Anyone else falling for the "balloon" tire trend?
09-27-16, 06:42 PM
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I love my maxxis maxxlite speed, 55PSI, no doubt too high for my weight, but still 10 below the max limit so all's good. I liked them even more when I priced a replacement set, $100 each 
You get what you pay for I hope.
I'm a bit confused about one aspect of these tires, there are 2 that have the same name but are different in price and look, here are the ones that came on my bike
https://www.bicyclestore.com.au/maxxi...-mtb-tyre.html $100 each
And then these which I can buy for around $40
https://www.mountainbikesdirect.com....te-29-x-2.00-f
Can anyone explain the difference, other than the tread pattern?
You get what you pay for I hope.I'm a bit confused about one aspect of these tires, there are 2 that have the same name but are different in price and look, here are the ones that came on my bike
https://www.bicyclestore.com.au/maxxi...-mtb-tyre.html $100 each
And then these which I can buy for around $40
https://www.mountainbikesdirect.com....te-29-x-2.00-f
Can anyone explain the difference, other than the tread pattern?
Last edited by coominya; 09-27-16 at 06:59 PM.
09-27-16, 10:28 PM
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You remind me of an ex. What else have you been dissatisfied with this year? I got suspicious and clicked on the link in your sig. I hoped it would take me to an article or independent review of a Scott product, but no, it is an account of YOUR experience with a CL scammer who happened to have a Scott product to sell you. And based on your personal interaction with a scammer you post an advisory to the world to boycott Scott products. Really? I just might notify them as to your behavior so they can sue you for libel. Or is it slander. Whatever. Get a grip or you may find yourself in real trouble some day.
PS - A 35mm tire is hardly what is considered a "balloon" tire. Hardly. Not even 40mm. 50mm and larger is more like it.
Edit: Noticed the pressures mentioned in your o.p. -- 70psi. Jesus wept. My Schwalbe Big Apples have never seen a pressure higher than 50psi, and they spend a lot of their time at 35psi because that's about when I get around to checking pressure and re-inflate them to 50psi again. Once I let them get down to 20psi and they were fine! Those are the kinds of tire pressures appropriate for "balloon" tires. Schwalbes are unusually tolerant of high pressure. They will survive 70psi. But you don't have a balloon tire at that point. Maxxis? I don't know, maybe, maybe not but I'm seriously wondering if you didn't wildly over-inflate them and are now blaming Maxxis for making suck ass products.
PS - A 35mm tire is hardly what is considered a "balloon" tire. Hardly. Not even 40mm. 50mm and larger is more like it.
Edit: Noticed the pressures mentioned in your o.p. -- 70psi. Jesus wept. My Schwalbe Big Apples have never seen a pressure higher than 50psi, and they spend a lot of their time at 35psi because that's about when I get around to checking pressure and re-inflate them to 50psi again. Once I let them get down to 20psi and they were fine! Those are the kinds of tire pressures appropriate for "balloon" tires. Schwalbes are unusually tolerant of high pressure. They will survive 70psi. But you don't have a balloon tire at that point. Maxxis? I don't know, maybe, maybe not but I'm seriously wondering if you didn't wildly over-inflate them and are now blaming Maxxis for making suck ass products.
I'm sorry if my account of being screwed over by the Scott rep (and other things I've posted) doesn't meet your approval. But you know what? I didn't ask you. The rep was hardly a "scammer" as you put it. He didn't "happen" to have a Scott product to sell me. He worked for Scott, arrived in a Scott van, and wore a Scott uniform so maybe you should actually read what was written and the entire account of what happened and why I called Scott before you just act like a dick and flame me. Honestly, I don't have time for people like you. So please kindly refrain from posting in my threads in the future because you obviously don't have anything worthwhile to add.
And BTW, in regards to your comments made in reference to my tires and the psi that I run them at.... I'm coming from 25-28c tires running at between 95-110 psi over the past few years so making the jump to a 40c tires is a HUGE difference. Sorry again that I don't meet YOUR standards of what a "balloon" tire should be. But yet again..... I never asked you.
Edit: I just read your posts in the "Prostate issue" thread. Maybe you should just stick with topics like that. You seem to have an abundance of knowledge in that field......
09-27-16, 10:40 PM
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I have been riding balloon tire bikes for many, many years, are they a trend?
I hate to break it to Mom who has been giving me all these trendy bikes since I was a kid.
(I'm halfway to 51)
I hate to break it to Mom who has been giving me all these trendy bikes since I was a kid.
