Commuting - Solid Tires

How bad do solid tires rides? Are there any companies out there besides Green Tyre that makes solids? Any body use these. Thanks for your support.

LOL, I had a bike when I was kid from Sears with solid tires. All I can think of are hand carts and cheapo wheelbarrows. :p

Specialized had the Air Liners for a while:
http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2004/equip/TubeAirLinersMTBROAD_d.jpg

Are you trying to achieve flat resistance? What's your angle?

I have tried a couple of the Green Tyre sizes. When I was looking at solid tires I recall that there was at least one other brand, but I can't recall who it was. A search should turn up something.

Here are my impressions of the Green Tyres. My first was one of the narrower ones; it might have been the "Race". I believe it was the one rated like a 23 mm tire at 100 PSI. The tire road quite firm, ie, hard. On an supple old steel frame, though, it was OK for my 22 mile round trip commute. When it wore out I tried one of the wider softer ones. After two days I ripped it off and will not try any more. The first, narrower, tire, though tolerable, was the worst of both worlds, it rode harder than a similar tire at even higher pressure, but there was more rolling resistance than the same width at lower pressure. Because the tire was narrow, however, the rolling resistance was not so extreme that I couldn't live with it. When I put on the wider, softer tire, maybe rated like a 28 or 32 at about 85 psi, pedalling was so hard I thought my legs were shot. After two round trips commuting I realized it was the tire! The problem is that you are constantly working to compress the foam in the tire, which is much harder than deforming an air-filled tire. This gives the feeling of riding through mud or constantly riding up a considerable grade. I absolutely could not tolerate this feeling. Every ride to work or home was like 9-13 miles of constant climbing or slogging through mud.

If you are looking at the narrow versions you might be OK, but I cannot in good conscious recommend the wider ones.

I have decided to stick with kevlar belted tires plus Tuffy liners plus thorn resistant tubes. This combination is ALMOST bullet proof and probably lighter than the solid tire. My favorite tire is the Avocet Cross II K in 28 mm which seems narrower than 28. If you want something wider, the Specialized Infinity Armadillo in 32 or 35 is also good. How much flat protection you need depends on your streets. On the rough, trashy urban streets I have to ride, two of the three doesn't do it. It certainly helps, but having all three layers seems to work best.
FWIW,
Raymond

It seems to me the ideal solution would be something similar to the Specialized Air Liners but with more foam. An inner tube filled almost entirely with the foam used on Green Tyres, but with an actual inner tube outer that could be pumped up. I guess the difference from the Air Liners would be to have more foam so that if you did have a puncture and didn't have more than 5-10 miles to go you could just ride home, but if you had much farther you might prefer to patch. The foam would obviously have to be harder, but the principle would be similar to the self-inflating air mattresses that you just open a valve and the open cell foam draws in air. Then if you want it firmer you can blow in some extra air. But most of the inflations is automatic.

How bad do solid tires rides? Are there any companies out there besides Green Tyre that makes solids? Any body use these. Thanks for your support.
After some mileage and experience, I learned that reasonably good air-filled tires did not flat as long as I rode on the clean part of the pavement.

After some mileage and experience, I learned that reasonably good air-filled tires did not flat as long as I rode on the clean part of the pavement.

true that. on my sirrus.. the max pressure is 120psi. so should i pump it to 115psi? currently right now the lbs pumped it to 80psi only.. so i'm wondering if i should pump it higher. :rolleyes:

on sheldon brown's site he says they are crap. listen to the wise bearded man metihinks.

How bad do solid tires rides? Are there any companies out there besides Green Tyre that makes solids? Any body use these. Thanks for your support.

uh... do you want the God's honest truth? The smooth ones are death traps on wet pavement, snow, or damp streets esp. inclines and decents. including A*rFree older model, A*rFree New improved low rolling resistance, and Gr**nTyre. an o...good luck getting your money back. There's nothing like dropping a bike in traffic. As the tire looses traction, the back end slips out so fast you can't catch yourself and the fall is hard.
Probably great sunny day traffic tires...err ride at your own risk, I'm get'n home alive.
I have the dents on my helmet to prove it. Cool Chiro bills too...So don't spam me on this one. ;)

Oh jeez not this again. http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=654&highlight=Solid+tires+spam

uh... do you want the God's honest truth? ....

Yes I do. A set of these things would cost about $50 which is more than the bike I would put them on is worth :) (well I did put a new saddle on the thing that may be worth $20.)

I was going to work yesterday hit a chuck hole and blew out the front on this old Schwinn Caliente that I ride to work. I was pretty close to the office so I just walked the bike in. I carry spare tubes but I never use them so they are burried at the bottom of my backpack. I remember reading about the Green Tyre solid tires in Sloan's Complete Book of Bicycling. He gave them a recomendation of sorts for people who can't afford flats in the morning. I didn't know anything else about them and I did a search on Green Tyre here at Bike Forums which didn't turn up anything. The commute has 2 serious hills I don't know if I want tires that will increase the my resistance anymore than it already is. I would be using thinner tires.

Thanks to everybody who responded so far.

I have tried a couple of the Green Tyre sizes. When I was looking at solid tires I recall that there was at least one other brand, but I can't recall who it was. A search should turn up something.

