Can you feel the difference between 30 TPI and 330 TPI?
 

I commuted on 700x25 Grand Prix 4 Seasons tires with 330 TPI for about a year or so, about 3K miles, before the rear tire started to deteriorate. Later I moved the front GP4S to the rear and did another 3K miles on it, with just a cheap $20 Bontrager wire bead front tire from the LBS, which I believe has just 30 TPI. Now I have the same cheap Bontrager tires on both ends (rear one is new).

Is there really much difference in road commuting between 30 TPI and 330 TPI? I haven't noticed any real discernible difference in speed. Wind and temperature (amount of clothing) seem to make most of the difference in whether my commute is 65 minutes or 85 minutes.

Higher TPI should equate to lower weight, better handling, and lower rolling resistance.

Lower TPI should equate to longer life and better puncture resistance.

I don't think you'll notice the weight savings in normal commuting rides, but you should notice better handling and slightly better starts.

In my experience, it isn't necessarily speed, but the suppleness of the tire. I like a higher thread count, as I feel like the ride is smoother.

thread count does not always determine quality of ride. Thread thickness and spacing also matters, not simply the tpi. Some try to count multiple layers instead of a single bias to get a higher tpi

in general, spivious is right but actual ride comfort is largely a factor of tire pressure.

From a decent 60 TPI commuting tire (Prima 2) to a decent 150 TPI road tire (Rubino Pro Slick), same size same pressure, I could immediately feel the difference. Stiff vs supple, sluggish vs lighter. Difference in commute time? Probably none.

Specifically, no. But I do know that a tire that is floppy in your hands is also going to feel nicer when you ride it. I have some fairly heavy tires on my commuters now and though they don't flat, they don't seem as nice to ride as the no-armor Paselas did. I have some race-level tires on my MTB and they are like climbing shoes compared to what I had on it before.

I have used road tires from the same maker, one with a TPI of about 50 and another much higher (don't remember what it was exactly). The higher TPI tire rides much nicer. The lower TPI tire feels like a rock in comparison but it lasted a lot longer. TPI wasn't the only difference between the tires.

OP question above.
Jeez, focus people!

This is spot on. I would expect it to feel different but not make any measurable difference in speed or time.

Higher thread count also generally improves grip but at the cost of tread life.

Incidentally, Continental plays a bit of a game with thread count. I believe that if the tire says 330 TPI it's really three layers of 110 TPI.

There's a difference - smoother, nicer ride - between low and high TPI tires IME.

Yes there is, but more noticeable in the rear than the front.

Is there really any difference between 30 psi and 330 psi?

only difference is the noise and hole it make in your backside.

The title of the thread: "Can you feel the difference between 30 TPI and 330 TPI?"

I don't think I've seen a response that didn't address that question.

Another vote for the "yes, it makes a difference" crowd.

I could immediately feel a ride difference & it was SUPER easy to fix a flat as I didn't have to fight that wire getting it rebeaded.

It may have a decreased life and a higher susceptibility to puncture, but I'm sold on the feel of the ride, ability to work with it easier & the obvious difference in weight.

Does that mean every response addressed the question?

Take it easy bud, I appreciate all the responses. :thumb:

Unlike some people I don't mind a little OT digression.

I've noticed differences, but they were significantly different tires. Until I have a chance to compare essentially identical tires with different thread count I'll question how much thread count alone makes a difference.

I could never sleep between 30TPI, that's like burlap!

30tpi at 300psi is like 300tpi at 30psi