Road Cycling - Tires on New Sequoia

I bought a new Sequoia Expert Saturday and have not yet ridden it except for a test ride, because my wife and I went out of town afterwards for the weekend. My question relates to the tires that came on the bike, which are referred to in the Specialized catalog as Specialized New Turbo Pros (700 x 26c, Kevlar Bead). Are these good tires and appropriate for in town commuting and road use? Or should I try and trade them for some other tires before putting the bike to use?

I feel like a newbie with bikes, having been away from them for about 15 years. But when I look at these slick tires, I wonder if they are going to have the traction, etc. that is required. I suspect they must be good or Specialized would not be putting them on the Sequoia Expert and Elite but wanted to get some opinions about their quality, punture rsistance, and suitability for general use.

I realize that everyone has his or her own preference when it comes to tires, but I would like to find out if there are any strong opinions about the Sequoia's tires. Would the Turbo Armadillo be a better tire? Specialized claims it is the most flat proof tire on the road. It comes in a 700 x 26, as well as other sizes, and is used with the Sirrus hybrid line of bikes.

I live in Texas and will not be riding on snow but will definitely be riding in the rain occasionally.

Probably what I really need is some basic information, regarding tires in general for bikes like the Sequoia.

I am very pleased with the bike but had not thought about the tires before my purchase.

Thanks for your help and patience.

Sciman,

I bought the same bike earlier this year and now have over 700 miles on it with no problems, I also live in Texas and know what your talking about, you just have to be a little carefull when the roads are wet or have sand on them, I was a little concerned at first since it has no tread on the tire but you can't tell, it corners and handles so good just get on it and go, your going to love your new bike, this is by far the best one I have ever had.

Nortex

Yes, they're good tires. Tread patterns are not useful on pavement; you get the most traction from maximising the amount of tire surface in the "contact patch" between the tire and the ground. Bicycles are not subject to hydroplaning, so water displacement is not an issue, and "grip" is only important on loose surfaces like mud.

The issues you're likely to face have to do with the tires' size and their resistance to punctures. Narrow tires need to be kept well-inflated so that impacts don't compress the tire all the way to the rim, which could damage the rim or cause a "pinch-flat" (tube compressed between the tire bead and the rim).

Resistance to punctures is all about how thick the rubber is and whether there's a puncture-resistant layer. If this is a concern, the Armadillos might offer more protection, but there's are no sure things in ccycling.

Best advice: keep your tires, and always carry a patch kit, a spare tube, tire irons if you need them, and a pump.

RichC

Hi,
how much do you weigh? What are your plans for biking, ie, fast club rides, long weekend rambles thorough the countryside, or commuting? And is there something you would like the new tire to do, that you suspect the current tire isn't doing? Can you tell I get a little obsessive :)

Originally posted by late
Hi,
how much do you weigh? What are your plans for biking, ie, fast club rides, long weekend rambles thorough the countryside, or commuting? And is there something you would like the new tire to do, that you suspect the current tire isn't doing? Can you tell I get a little obsessive :)

All good questions; however, I have about decided to stay with the stock tires after reading the above posts. I am 210#, 6' 1" and 62 years old; plan to use the bike mainly for commuting about 6 to 10 mile distances but would like to be able to make some 40 mile trips on it. I do not plan to be riding fast for extended distances. It hurts to watch younger guys do that. But I would like to be able to ride fast for shorter distances occassionally. The present tires are probably fine but I was just questioning whether they were too smooth for me and whether or not they should be more punture free. From the comments here and elsewhere it sounds like these tires will allow me to enjoy what the bike is designed to do. The Armadillos might be too rough and uncomfortable. As for being obsessive, it's a curse. I know.:(

I've put over 1300 miles on my Sequoia Expert. The tires are smoooth! I inflate the rear at 110 and the front at 100. Good luck!