Here are my impressions of the Green Tyres. My first was one of the narrower ones; it might have been the "Race". I believe it was the one rated like a 23 mm tire at 100 PSI. The tire road quite firm, ie, hard. On an supple old steel frame, though, it was OK for my 22 mile round trip commute. When it wore out I tried one of the wider softer ones. After two days I ripped it off and will not try any more. The first, narrower, tire, though tolerable, was the worst of both worlds, it rode harder than a similar tire at even higher pressure, but there was more rolling resistance than the same width at lower pressure. Because the tire was narrow, however, the rolling resistance was not so extreme that I couldn't live with it. When I put on the wider, softer tire, maybe rated like a 28 or 32 at about 85 psi, pedalling was so hard I thought my legs were shot. After two round trips commuting I realized it was the tire! The problem is that you are constantly working to compress the foam in the tire, which is much harder than deforming an air-filled tire. This gives the feeling of riding through mud or constantly riding up a considerable grade. I absolutely could not tolerate this feeling. Every ride to work or home was like 9-13 miles of constant climbing or slogging through mud.

If you are looking at the narrow versions you might be OK, but I cannot in good conscious recommend the wider ones.

I have decided to stick with kevlar belted tires plus Tuffy liners plus thorn resistant tubes. This combination is ALMOST bullet proof and probably lighter than the solid tire. My favorite tire is the Avocet Cross II K in 28 mm which seems narrower than 28. If you want something wider, the Specialized Infinity Armadillo in 32 or 35 is also good. How much flat protection you need depends on your streets. On the rough, trashy urban streets I have to ride, two of the three doesn't do it. It certainly helps, but having all three layers seems to work best.
FWIW,
Raymond

I guess you would have to use pounds instead of grams to weight that.

I tried the GreenTyres on my 30 mile round trip commute. They made me work much harder and still cost me 10-15% more time. I vowed to leave them on for a month to give them a sure test. Then I vowed to leave them on for a week, to be fair. Then I took them off after the fourth day. Too much work, too much time lost. I returned them and got my money back, less shipping both ways.

true that. on my sirrus.. the max pressure is 120psi. so should i pump it to 115psi? currently right now the lbs pumped it to 80psi only.. so i'm wondering if i should pump it higher. :rolleyes:

Yes, pump it up to 120 PSI. It will make the ride a little more harsh, quite a bit quicker, and will increase flat resistance. I put 2000 miles on a 700cm tire at 130 PSI with no problems.

Yes, pump it up to 120 PSI. It will make the ride a little more harsh, quite a bit quicker, and will increase flat resistance. I put 2000 miles on a 700cm tire at 130 PSI with no problems.

GreenFix.. i pumped it to 110psi. it felt a lot better. but when i was disconnecting the pump... it was all good till after i release the valve and then tried to lift up the connector. suddenly a loud pop of air just get released. now is that normal? i'm using a Topeak Road Morph pump on a presta valve on my sirrus.

GreenFix.. i pumped it to 110psi. it felt a lot better. but when i was disconnecting the pump... it was all good till after i release the valve and then tried to lift up the connector. suddenly a loud pop of air just get released. now is that normal? i'm using a Topeak Road Morph pump on a presta valve on my sirrus.

That's the pressure that's in the pump being released. When the valve on the tire closes, there's still pressure in the pump hose or body, and when this is released, it "pops" as it goes back to standard atmospheric pressure of 14.7 psia, or 0 psig.

Siggy

That's the pressure that's in the pump being released. When the valve on the tire closes, there's still pressure in the pump hose or body, and when this is released, it "pops" as it goes back to standard atmospheric pressure of 14.7 psia, or 0 psig.

Siggy

thanks a lot siggy... that's what i figured at first. on my old rockhopper, i pumped the tires using my automatic car pump, but with my sirrus.. i used the hand pump instead.. so first time using it and hearing it pop.. just made me curiously worried. but thanks for clearing that up!

In the late 90s we test rode a set of solid tires by Nu-Tech on our tandem. Great on super smooth roads; most roads of course are NOT super smooth!
Extremely rough riding on any other type of road and crossing cattle guards the whole frame of the bike vibrated. End of test riding!
Suggest carrying spare tube, patch kit, pump/inflator and try to miss some of that road debris.
Pedal on!

I am going to invite murphy's law here, but I have been riding on the same tires and tubes for over a year now!@!! they are Bontrager select invert in 700X 38 c,with cheap x-mart 27 inch tubes. prefilled with slime, and using the old tubes as a tire liner. of course the old rule still applies: never ride with out tools, pump, spare tube, or patches farther than you are willing to carry the bike. I looked at the green tire tires long ago, the idea of zero flat chance was attractive, but they looked heavy, so i passed.

maybe when they wear out I will go to a 700X 28 no idea they will probably get another 6 months even with my riding style. 30 miles plus each day 5 days a week and on the weekend, well that depends on weather and how lazy i feel LOL.

I ride solids! Just replaced the rear one, after about 7 months/3500-4000km. They do slowly lose their compressability (i.e. towards the end it was like riding a semi-deflated pneumatic.. but I figure it's just more exercise for the legs :D ) but I won't go back to pneumatic. The peace of mind afforded by not having to constantly be on the lookout for sharp bits on the road, and the pleasure of being able to brazenly ride through any bits you do find is worth it to me. I like not having punctures. ;)

(editing to add - when I first moved over to solids, I had to drop back a gear or two on most of my route. They definitely add roll resistance, but I found it tolerable and I "made up" the gears with time.)