Tire size and creaking?
 

Ok, I've been banging my head against the wall trying to figure out what this is. I bought a 2006 Specialized Tricross with the stock Roval wheels. I switched out the tires immediately to some Conti Ultra Gatorskin 25's. It's been creaking/popping ever since I've owned it. Thought it was the bottom bracket, so I changed that out. Nope. Changed out the rear wheel with other one from another bike and it was silent. Out of a hunch, I switched out the rear tire with the original Specialized 32. Silent. The pressure on the Specialized tire is 100 PSI and the Conti is 110 PSI. Could the tire size make that much difference? Also, from what I have found, these wheels are suppose to have a minimum of 28's, but I have had 28's on it and it creaked with them also. Think I have to stick to 32's?

Or would a better option be to leave cyclocross tires on the Roval wheels and get me a cheap set of wheels to replace them? :)

You gotta find out if that creaking is your tire. To do that install tire and wheel that creaks. Observe creaking. Then remove the tire and reinstall that wheel. Observe if creaking is gone.

If it is the tire, then deflate it, and try again. Is it creaking. No, inflate it see if it's creaking.

When you absolutely sure it's your tire that is creaking. You can decide. Can you live with the creaking or is it bothering you too much? Perhaps a solution could be to get another tire?


I personally doubt creaking could be associated with the tire. Creaking is more like something mechanical, something that involves metal parts that aren't lubbed. Such as bottom bracket, steering column, casette, hubs, seat post, seat rails and bracket, anything that is tight together.

I don't think it's the tire at all. I think that it may be the SIZE of the tire that is affecting the wheel. Whether or not that is the case, I have no idea. It did it with 25's and 28's, but not these 32's. I even put rubber pieces in between the spoke crossings and still creaked.

The creaking is terrible. It really sounds like it's about to pop a spoke or something. Seems to get worse when I go down in gears and if I mash. Not as bad if I ride easy.

Thanks for your help.