(I'm halfway to 51)
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09-28-16, 06:22 AM
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My Cube Hyde Pro came with 2.35" Schwalbe Big Apples already fitted as standard. I was sceptical about the claims regarding fatter tyres having less rolling resistance but I have to say they feel awesome. I run them at 2bar and the ride is lovely. The only problem is finding mudguards to fit.
09-28-16, 06:27 AM
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Need a recommendation
Ok, I'm really interested in getting a ballon bike. I used to ride a recumbent, but now I'm pulling my kids around in my trek 7.5fx. I don't bike as much as I used to, but the weather is cooling down here and I want to start biking more frequently.
Which hybrids have room for balloon tires? I presume it has to have disk brakes and a rim that's ready to go tubeless. I really like the specialized sirrus sport carbon. It sells for $1200 or so. But I wonder if there is much room for wide tires? Is it a waste of money to get a carbon frame if I'm getting big apple tires?
Thanks for your time.
Which hybrids have room for balloon tires? I presume it has to have disk brakes and a rim that's ready to go tubeless. I really like the specialized sirrus sport carbon. It sells for $1200 or so. But I wonder if there is much room for wide tires? Is it a waste of money to get a carbon frame if I'm getting big apple tires?
Thanks for your time.
09-28-16, 06:41 AM
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Ok, I'm really interested in getting a ballon bike. I used to ride a recumbent, but now I'm pulling my kids around in my trek 7.5fx. I don't bike as much as I used to, but the weather is cooling down here and I want to start biking more frequently.
Which hybrids have room for balloon tires? I presume it has to have disk brakes and a rim that's ready to go tubeless. I really like the specialized sirrus sport carbon. It sells for $1200 or so. But I wonder if there is much room for wide tires? Is it a waste of money to get a carbon frame if I'm getting big apple tires?
Thanks for your time.
Which hybrids have room for balloon tires? I presume it has to have disk brakes and a rim that's ready to go tubeless. I really like the specialized sirrus sport carbon. It sells for $1200 or so. But I wonder if there is much room for wide tires? Is it a waste of money to get a carbon frame if I'm getting big apple tires?
Thanks for your time.
09-28-16, 07:25 AM
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1. A road bike inspired hybrid - Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus
2. A mountain bike inspired hybrid - Trek DS, Specialized Crosstrail, Giant Roam.
A mountain bike inspired hybrid should be quicker than a mountain bike on the road, but not necessarily by that much, as tyres probably make the biggest difference.
09-28-16, 07:35 AM
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Hybrids tend to split into two camps.
1. A road bike inspired hybrid - Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus
2. A mountain bike inspired hybrid - Trek DS, Specialized Crosstrail, Giant Roam.
A mountain bike inspired hybrid should be quicker than a mountain bike on the road, but not necessarily by that much, as tyres probably make the biggest difference.
1. A road bike inspired hybrid - Trek FX, Specialized Sirrus
2. A mountain bike inspired hybrid - Trek DS, Specialized Crosstrail, Giant Roam.
A mountain bike inspired hybrid should be quicker than a mountain bike on the road, but not necessarily by that much, as tyres probably make the biggest difference.
09-28-16, 08:06 AM
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According to my Dad's old stories (may he rest in peace).... balloon tires is what saved the bicycle in America. The old bone shaker (hard rubber tire) bikes were considered unsafe for children. As the shaking and bumps was thought to do internal damage. And plentiful cheap cars had relegated bicycles to (expensive) toy status. Balloon tires made the toy... a much safer one.
So sometime in the 30's Dad got a new Rollfast, balloon tire bike, with a front spring. Part of the deal was with Dad taking a position delivering newspapers.
I was handed-down my older brothers 20" hard-tire bike... which had been used before he got it. Then in (I think) 1st or 2nd grade (mid-1950's) I got a Schwinn with 24" balloon tires. I had at least a decade of balloon tire riding before I got a Varsity.
So my experience has jaded me somewhat against big tires.... and favoring skinny hard tires. But I do ride with cut-out saddles and my doctor and I do keep an eye out for "internal damage". So.... some things haven't changed.
So sometime in the 30's Dad got a new Rollfast, balloon tire bike, with a front spring. Part of the deal was with Dad taking a position delivering newspapers.
I was handed-down my older brothers 20" hard-tire bike... which had been used before he got it. Then in (I think) 1st or 2nd grade (mid-1950's) I got a Schwinn with 24" balloon tires. I had at least a decade of balloon tire riding before I got a Varsity.
