Tire wear question
08-06-10, 06:35 PM
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Tire wear question
I have bontrager select b tires on my trek. I'm starting to notice the contact surface on the rear is starting to get flat instead of curved. is this normal. and it is time to replace them. I bought the bike in the end of may and have about 600 miles on it so far. any suggestions would be great. or a possible solution. if this seems like dumb question. well I'm pretty new to cycling so forgive me I will catch on. thanks
08-06-10, 07:38 PM
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This is a normal wear pattern for many rear tires. Some riders are very bothered by it and are sure it alters the bikes handling. I've never seen any problems with it and continue to use the tire until the tread rubber is worn through and the casing threads show at one spot.
08-06-10, 07:47 PM
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Some people (myself included) buy tires three at a time. When the rear tire shows the wear you are describing (1/4" 'flat'), put the third (new) tire on the rear, and use the 'worn' tire for a spare.
When you decide the Bontragers are 'done for', find something a little tougher, and with lower rolling resistance--Continental makes a few, and you should get longer wear from them.
When you decide the Bontragers are 'done for', find something a little tougher, and with lower rolling resistance--Continental makes a few, and you should get longer wear from them.
Last edited by badamsjr; 08-06-10 at 07:57 PM.
08-06-10, 07:49 PM
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I have bontrager select b tires on my trek. I'm starting to notice the contact surface on the rear is starting to get flat instead of curved. is this normal. and it is time to replace them. I bought the bike in the end of may and have about 600 miles on it so far. any suggestions would be great. or a possible solution. if this seems like dumb question. well I'm pretty new to cycling so forgive me I will catch on. thanks
The difference in ride between a 320tpi open tubular vs a crappy $20 clincher is enormous.
08-06-10, 08:05 PM
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Be sure to fully inflate your tires before each ride.
Those are not my favorite tires either.
Those are not my favorite tires either.
08-06-10, 08:07 PM
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okay now i'm cofused. i thought i was supppose to be using clinchers.
08-06-10, 08:08 PM
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yeah it says 100 psi but I usually put 115. becuase 100psi just seems squishy. but maybe that is becuase they are cheap tires.
08-06-10, 08:33 PM
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Yes, you will have to stick with clinchers.
When I replaced my wife's Bontrager tires with Michelin Pro Race tires she said it was the best thing I had ever done for her.
I'm still thinking about that.
08-07-10, 10:55 AM
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08-07-10, 05:32 PM
#11
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Ride the tire until it wears out. Buy a new one and put it on the front and move the front to the rear.
Pressure is a function of tire width and vehicle weight.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/res...SIRX_Heine.pdf
Pressure is a function of tire width and vehicle weight.
https://www.adventurecycling.org/res...SIRX_Heine.pdf
08-07-10, 05:57 PM
#12
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There are some decent budget tires but you need to pick and choose. I've had some expensive tires in my time and some bottom feeder tires. I found that Continental Ultra Sport provides a darn good ride and they are often found on sale for under $20 a tire. I've also had a few other brands, and some version of a Bontrager was one of them, that I wouldn't use for tieing down a load of junk going to the dump. The bad ones didn't get a chance to wear out just because I found them to be so draggy that I replaced them before they had a chance to wear out. Or in one case they were just so prone to flats that I replaced them.
The other way I've seen to switch out tires is to replace the rear with the front and then put the new tire onto the front. Rears wear out about twice as fast as the front so this works out not too badly.
The other way I've seen to switch out tires is to replace the rear with the front and then put the new tire onto the front. Rears wear out about twice as fast as the front so this works out not too badly.
