Got Big Apples today, but they don't look so good
02-03-10, 09:18 PM
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Got Big Apples today, but they don't look so good
I received my Schwalbe Big Apple's (20x2.0) from Amazon yesterday, but they didn't look too well. I don't know if this is normal, but the tread/sidewalls have what I would call "flat spots" built-in. I've heard of folding tires, but these look like they were starched and ironed.
I mounted one of a new rim without spokes, and aired it up. The inner tube filled it out into a normal looking tire. I can't tell if its out of round yet since there's no hub attached to spin the wheel.
So what do you guys think? Is it ok, or even safe for use? My concerns would be:
1. sidewall problems
2. balance problems/out-of-round/wobble at 20-30mph
IMGA0147.jpgIMGA0140.jpgIMGA0134.jpgIMGA0143.jpgIMGA0137.jpgIMGA0136.jpgIMGA0135.jpgIMGA0144.jpg
I mounted one of a new rim without spokes, and aired it up. The inner tube filled it out into a normal looking tire. I can't tell if its out of round yet since there's no hub attached to spin the wheel.
So what do you guys think? Is it ok, or even safe for use? My concerns would be:
1. sidewall problems
2. balance problems/out-of-round/wobble at 20-30mph
IMGA0147.jpgIMGA0140.jpgIMGA0134.jpgIMGA0143.jpgIMGA0137.jpgIMGA0136.jpgIMGA0135.jpgIMGA0144.jpg
02-03-10, 09:21 PM
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As long as the bead is not kinked, they'll be fine.
02-03-10, 09:37 PM
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yeah the flat spots are normal. I remember my first folding tire, I didn't think it looked right either.
02-03-10, 10:33 PM
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Did the doctor have to use forceps to remove your babies from the packaging... could be their sidewalls aren't formed yet! 
02-03-10, 11:36 PM
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Even with kinks in the bead and ironed-on divots, you can't tell if they're molded right until you've got them mounted on a nice, true wheel and up to full pressure. Fat, light tires like the Big Apple tend to get really wrinkly in shipment. I've never seen one that didn't round out once it was in place and pumped up.
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02-04-10, 11:02 AM
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Thanks for the responses all! I guess I've never seen a brand new tire look this way before, though my experience is limited to the round looking tires hanging in bike shops, or the rolled up ones in little boxes.
I have another week's wait before I will mount these tires on complete wheels. I'm waiting on new hubs and rims.
I have another week's wait before I will mount these tires on complete wheels. I'm waiting on new hubs and rims.
02-04-10, 11:22 AM
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Here's some pics with tire mounted on a rim. I mounted the tire that was the worse of the 2 received. It looks like its ok, but I wont know for sure until I build my new wheels and mount them.
Last edited by Kevinator; 02-04-10 at 11:26 AM. Reason: pics inserted around text, instead of under it...needed to fix
02-04-10, 01:43 PM
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That's normal. They might even feel a little lumpy the first few miles, especially if it's cold. Rubber is a very moldable substance, did a bit of that in the box. Inflated properly and "massaged" by the road they'll return to fully round.
02-07-10, 12:49 PM
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my marathon winters came like that. they're fine.
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02-07-10, 12:59 PM
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Those tires were moulded on true round moulds and those "flat spots" just happened during packaging and shipping. It's not like the materials around the tire (rubber, beads and textile carcass) were distributed incorrectly around the tire, what you see are just like folding creases that should dissapear after the tires are fully inflated for alittle time. Been riding foldable tires since they first became popular in the 80's and have seen this on all tires I used with no problems arising after I had them fully inflated for riding.
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02-07-10, 03:28 PM
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They look like my Super Motos did when I received them.
Air em up, make sure your beads set and take em out to play.
Air em up, make sure your beads set and take em out to play.
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This is Africa, 1943. War spits out its violence overhead and the sandy graveyard swallows it up. Her name is King Nine, B-25, medium bomber, Twelfth Air Force. On a hot, still morning she took off from Tunisia to bomb the southern tip of Italy. An errant piece of flak tore a hole in a wing tank and, like a wounded bird, this is where she landed, not to return on this day, or any other day.
02-14-10, 11:19 PM
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Thanks or all the responses everyone, looks like the general consensus was correct. I laced a wheel today and everything appears to spin true. I haven't mounted the new wheel on my bike yet.
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