Tandem Cycling - Thoughts For New 26" Tires ?

After about 1200 miles on our tandem, and 1000 on this set of tires, we finally had a flat. There was a small cut through the tire, about 1/8 long on the outside and tiny on the inside. I booted it with a Park boot and made it home, but I think I'll replace the tires.

We are running 26x1.3 Continental Sport Contacts, and this is the only puncture we've had, but the beads are looking a little worn and the tires are worn down somewhat. Saftey is a big deal with me as I'm pretty risk averse. Double that for my stoker.

I'm considering another set of the Sport Contacts. We're a 350 pound team and have been riding for about 7 months, usually 15-25 miles with a couple of multi day rallies (so far).

I also have a new set of Kenda Kwest Tandem Tires (labeled as such on the sidewall) in 26x1.5 that came recommended to me by the folks at Precision Tandems. They are the only tandem specific 26 inchers that I'm aware of, but there may be others. They are considerably heavier but are rated to 100 psi if desired. I've not yet tried them on the tandem.

I'm also considering something from Schwalbe, either the Marathon Racer in 26x1.5 folding or Marathon Plus 26x1.35 wire bead.

How many miles do some of you folks get out of your tires?

Any thoughts or recommendation regarding the four tires I've mentioned here?

Thanks

The only tires that we have used on our tandem are the Serfas Baristas that are R+E's favorite 26" tire. They come in 26x1.25 and have a pressure rating of 100psi (the website says 65psi, but it is wrong). And they are only $25 each. We have been getting around 800-1000 miles on a rear tire and about twice that much on the front. I have looked for a more-durable tire but I haven't found anything else that is as light and rolls as well as the Barista.

After about 1200 miles on our tandem, and 1000 on this set of tires, we finally had a flat.

How many miles do some of you folks get out of your tires?


We're on our first set of Continental Travel Contact @26x1.75. They appear to have quite a bit more life in them, at around 3,000 km - which would be close to 2,000 miles. They are heavy, we got them for fully loaded (self-contained) touring. I've repaired one flat on this bike - the tires get easier to put on after the first flat. I'll probably replace them with something lighter, and then switch back for tours.

We've been using the Panaracer RiBMo (http://www.panaracer.com/urban.php).


RiBMo is the newest addition to our urban tire line. Available in a multitude of sizes, the important feature of RiBMo is Protex puncture resistance technology. Protex delivers 3x the puncture resistance of Kevlar® belted technologies.

26 X 1.25 ....Aramid ....32-559 ....330g.



http://www.panaracer.com/images/product_page_images/urban/ribmo.jpg

But the bead failed on my front RibMo, and we have had flats (Goatheads!) so we switched to the 1.25" Specialized Fat Boy (http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=42215) on the front. I like it so far.

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/001-0341_d.jpg


For road use, the thinnest tire that will fit on your rim is what is needed, so 1.25" > 1.5"

But the bead failed on my front RibMo.......

How spooky was that? I don't even like to think about a bead failure.

How spooky was that? I don't even like to think about a bead failure.

We hadn't gotten a half mile when I felt a tiny rpm dependent thwack. It became more violent, and then the tube herniated out. I had to get through an intersection so I could perform emergency partial deflation procedures, but before I could stop completely Kaboom!. Then I realized that though I had CO2 and a tube, I hadn't my CO2 inflator. I thought, no problem, I'll call my wife. Dang, she was my stoker, so that didn't work. This is where I started looking for one of those half-bikes to go by. Hooray, here comes one. Hello! Yup, he had one, so we changed the tube, inflated and hobbled back home with the brake off.

Not as dramatic a story as a 50 mph descent would have been.

We have been using the Schwalbe Marathon Racer 26 x 1.5. It is a good all around tire and we have had only two flats in 7000 miles and no side wall or bead problems. We find that replacing tires before they are too worn reduces flats. The Marathon Racers are not too heavy but are not "Racers" as there are faster tires.

Hey Mono.... We ride both road and gravel and have been very happy with the Avocet Cross II 26 x 1.5 Kevlar - long wearing, comfortable, and durable. I think they make a 1.25 as well but have not tried them. Since they are not available at my LBS (and I was in a hurry), I switched to the Panaracer Urban Max 1.25. Urban Max seems to have a bit less rolling resistance (likely due to the 1.25 v 1.5's) but isn't as versatile on the gravel. I can't vouch for the panaracer's durability as we only have about 500 miles on them so far.

We've been using the Panaracer RiBMo.
But the bead failed on my front RibMo, and we have had flats (Goatheads!) so we switched to the 1.25" Specialized Fat Boy on the front. I like it so far.


I guess that if you have a failure with a tire, you're pretty much never going to use that tire again. Did the bead come off, or did it split? Do you blame the tire for the goathead flats? Your post implies that you use a different tire on the front than on the back; is that true?

Did the bead come off, or did it split? Do you blame the tire for the goathead flats? Your post implies that you use a different tire on the front than on the back; is that true?

I forget if the Aramid bead (http://www.panaracer.com/urban.php) was rent asunder, or separated from the casing (I should have taken a photo). Goathead flats are no shame, as scarce any tire is proof against these pernicious nutlets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris). Perhaps the repeated removal and mounting of the tire necessitated by the flats wrought the problem with the bead. I've retained the problem-free Panaracer RiBMo on the rear.

The RiBMo looks pretty good next to the Barista. It has a pointed profile and appears narrower that the Barista. I'm kind of anxious to try it out to see how it rides, but it's going to be raining for the next 3 days.

Considering going to Primo Comet Kevlar 26x1.5 on our tandem. Have used multiple Comets on my recumbents. Considerably lighter than Kenda Kwests and also 100psi. Currently using a pair of several-years old Forte Kevlar (can't remember name) 26X1.25. 95 psi.
A bit more air volume would be nice.