So my experience has jaded me somewhat against big tires.... and favoring skinny hard tires. But I do ride with cut-out saddles and my doctor and I do keep an eye out for "internal damage". So.... some things haven't changed.
Last edited by Dave Cutter; 09-28-16 at 08:10 AM.
09-28-16, 09:25 AM
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I run 700 X 35mm Schwalbe Marathon Evolution tires on my Cross Check and Randonee tourer, not exactly "balloon" but big enough that they' provide a softer feel ride and are still fast enough rolling to make me happy. Currently running them on both bikes at 75 PSI rear and 70 PSI front. Can fit no bigger tire than 25mm on my 1989 Specialized Allez, and anymore I pretty much hate em in comparison to the bikes with the bigger tires. Anything over a 75 mile ride and the bigger tires really seem to make a difference in alleviating discomfort issues, my hands and back seem to take much less of a beating running bigger tires.
09-28-16, 10:28 AM
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With that being said, the new framed Sirrus bikes (I think MY2015 and up) do have a lot more room for larger tires than the older ones. I'm sure you remember my 2014 Sirrus Expert carbon and it had room for 28c tires at the most. The newer one's can easily handle a 40c tire or maybe even larger as I haven't looked that closely at them. If my local dealer didn't go out of business and re-open as a Giant dealer I would probably own a newer carbon Sirrus.
So I guess it all in what we personally want/need. To me the 40c Re-Fuse would have been awesome if they weren't defective right out of the box. I haven't totally given up on them but I do wish I didn't have top deal with this issue with brand new tires. And if Maxxis customer service was easier to deal with it may have made this issue a lot easier to deal with.
09-28-16, 10:43 AM
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You are correct Colonel. However, as I was alluding to with this thread, I think "balloon" is a relative term. For me coming from 25-28c tires the jump to my Schwalbe Kojaks at 35c was pretty big and now the 40c Maxxis tires are even larger. The difference in size between the Re-fuse and the Kojaks seems more than the extra 5mm would suggest.
With that being said, the new framed Sirrus bikes (I think MY2015 and up) do have a lot more room for larger tires than the older ones. I'm sure you remember my 2014 Sirrus Expert carbon and it had room for 28c tires at the most. The newer one's can easily handle a 40c tire or maybe even larger as I haven't looked that closely at them. If my local dealer didn't go out of business and re-open as a Giant dealer I would probably own a newer carbon Sirrus.
So I guess it all in what we personally want/need. To me the 40c Re-Fuse would have been awesome if they weren't defective right out of the box. I haven't totally given up on them but I do wish I didn't have top deal with this issue with brand new tires. And if Maxxis customer service was easier to deal with it may have made this issue a lot easier to deal with.
With that being said, the new framed Sirrus bikes (I think MY2015 and up) do have a lot more room for larger tires than the older ones. I'm sure you remember my 2014 Sirrus Expert carbon and it had room for 28c tires at the most. The newer one's can easily handle a 40c tire or maybe even larger as I haven't looked that closely at them. If my local dealer didn't go out of business and re-open as a Giant dealer I would probably own a newer carbon Sirrus.
So I guess it all in what we personally want/need. To me the 40c Re-Fuse would have been awesome if they weren't defective right out of the box. I haven't totally given up on them but I do wish I didn't have top deal with this issue with brand new tires. And if Maxxis customer service was easier to deal with it may have made this issue a lot easier to deal with.
They are designed to be tubeless and the version that comes with "MicroSkin, TL Easy" is one of Schwalbe's best for having low rolling resistance.
It appears that tyre is a significant advance on the previous Marathon Supreme design.
09-28-16, 10:55 AM
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I don't know if you will be getting new Re-Fuse's issued to you or not, but have you given consideration to trying out the recently redesigned Schwalbe Marathon Supremes in 40mm?
They are designed to be tubeless and the version that comes with "MicroSkin, TL Easy" is one of Schwalbe's best for having low rolling resistance.
It appears that tyre is a significant advance on the previous Marathon Supreme design.
They are designed to be tubeless and the version that comes with "MicroSkin, TL Easy" is one of Schwalbe's best for having low rolling resistance.
It appears that tyre is a significant advance on the previous Marathon Supreme design.
I'm hopeful that Schwalbe or another company introduces some larger tire offerings at Interbike this year. I think it was in the last few weeks but I haven't heard of any product intros in this segment yet.
09-29-16, 07:33 AM
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I haven't ever given too much thought to how my tyre looks, figuring that if I want either speed and/or flat protection, you just take what is the best on offer and it looks how it looks.
