A wider alternative to the bald Kojak tires
10-05-13, 03:18 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
A wider alternative to the bald Kojak tires
My Schwalbe Kojak got damaged along the side after slipping partially into a road side grill.
It's not serviceable anymore, so I'm in the market for a new 20 inch tire for my folding commuter road bike.
I guess I'm lucky I didn't damage the wheel. The Kojak is a little too thin for the type of road surfaces I go through. So for the future I'm trying to find a wider alternative to it, possible in the 1.5 to 2.0 inch range.
The Schwalbe Marathon series and the CST Sensamo Firenze come to mind, but I don't like the fact that they are quite heavy. The kind of riding I do involves a lot of stops and starts at traffic lights and lighter would be best. Also balder would be much preferred. Basically a wider Kojak would be perfect, but this does not exist I think.
Are there any other alternatives out there?
It's not serviceable anymore, so I'm in the market for a new 20 inch tire for my folding commuter road bike.
I guess I'm lucky I didn't damage the wheel. The Kojak is a little too thin for the type of road surfaces I go through. So for the future I'm trying to find a wider alternative to it, possible in the 1.5 to 2.0 inch range.
The Schwalbe Marathon series and the CST Sensamo Firenze come to mind, but I don't like the fact that they are quite heavy. The kind of riding I do involves a lot of stops and starts at traffic lights and lighter would be best. Also balder would be much preferred. Basically a wider Kojak would be perfect, but this does not exist I think.
Are there any other alternatives out there?
10-05-13, 04:17 AM
#2
Senior Member
I have Schwalbe Big Apples 20x2.00 on my folder. They're not bald, not particularly light, but they're tough, provide good traction, and give a comfortable ride. Roughly speaking, a 20" wheel has half the angular momentum of a 700C wheel at the same mass, so tire weight is less of an issue for acceleration with these smaller wheels (i.e. it's important, but not as important as for a larger wheel).
10-05-13, 07:38 AM
#3
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
I've had good luck with Primo Comet tires. Minimal tread. Available in 1.35 and 1.5, with or without Kevlar protection.
https://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/...ategory=701800
https://www.hostelshoppe.com/cgi-bin/...ategory=701800
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
10-05-13, 07:58 AM
#4
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,435
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3136 Post(s)
Liked 1,704 Times
in
1,029 Posts
Greenspeed Scorchers get hot reviews from 20" riders, though I haven't used them myself; I'm on said Kojaks and lovin' 'em fine on the minivelo, and on Kenda Kwest high-pressures on the folder, which are totally acceptable for how I ride that bike.
The Hostelshoppe that JanMM linked is an excellent selection (perhaps comprehensive) of what's available in 20" road tires. There are also BMX tires (assuming we're talking 406s), and I've heard good reports on tires like the Tioga Powerblock S-spec: https://www.danscomp.com/442134.php
EDIT: reread OP to be wanting slick, so in BMX, maybe this: https://www.cycletherapybmx.com/produ...FYwWMgodmmIAFg
The Hostelshoppe that JanMM linked is an excellent selection (perhaps comprehensive) of what's available in 20" road tires. There are also BMX tires (assuming we're talking 406s), and I've heard good reports on tires like the Tioga Powerblock S-spec: https://www.danscomp.com/442134.php
EDIT: reread OP to be wanting slick, so in BMX, maybe this: https://www.cycletherapybmx.com/produ...FYwWMgodmmIAFg
Last edited by chaadster; 10-05-13 at 08:18 AM.
10-05-13, 10:50 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the recommendations on the Primo Comet. But unfortunately rather expensive compared to the Kojak's.
The Animal ASM-R looks interesting, but would these BMX standard tires fit 406 wheels?
The Animal ASM-R looks interesting, but would these BMX standard tires fit 406 wheels?
10-05-13, 10:54 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I have Schwalbe Big Apples 20x2.00 on my folder. They're not bald, not particularly light, but they're tough, provide good traction, and give a comfortable ride. Roughly speaking, a 20" wheel has half the angular momentum of a 700C wheel at the same mass, so tire weight is less of an issue for acceleration with these smaller wheels (i.e. it's important, but not as important as for a larger wheel).
10-05-13, 11:22 AM
#7
Senior Member
I don't know anything about the company (I found them on Google), but their prices are not too bad.
10-05-13, 12:19 PM
#8
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,435
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3136 Post(s)
Liked 1,704 Times
in
1,029 Posts
10-05-13, 12:29 PM
#9
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,435
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3136 Post(s)
Liked 1,704 Times
in
1,029 Posts
10-05-13, 09:50 PM
#10
Thread Killer
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,435
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3136 Post(s)
Liked 1,704 Times
in
1,029 Posts
If you're pointing out the grammatical error, thank you, and I meant to say that I have high-pressure Kenda Kwest tires (there are Kwests rated to 100psi, and some to 75psi, IIRC) on the Dahon Mariner, and though they're neither slicks, light, nor particularly comfy, they're fine for the mostly short trip, moderately aggressive riding I do on that bike. If I was really 'sh*tin' n gitin' on that bike, I'd probably look for a sportier tire.
