Would slick tyres make a difference?
03-07-11 | 12:55 PM
#3
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Joined: Mar 2011
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From: las cruces, NM
Bikes: 07 Quintana Roo Lucero Lite 99 Bianchi B.A.S.S. 05 BPStealth 09 Giant Trance X2-with a few upgrades 09 Republic Fixed gear 89 Specialized S-works 08 Giant Anthem Advanced(carbon frame) 07 Titus RacerX Carbon
the only time i use slicks is racing.
1) weigh savings
2) rolling resistance
2a) harder rubber compound makes for a less "sticky" tire dragging ya down.
other than that i run armadillos or Michelin pro race 'service course' (yes i know they are all slicks in a way).
but in your case those are cruising tires.... get a set of road tires
1) weigh savings
2) rolling resistance
2a) harder rubber compound makes for a less "sticky" tire dragging ya down.
other than that i run armadillos or Michelin pro race 'service course' (yes i know they are all slicks in a way).
but in your case those are cruising tires.... get a set of road tires
03-07-11 | 01:13 PM
#5
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From: RTP, NC
Bikes: LOOK 595 & Cannondale CAAD9
I wouldn't go with true "slicks" (ie no tread pattern at all) unless racing on freshly paved tarmac, but some standard all-weather road tires would roll much nicer than those.
03-07-11 | 01:30 PM
#6
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
It's not so much the tread pattern, as the weight and materials of those tires.
Tread pattern is really pretty irrelevant on a road bike; i.e. it doesn't increase adhesion, and within limits, its not going to make much difference in rolling resistance.
The tires you've got are heavy, and have high rolling resistance. A good "racing" tire is going to be faster than those, regardless of whether it is one with a tread pattern, Vittorias for example, or slick, Michelin for example.
Tread pattern is really pretty irrelevant on a road bike; i.e. it doesn't increase adhesion, and within limits, its not going to make much difference in rolling resistance.
The tires you've got are heavy, and have high rolling resistance. A good "racing" tire is going to be faster than those, regardless of whether it is one with a tread pattern, Vittorias for example, or slick, Michelin for example.
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03-07-11 | 01:42 PM
#7
Certifiable Bike "Expert"
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the only time i use slicks is racing.
1) weigh savings
2) rolling resistance
2a) harder rubber compound makes for a less "sticky" tire dragging ya down.
other than that i run armadillos or Michelin pro race 'service course' (yes i know they are all slicks in a way).
but in your case those are cruising tires.... get a set of road tires
1) weigh savings
2) rolling resistance
2a) harder rubber compound makes for a less "sticky" tire dragging ya down.
other than that i run armadillos or Michelin pro race 'service course' (yes i know they are all slicks in a way).
but in your case those are cruising tires.... get a set of road tires
03-07-11 | 01:45 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: las cruces, NM
Bikes: 07 Quintana Roo Lucero Lite 99 Bianchi B.A.S.S. 05 BPStealth 09 Giant Trance X2-with a few upgrades 09 Republic Fixed gear 89 Specialized S-works 08 Giant Anthem Advanced(carbon frame) 07 Titus RacerX Carbon
the Pro 3 Race Service Course is a thicker compound that has a texture cast into it that makes it not a true slick and a bit more grippy. it is still a "slick" but not a true race slick either. its the grey area. its a dry weather tire tho, that is for sure. my specialized armadillos have a slicker surface on them then the Michelins do but the armadillos had side tread for cornering
03-07-11 | 01:57 PM
#9
pan y agua
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From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
the Pro 3 Race Service Course is a thicker compound that has a texture cast into it that makes it not a true slick and a bit more grippy. it is still a "slick" but not a true race slick either. its the grey area. its a dry weather tire tho, that is for sure. my specialized armadillos have a slicker surface on them then the Michelins do but the armadillos had side tread for cornering
Tire compound is going to affect the grip of the tire.
