pm124

Hi all--Just received my Greenspeed Scorcher tires https://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/349.html . I don't have the wheels built yet to put them on, but will report on performance later.

Out of the box, they have a heavy wire bead and don't look very even. They are otherwise quite cool. I'll keep a kevlar beaded Stelvio as a backup, or possibly even a front tire.

Anyone using them?

james_swift

I had the the 406 TR on my Swift for a while. They feel sluggish at speeds below 18mph, but really let go once you hit 19mph and above. They're sticky in corners, and downright dangerous in the rain. In spite of them being thorn resistant, I managed to puncture the back tire almost straight away. I eventually tossed the tires after the bead literally blew through the sidewall during inflation (explosion sounded like a gun shot). Anyway, I hope you have better luck with them.

pm124

Thanks James! It sounds like I'll need it. Most of the reviews online are positive...and endorsed by the MFR!

By the way, are you the guy that was just on the Governor's Island bike tour?

pm124

I should have bought the TR version with the Kevlar belt that you bought, James. These tires should be called the Greenspeed Hisser, because they are constantly making a loud sound as air escapes.

I've put just 150 miles on them, but have had 10 flats, for an average of 1 flat every 15 miles. Once, I got 2 flats on my 10 mile trip to work. They have a wide contact patch and almost no rubber, so they pick up glass like crazy. They are also quite heavy for such a thin tire.

So, I feel stupid for wasting money on them. I like the ride a lot, though. They are indeed extremely fast, making a notable difference in average ride speed. If they had decent puncture protection, I would have stuck with them. They are also acceptable on wet surfaces, and corner well.

I bought them from Harris, and kind of feel like they should warn consumers about the puncture protection issue.

Does anyone have a favorite 349 tire to replace them with? Comets?

jur

You could add Slime liners. These provide better protection than Kevlar belts.

pm124

Thanks Jur. BTW, sorry for my delayed responses to your questions on this thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...=67772&page=17.

I worry that the liners will wear holes in my tubes, but I guess that takes a lot longer than it does to get a flat on these things.

james_swift

I agree.

The TR versions I had still managed to puncture, so I think I'd have been better-off getting the non-kevlar versions with the Slime liners.

pm124

Thanks guys! I bought a single Brompton Green tire today from an LBS, but maybe I'll hold onto the tires and try a liner. (Or maybe I'll give them away if there is anyone in NYC who loves patching tubes.)

It's really amazing how much glass these things have in them and how much goes through the tire. I used to be on the fence with Stelvios because of the occasional puncture. Those tires were shredded after 1400 miles, but mostly held up.

TimIsbell

What's the consensus on the best bang for the buck Brompton tire?

spambait11

^^ Marathons.

awetmore

Are they thick in the center (like the Mitsuboshi/Tioga Comp Pool) or is the tread thickness fairly consistent? I wouldn't mind a less cement like tire than the Schwable Marathon for my tikit...

alex