Two different tires?
So this is kind of a dumb question but:
Is it okay to run two different tires on your bike? Due to trainer wear, road wear, and recent busts, I'm down to only two working tires: a Conti Triathlon tire that is a year and a half old (and in good shape) and another tire that I've just used for training and should be replaced soon anyway.
I just bought two Conti Grand Prix 4000 tires. The new tire goes on my rear wheel, a Mavic Open Pro, just fine. But I canNOT get it onto my front wheel, a Mavic Elite. Could I eventually wrestle it on? Sure, and eventually it will stretch out and be just fine. But I'm wary of having trouble during Placid if I get a flat in the front.
So can I keep the Grand Prix on my rear wheel and run the Conti Tri on the front? Any reason why that would be a bad idea?
Comments
Having both a tubie and a clincher requires more equipment than just carrying one or the other.
You will be fine. I would like to see you race on some faster rubber but that is an entirely different discussion.
Like maybe these with Latex tubes:
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y0028
Really anything on the first page of this list:
http://www.biketechreview.com/tires...g_rev9.pdf
Lower CRR is better. People often talk about sacrificing CRR for flat protection but plenty of the fast tires seem to be fine in terms of durability. I think it makes sense to have race tires and tubes even if you do not have race wheels. Also do not get caught up in the thinking along the lines of "yeah they roll better in lab testing on a drum but in the real world..." In the real world where there are bumps in the road the differences between tires that roll "better" than others will be exacerbated not reduced.
The crr on the vittoria with a latex tube is .00250 [12.3 watts per wheel] whereas the GP4000 with the same tube is .00384 [18.9 watts per wheel]. Also if you notice the difference between the vittoria with a latex tube and a butyl one is pretty big as well .00250/.00284 and a 1.7 watt difference. The differences between tires and tubes are far larger than you might think. Having the "right" tubes and tires will save you more at placid than race wheels or an aero helmet.
Some say they do not care, I never feel like I have extra watts that I do not mind squandering on race day
Great points Chris, what does CRR stand for?
I may have to switch tires and tubes for race day then.
CRR= coefficient of rolling resistance
Gordon
Suzanne, Conti tires can notoriously hard to get on. You might check out an LBS to help you out. I have a Conti trainer tire that has been on/off bunches of times. You would think that it would loosen up just a little, nope, still a beeeeach to get on.
Now, what to do with the two brand new 4000S clinchers. Guess they'll be my new training tires.
Cary,
what do you have invested in the 4000s clinchers? I love them.
Nothing at all wrong with slow training tires. Makes no difference how fast you are going when you do not have a chip strapped to your ankle.
@Terry - I'll PM you on the 3000Ses tomorrow - they're still on the way to me.