And on road, tread, or lack therof is not going to cause a tire to corner bettr or worse, or grip in the rain.
https://www.michelinbicycletire.com/m...oothtread.view
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-07-11 | 02:12 PM
#10
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,810
Likes: 1,232
From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
https://www.michelinbicycletire.com/m...oadracing.view
As I understand it the "Service Course" bit is just marketing lahguage referencing that the specific tire has been used in the Pro Peleton.
https://forum.slowtwitch.com/Slowtwit...ight_P1878268/
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
03-07-11 | 02:35 PM
#11
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 131
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From: las cruces, NM
Bikes: 07 Quintana Roo Lucero Lite 99 Bianchi B.A.S.S. 05 BPStealth 09 Giant Trance X2-with a few upgrades 09 Republic Fixed gear 89 Specialized S-works 08 Giant Anthem Advanced(carbon frame) 07 Titus RacerX Carbon
That is what I was told anyways..... Thank you all for clearing that up. I just have them around because they used to be an old sponsor(get them at cost), and now they have been replaced with continental. i just run what looks good to me in all actuality on a road bike... as long as it is resilient to the roads i ride i am happy. on a MTB is where i am picky.
so thank you all for clearing up my misunderstanding on road tires :thumbsup:
so thank you all for clearing up my misunderstanding on road tires :thumbsup:
03-07-11 | 02:39 PM
#12
Rubber side down
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Teh Quickie Mart
Bikes: are fun! :-)
Tread really has nothing to do with the handling of a bicycle tire.
Tire compound is going to affect the grip of the tire.
And on road, tread, or lack therof is not going to cause a tire to corner bettr or worse, or grip in the rain.
https://www.michelinbicycletire.com/m...oothtread.view
Tire compound is going to affect the grip of the tire.
And on road, tread, or lack therof is not going to cause a tire to corner bettr or worse, or grip in the rain.
https://www.michelinbicycletire.com/m...oothtread.view
I love slicks for general purpose road bike tires. I ride Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks in a variety of conditions with great results. I rode a very cold, wet, and somewhat hilly century with them last week and they performed nicely. Give slicks a try - I think you'll like them.
Last edited by Clipped_in; 03-07-11 at 02:42 PM.
03-07-11 | 11:31 PM
#14
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From: Gulf Breeze, FL
Bikes: Rossetti Vertigo
Slicks put more rubber on the road. Tread is more for the "elements" meaning rain and snow. Race cars use slicks. Road cars use tread because you can't change tires every time it rains, and tread pushes away liquid. Bike tires don't need tread in rain because bikes can not hydroplane like cars. Yes, slicks are slick in rain, but then so are treaded road tires. The object is to get as much rubber on the road within that tiny contact patch. Tread subtracts from that. I use the Rubino Pro Slicks as well and love them.
Here's a better explanation from Sheldon Brown:
Bicycle tires for on-road use have no need of any sort of tread features; in fact, the best road tires are perfectly smooth, with no tread at all!
Unfortunately, most people assume that a smooth tire will be slippery, so this type of tire is difficult to sell to unsophisticated cyclists. Most tire makers cater to this by putting a very fine pattern on their tires, mainly for cosmetic and marketing reasons. If you examine a section of asphalt or concrete, you'll see that the texture of the road itself is much "knobbier" than the tread features of a good quality road tire. Since the tire is flexible, even a slick tire deforms as it comes into contact with the pavement, acquiring the shape of the pavement texture, only while in contact with the road.
People ask, "But don't slick tires get slippery on wet roads, or worse yet, wet metal features such as expansion joints, paint stripes, or railroad tracks?" The answer is, yes, they do. So do tires with tread. All tires are slippery in these conditions. Tread features make no improvement in this. https://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
Here's a better explanation from Sheldon Brown:
Bicycle tires for on-road use have no need of any sort of tread features; in fact, the best road tires are perfectly smooth, with no tread at all!
Unfortunately, most people assume that a smooth tire will be slippery, so this type of tire is difficult to sell to unsophisticated cyclists. Most tire makers cater to this by putting a very fine pattern on their tires, mainly for cosmetic and marketing reasons. If you examine a section of asphalt or concrete, you'll see that the texture of the road itself is much "knobbier" than the tread features of a good quality road tire. Since the tire is flexible, even a slick tire deforms as it comes into contact with the pavement, acquiring the shape of the pavement texture, only while in contact with the road.
People ask, "But don't slick tires get slippery on wet roads, or worse yet, wet metal features such as expansion joints, paint stripes, or railroad tracks?" The answer is, yes, they do. So do tires with tread. All tires are slippery in these conditions. Tread features make no improvement in this. https://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
03-08-11 | 08:49 AM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 919
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The contact patch on that tire is essentially slick. Unless you ride in circles, going with 100% slick will only improve handling if the new slick uses a different case construction and rubber compound. My Michelin City has a contact patch similar to yours. Straight line handling is very similar to the Michelin Orium. High speed cornering is not as smooth as the Orium due to the thread pattern.
