Training & Nutrition - Duct tape on tire for trainer?

Please don't laugh at me but I swear I read somewhere that someone was using duct tape on the rear tire whilst using the trainer to prevent undue wear?? Anyone doing this? Thanks!

I can't really see Duct tape lasting that long

I just save old worn out tires and use them or pop by my LBS and ask if they have anything I can get that is in trainer shape and is going to be tossed out

I was also wondering if there was another solution rather than swapping tires, especially for the indoor/outdoor riding season overlap. I came across this article that talks about using duct tape over a mountain tire on a trainer - http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread/t-299403.html - has anyone tried this on a road tire?

I was also wondering if it would work to cut the beads off an old tire and then deflate the good tire, slip the old tire casing without the beads over the top and re-inflate the good tire. I would think the tire pressure would stretch the old tire casing and hold it place. Has anyone tried either of these solutions? I may try this and report on what happens. It would let the old tire casing take the trainer abuse without having to do a full tire swap.

I know a tri guy who just buys the cheapest tire possible. He said that some of them are so hard that they'll outlast any trainer tire.

I know a tri guy who just buys the cheapest tire possible. He said that some of them are so hard that they'll outlast any trainer tire.

This. Get the equivalent of the Pep Boys 50,000 mile car tire. It will be as hard as a rock and cheap. BTW, I had a set of those tires on my Jeep and the tires lasted longer than the vehicle. They got so hard after 5 years that I could drift around corners with ease.

This. Get the equivalent of the Pep Boys 50,000 mile car tire. It will be as hard as a rock and cheap. BTW, I had a set of those tires on my Jeep and the tires lasted longer than the vehicle. They got so hard after 5 years that I could drift around corners with ease.

hmm.. Turns your car into a Tonka Toy.. This guy told me that they were some sort of el-cheapo tire he got from a hardware store. He couldn't remember the make though.

I can't really see Duct tape lasting that long

I just save old worn out tires and use them or pop by my LBS and ask if they have anything I can get that is in trainer shape and is going to be tossed out

I do it too. The duct tape won't stick for long but it is a clever ideal.

Won't it crud up the roller on the trainer as well ? Worn out or cheap tires makes more sense.

Here is another post I found on trifuel.com

I had the same problem with my Minora Mag trainer, I demolished a $50.00 Vittoria
racing tire in a month on my trainer. But no more. Here's what I have been doing for the
past year, and my rear tire is still like new !
Go to your local hardware store and get a couple of rolls of the DOUBLE-WIDE black
electricians tape. The regular width tape is not wide enough to cover the tire surface completely.
With the bike on the trainer I wrap a layer of this tape all the way around the tire, twice.
Electrical tape is an INSULATOR, so it guards your tire from the heat and the friction created by your trainer. Use electrical tape ONLY, as it comes off easily, with no mess or residue left on the tire. I simply tape the tire ride the trainer 2 or 3 times during the week, and then remove the tape for the weekend road ride. This way the tape peels off easily and doesn't stay on the tire long enough to start breaking down. At $1.29 a roll, one roll will do a month. If you do the math,
this is much cheaper than buying a new racing tire, or an entire rear wheel set just for use on the trainer.