jetter

In an attempt to quiet the noise from my trainer this evening (3rd story apt), I decided to use my new Conti 4000s tire instead of my dedicated trainer wheel w/ crappy tire. Long story short, I instinctively hit the brakes after maxing out on an interval, and heard a loud squeal. I looked at the rear tire and noticed a huge chunk missing as well as a bunch of rubber bits on the floor . I learned my lesson and plan to get an actual trainer tire, but what about my 4000s? Do you guys think its still safe to ride? It's not a very deep divot, but its definitely a good chunk missing.

Also, what trainer tire do y'all recommend?

Machka 

It has never occurred to me to use the brakes when my bicycle is on a trainer.

carpediemracing 

It's hard to tell but if you remove it and you can feel there's some substantial material left in that divot (pinch the tire with thumb on one side and finger on another) then I'd ride it. Just to be safe I would leave it on the rear wheel so if it fails it's not catastrophic. Also it'll actually wear on the rear wheel so you'll have to think about it for less time than if you used it as a front.

The divot will probably give you a little blip on each tire revolution if you're on a trainer so you'll want to get a tire for your trainer wheel and keep this for outdoor use.

On the trainer you can do stuff like open your brake quick release to help remind you not to brake. I braked instinctively when I started using a trainer, and back then, with no flywheel, it wasn't quite so destructive to the tire. However I understand how normal it is to apply the brake when you're done, even on a trainer.

Having said all that I use a regular tire on the trainer, and at least in 2013 literally half my rides are on the trainer (first year I have easy to access data on that). I train and sometimes race on the same tire I use on the trainer. I pump the tire up to a good pressure (100-110 psi - it's on a roller so lower pressure is not better - you want less deformation, not comfort). I also make the roller tight enough so it doesn't slip when I jerk the tire with my hand but no tighter than that - if you over tighten the roller it can destroy your tire.

This is my current training tire, one that I mounted two seasons ago. You can see that the trainer roller actually has wear on it - I've used this trainer since about 2008? 2009? I lent my other trainer to my brother, that one has an actual groove in one spot, after maybe 10 years of regular use. I've never had a tire disintegrate as others have reported - tread separating etc. Even a good friend of mine had a tire disintegrate but he wasn't diligent about tire pressure until then. This year I have about 150-170 hours on the tire with a good 100+ hours on the trainer. I didn't track all my trainer vs road hours last year but it would have been a bit less but similar overall - with the birth of our first child I was doing virtually all my training indoors.


Although I just started using a different tire (I took that picture about 3 or 4 rides ago) it's because I want to use a different wheel, not because I thought the tire was bad. I'll probably use that tire next season then call it done. My primary concern is that the rubber gets dry/hard and the tire has much less traction in certain situations. I'll put fresh rubber on when tread hardness/age becomes significant.

pdedes

You just made yourself a trainer tire

Ice41000

Hard braking is also bad for trainer. Or something.
I use specific orange Conti trainer tire.
Disconnect rear brake while on trainer (unless you have pets or kids around).

Ice41000

Exactly. :-)

rangerdavid

I agree. if the trainer with that tire on it doesn't thump, then you have a dedicated trainer tire now

itrsteve

The Continental Home Trainer is my choice.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/co...FUjxOgodRQsAZg

mvnsnd

Fill the spot with some shoe goo and just use it a a trainer tire.

I also just use my normal road tires on the trainer, or an older road tire that isn't quite useless yet.

DaveWC

...or after an interval whether on the trainer or the road....

Machka 

Yes ... "they" actually recommend gradually slowing down after a hard effort. It's apparently better for the heart.

But I agree with what the others say ... he's got a trainer tire now. Better for it to blow while on the trainer rather than cycling out in the middle of nowhere.

Gramercy

Maybe to make it quieter you can loosen the metal roller so less of the tire comes into contact with the roller. I try to make mine hardly touch. I'm still experimenting with how tight I should make it and what tire pressure my rear tire should be to minimize noise.

seymour1910

Nice choice, but I wouldn't pay $50 for it

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Continental-...e#ht_629wt_896

itrsteve

Good for you, is there a reason? Or is it being cheap? Going out on a limb that this ultra-expensive tire is going to outlive multiple sets of road tires.

These trainer tires are the only way I can apply power when it comes to the intervals. The normal road tires break around 425-450w and so and you are not only slipping when you go into it (which I wouldn't doubt could eventually cause injury) but you're essentially doing a burnout the whole time.

seymour1910

Oh I agree with you, I don't use regular road tires on my trainer. I use the continental home trainer. I just shop around to find someone selling it cheaper. I posted a link on my reply. On black Friday I actualy bought two for $60.

itrsteve

Damn, not a bad buy. Can't remember what I paid but I'm pretty sure it's going to last for awhile.

Smokehouse

This...

I tried to use a conti 4000s tire on my trainer once. 30min program and noticed significant wear of the tire (significant as in lost of rubber dust, smoothed out the rubber quite a bit). The home trainer tire? Almost no wear after a year of use...well worth the $45 I gave for it.

DaveWC

Every year I go through tires on the road that are perfectly usable on the rollers. I can't imagine buying tires for a trainer.

eja_ bottecchia

Buy a cheap wheel and mount your trainer tire on it. It will save you from having to keep changing the tire.

RPK79

I use the cheap rear wheel that came stock on my wife's bikes direct bike with an older cassette on it. I don't use a trainer tire though. Instead I just use old tires.

eja_ bottecchia

I used trainer tires in the past. Now I am like you, I just use old tires.

Trainers wear out tires real fast.

roadwarrior

You are not supposed to.

Also not sure why you'd instinctively hit the brake after an interval, even if on the road.

f4rrest

Looks fine for the road still, since it hasn't torn the underlying threads. I'd ride it.

Darth Steele

Same thing happened to me a few days ago.

Are you running Conti 4000s tires?

Nachoman

your's looks way worse.