Having said that, I've realised how much I really like the look of my Schwalbe Marathon Mondials since I put them on my new bike and it will be interesting to see how I feel when I eventually replace them for the Marathon Supremes, which I agree, is not a particularly good looking tyre.
09-29-16, 08:28 AM
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Unless venturing off-road or continually on icy roads tread pattern makes very little difference to grip or traction. It can certanly affect rolling resistance but I'd venture that hardly any of the tyres currently marketed as slicks are any different to each other in this regard. Tyre compounds, on the other hand, may well play a significant role in perceived grip.
09-30-16, 08:55 PM
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You remind me of an ex. What else have you been dissatisfied with this year? I got suspicious and clicked on the link in your sig. I hoped it would take me to an article or independent review of a Scott product, but no, it is an account of YOUR experience with a CL scammer who happened to have a Scott product to sell you. And based on your personal interaction with a scammer you post an advisory to the world to boycott Scott products. Really? I just might notify them as to your behavior so they can sue you for libel. Or is it slander. Whatever. Get a grip or you may find yourself in real trouble some day.
Funny...I was thinking the same thing. Like, what else do you have that has gone wrong.
Like a walking disaster. Or, another 'victim'.
BTW tootsie - it's not 'your thread', it's 'a thread'. You don't own it.
10-01-16, 10:31 AM
#43
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You remind me of an ex. What else have you been dissatisfied with this year? I got suspicious and clicked on the link in your sig. I hoped it would take me to an article or independent review of a Scott product, but no, it is an account of YOUR experience with a CL scammer who happened to have a Scott product to sell you. And based on your personal interaction with a scammer you post an advisory to the world to boycott Scott products. Really? I just might notify them as to your behavior so they can sue you for libel. Or is it slander. Whatever. Get a grip or you may find yourself in real trouble some day.
Maxxis? I don't know, maybe, maybe not but I'm seriously wondering if you didn't wildly over-inflate them and are now blaming Maxxis for making suck ass products.
Maxxis? I don't know, maybe, maybe not but I'm seriously wondering if you didn't wildly over-inflate them and are now blaming Maxxis for making suck ass products.
My dealer heard back from Maxxis. It seems as there has been a run of these within a specific serial number/date code that had a lot of manufacturing problems. There are sending out a new set and I should have them soon (hopefully).
10-01-16, 10:38 AM
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This thread got me thinking about actual contact patch area on the 40 cyclocross type tire I currently run (Giant stockers).
On yesterday's ride I slowed way down & rolled thru some water trickles on the MUP so that just the contact area would get wet w/ no upsplash. Truthfully, I was a bit surprised to see just how narrow the wet stripe was. Way inside the outer "lugs" for soft ground traction & narrower than the center smoothish area.
I do run high (near the max) PSI with about the 15% drop, but they are still very comfy & plush....looks like the R&D lads did their homework.
On yesterday's ride I slowed way down & rolled thru some water trickles on the MUP so that just the contact area would get wet w/ no upsplash. Truthfully, I was a bit surprised to see just how narrow the wet stripe was. Way inside the outer "lugs" for soft ground traction & narrower than the center smoothish area.
I do run high (near the max) PSI with about the 15% drop, but they are still very comfy & plush....looks like the R&D lads did their homework.
10-03-16, 11:19 AM
#46
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Not balloon tires but I run 38 mm Vittoria Voyager Hypers on my Fuji Absolute. Wide tires handle road cracks, etc, better than skinny. Those Vittoria's test quite well in rolling resistance measurements. You can drop the pressure, a lot if need be, to handle rough roads gracefully. And they work well on soft surfaces too. I might be able to fit 45s on my bike but I've never noticed any tires wider than 38 with the relatively efficient construction that Vittoria uses on these tires so I have not yet been tempted to go wider.
10-03-16, 09:09 PM
#47
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Turns out I couldn't run anything wider than 700x45 on my 622x20 rims, and nothing in the 45c range appealed to me. For the true balloon tires I'd need wider rims.
So I ordered a set of Continental Speed Ride City Tires (formerly their cyclocross tires, but they repackaged the same tires) in 700x42. Rivendell sold a bunch of those and claims they can be safely ridden at around 40 psi. Sounds cushy. I'll find out later this week. Only $12 each via a one-day Amazon sale. So even if they're not great, no big loss. I can always go back to Michelins, which are very underrated and good values.
