrh.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgemul.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgelar.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecro.htm. -- Jay Beattie.

Jay Beattie said:

Quoted message said:

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect on
pinch flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a flat in
four years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do more than
ride from their house to the bus stop and back, something like
taking a bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

Quoted message said:

How do you remember all those details for your ride report? Do
you take notes -- dictate while you are riding: "I am now riding
up a gentle grade on modestly rough pavement . . ." I do wish
there had been more mention of tree species. And what, no
red-winged black birds?

I take pictures and remember most of the scenes as vividly as though
they were the present. I think it is also what one consciously sees
and investigates on a ride. As you see, there is a map and when I
review what occurred here and there it all comes back to me vividly.

Quoted message said:

My ride reports are like "Chris (my riding buddy) kicked my ass
on Larch Mountain."

http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecrh.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgemul.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgelar.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecro.htm

I didn't see that tone expressed in your report with excellent vistas
and no shots of guys posing behind dark glasses in front of a motel
holding their carbon bicycles. Those are inspiring scenes and great
camera angles. How did I miss that report? You must have posted it.
On the other hand, it may have gone by while I was away touring.

Jobst Brandt

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Jay Beattie said:

Quoted message said:

I think it must be low mileage. Kevlar belts have no effect

on

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

pinch flats. I know of no active riders who have not had a

flat in

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

four years. When I say active riders, I mean ones who do

more than

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

ride from their house to the bus stop and back, something

like

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

taking a bike tour on weekends.

http://tinyurl.com/cdhdj

Quoted message said:

How do you remember all those details for your ride report?

Do

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you take notes -- dictate while you are riding: "I am now

riding

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

up a gentle grade on modestly rough pavement . . ." I do

wish

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

there had been more mention of tree species. And what, no
red-winged black birds?

I take pictures and remember most of the scenes as vividly as

though

Quoted message said:

they were the present. I think it is also what one consciously

sees

Quoted message said:

and investigates on a ride. As you see, there is a map and

when I

Quoted message said:

review what occurred here and there it all comes back to me

vividly.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My ride reports are like "Chris (my riding buddy) kicked my

ass

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on Larch Mountain."

http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecrh.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgemul.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgelar.htm
http://www.mind.net/dlmark/gorgecro.htm

I didn't see that tone expressed in your report with excellent

vistas

Quoted message said:

and no shots of guys posing behind dark glasses in front of a

motel

Quoted message said:

holding their carbon bicycles. Those are inspiring scenes and

great

Quoted message said:

camera angles. How did I miss that report? You must have

posted it.

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, it may have gone by while I was away

touring.

My ride reports are not posted but are given orally to my wife
when I return home. She knows most of the routes, so a short
summary usually suffices for her. The URLs I posted are
web-pages created by a fan of the Columbia Gorge, which is where
I do most of my longer rides. It's not California or the Alps,
but it's a pretty nice place to ride -- and no plane or car is
needed to get there. I must say, though, that I still miss the
smell of riding in California with all the bay, eucalyptus and
annual grasses. Douglass fir just does not have that much of a
smell. -- Jay Beattie.