Road Cycling - Difference between Clincher & tubular tires

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ezryder03
10-23-03, 08:15 AM
Can you tell me the difference between a clincher tire and a tubular tire? Do i have to buy a specific wheelset for either of the 2 tires? I'm trying to build up my trek 5500 frame and came accross this 2 issues as i was attempting in buying the parts for the wheels and tires. Also, which one is better? Thanks guys. :(

EastCoast
10-23-03, 08:17 AM
Correct wheelsets are completely different.

Here is a thread talking about it!

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=34896&highlight=clincher
Laggard
10-23-03, 11:00 AM
Unless you're racing, I don't see the new for sew-ups. There are clincher's that approach the performance that used to be found only in tubulars.

I have a pair of sew-ups and love them to death but don't think they're necessary for your average "let's look at all the purty scenery" rider.

bac
10-23-03, 12:38 PM
Just to really confuse the issue, there is now also a hybrid that is a tubular tire made to mount on a clincher rim. I'm considering these, but have not pulled the trigger yet. Look @ the Tufo Tubular Clincher:

Tufo Tubular Clinchers (http://www.tufonorthamerica.com/tiretypes.php)
Cyclepath
10-23-03, 01:46 PM
There's an ATB version also.
ljbike
10-23-03, 02:19 PM
To answer the original question, there are tubular rims and there are clincher rims. The tires must match.

TUFO tires have been talked of in the forums. You'll find that mostly they are liked but are very difficult to mount. The manufacturer says that if you stretch them first they go on as easily as any other tire. I don't know if that's true.
fogrider
10-24-03, 01:19 PM
I ride tubulars for the ride. some people can't tell the difference. I loaned a pair of tubulars to a friend, he loved the way they handled and felt, but he's still riding clinchers. He's just more comfortable fixing flats with clinchers. It can't be explained, tubulars just feel faster...and that's why just about EVERYONE in the TDF is racing on them. if you want to save some wheel weight, the whole tire is 260g and the rim is 50g lighter than a clincher. so if you add up the weight of the a clincher, rim tape, tube and rim, you could save 70g of rotating weight per wheel. sure you could find lighter clincher tires, but you would end up with something narrower, like a 19c, and you would end up with a fast tire that would not handle as well on the decents...I could find lighter tubulars too, but comparing apples to apples, tubulars gives you the best ride; fast, light and great handling.