So I ordered a set of Continental Speed Ride City Tires (formerly their cyclocross tires, but they repackaged the same tires) in 700x42. Rivendell sold a bunch of those and claims they can be safely ridden at around 40 psi. Sounds cushy. I'll find out later this week. Only $12 each via a one-day Amazon sale. So even if they're not great, no big loss. I can always go back to Michelins, which are very underrated and good values.
Last edited by canklecat; 10-03-16 at 09:13 PM.
10-03-16, 10:31 PM
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Like that formerly 32 oz. jar of mayonnaise, 'balloon' tires must have shrunk.
Balloon means early large pneumatic tires with tubes, and the original ones were like 28" before 26 x 2.125 was adopted.
And Dave Cutter is right, they basically saved the American bicycle industry, which was languishing selling to adults. Kids wanted a bike that looked like a motorcycle, with big tires, lights, a horn and a tank. Schwinn was hardly the first with a balloon tire bike (maybe Snyder, as Montgomery Wards had them earlier I've read) but Schwinn probably figured it out better first, leaving Snyder/Harris, Columbia, Shelby and the others to catch up.
The American Bicycle Renaissance wouldn't have happened without balloon tires, and keep in mind that this all started going into the Great Depression. Deluxe bikes and V8 powered cars were items that flourished in the worst economic downturn of the 20th century. In fact, some of the greatest engineering feats in American, if not world history were innovated in those days. So maybe bikes with big, cushy tires were a certainty.
Balloon means early large pneumatic tires with tubes, and the original ones were like 28" before 26 x 2.125 was adopted.
And Dave Cutter is right, they basically saved the American bicycle industry, which was languishing selling to adults. Kids wanted a bike that looked like a motorcycle, with big tires, lights, a horn and a tank. Schwinn was hardly the first with a balloon tire bike (maybe Snyder, as Montgomery Wards had them earlier I've read) but Schwinn probably figured it out better first, leaving Snyder/Harris, Columbia, Shelby and the others to catch up.
The American Bicycle Renaissance wouldn't have happened without balloon tires, and keep in mind that this all started going into the Great Depression. Deluxe bikes and V8 powered cars were items that flourished in the worst economic downturn of the 20th century. In fact, some of the greatest engineering feats in American, if not world history were innovated in those days. So maybe bikes with big, cushy tires were a certainty.
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10-04-16, 10:09 AM
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And yeah, it is MY thread. I started it and I don't appreciate the attitude from you or Leisesturm. What is it with people on forums that think they can just sit behind their computers and be ******** to people? I'd be willing to bet neither of you would have this attitude towards anyone (or me especially) in person. So why do you have it online? Is it because you feel safe behind your computer? I have a novel idea..... why don't you try being nice? Everything I posted was the truth. I didn't embellish, or say anything that wasn't factual. So why is it necessary to post something negative like this when someone posts about a poor experience they had?
That's a lot of negativity for someone with only 16 posts in this forum to their name. And btw, don't bother replying. I've added you an leisesturm to my ignore list so I don't have to deal with any more of your negativity.
Last edited by Monstermash; 10-04-16 at 10:15 AM.
10-04-16, 04:38 PM
#50
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Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Southern CA
Posts: 17
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Funny, You don't seem to give a $hit because these things didn't happen to you. I'll bet if the same things happened to you you wouldn't be so cynical.
And yeah, it is MY thread. I started it and I don't appreciate the attitude from you or Leisesturm. What is it with people on forums that think they can just sit behind their computers and be ******** to people? I'd be willing to bet neither of you would have this attitude towards anyone (or me especially) in person. So why do you have it online? Is it because you feel safe behind your computer? I have a novel idea..... why don't you try being nice? Everything I posted was the truth. I didn't embellish, or say anything that wasn't factual. So why is it necessary to post something negative like this when someone posts about a poor experience they had?
That's a lot of negativity for someone with only 16 posts in this forum to their name. And btw, don't bother replying. I've added you an leisesturm to my ignore list so I don't have to deal with any more of your negativity.
And yeah, it is MY thread. I started it and I don't appreciate the attitude from you or Leisesturm. What is it with people on forums that think they can just sit behind their computers and be ******** to people? I'd be willing to bet neither of you would have this attitude towards anyone (or me especially) in person. So why do you have it online? Is it because you feel safe behind your computer? I have a novel idea..... why don't you try being nice? Everything I posted was the truth. I didn't embellish, or say anything that wasn't factual. So why is it necessary to post something negative like this when someone posts about a poor experience they had?
That's a lot of negativity for someone with only 16 posts in this forum to their name. And btw, don't bother replying. I've added you an leisesturm to my ignore list so I don't have to deal with any more of your negativity.
