What to do with rear tire?

sarafrandrup

Newbie here.  I have a training tire that I've used all winter and just removed it and put my regular tire back on for the outdoors.  Being that MN weather is unpredictable and because of time constraints, I am now riding on the trainer somedays and outside somedays.  I'm afraid of ruining my regular tire on the trainer.  How do people handle this?  Do you have a separate wheel with the trainer tire and just swap it out when on the trainer?  Is a couple of hours a week on the trainer with my regular tire really going to hurt it if I just leave it on all the time?   

[Deleted User]

I'd say it depends how much time you're spending on the trainer. For the number of hours in the OS, I'd say it should be fine. Not sure if I'd want to ride for hours and hours on the trainer for a HIM/IM plan though.

Also, while I'm not an expert on tires, I've noticed that the tire on one of my bikes tends to warm up a lot more than the one of my other bike (which doesn't heat up at all) when I use the trainer. Not exactly sure why, but not all tires are created equal. Check to see how warm it gets after a solid ride on the trainer. That should give you an idea of how much damage is being done.

Peter Greagg

Hi Sara — I do all interval work on my trainer and I have not changed the tyre in more than 2 years.
To me, that suggests the trainer doesn't wear the tyre very quickly.
So I would just leave your normal tyre on the wheel.

Steven Ford

Look at the tire before and after your trainer ride, you will notice a wear pattern. Like others have said depends on the time you are spending on the trainer. I bought a cheap back wheel that I put the trainer tire on for this early weeks of spring.

robin sarner

 Have had bad luck with tires blowing up on the trainer.   Recommend dedicated wheel and tire.   Tacx trainer tire does not get hot and requIres less clamp on force.

sarafrandrup

Thanks for all of the great feedback guys! I will check the tire before and after my next indoor ride and see if it's warm and check for a wear pattern.

cgres123

Another thought would be change the tire when ever you are jumping back on the trainor. A few weeks of that and you will be very good at changing the tire which will pay off big time in races.

novaavant

I got a beater rim from an old bike and put on a vittoria trainer tire. I just swap rims when putting the bike on the trainer.You should still clean the trainer tire regularly to remove the build-up so the tire doesn't begin to slip on the trainer. good luck.

Tom Glynn

I think it depends on the trainer. I've got a Kurt Kenetic and a CompuTrainer. Years ago I bought a bright yellow indestructible tire for use on the trainer. I used it for one season and thought it was a pain in the neck to swap back and forth in the Spring / Fall as I alternated indoor and outdoor. Now I just ride on my regular tires and haven't had a problem.

If the tire is not set properly and there is slippage, there may be a lot of wear and tear. I've had very good luck with mine.

Gordon Cherwoniak

Sara,

I hear you on the weather.  I just have one tire and use the spring/fall to practice my tire changing.  It's good practice for me as I don't get that many flats typically.   It is a pain when you don't really want to spend the admin time.  I do have a definite wear band on my trainer tire and don't use it on the road.  If I'm on the ball and the forecast is good I do the change out the night before. 

Gordon

Scott Alexander

used to use a regular road tire on the trainer, but found the drum forced it to get 'flat' edge, which made it feel like crap on the road - esp when cornering.

Now I just have an orange conti tire on a separate wheel. Still rounded, but black 'burned' middle.

kimmydct

I use an old tire for the OS when on the trainer in the winter. I have made the swap to the regular tire now that the weather has gotten nicer but I anticipate doing a few short rides on the trainer and am not too worried about wear with just a few minutes here and there on the trainer. We'll see!

brianrobkelly@hotmail.com

Hi Sarah, I live in Minneapolis too..met you at our coffee get together...i have 2 wheels and tires..one for the trainer with a trainer tire, one for the road with a road tire. i ride the trainer quite a bit and plan to do so for interval work and poor weather, and time eficiency throughout the summer. i just switch them for the appropriate ride

sarafrandrup

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm thinking I'm just going to throw my trainer tire on my roadbike wheel since I'm not using the roadbike at all and just swap it out when I go outside. Hate to take the chance of ruining my regular tire on the trainer and it is good practice on changing that rear wheel which I'm deathly afraid of.

jimsims99

All: When you talk about changing tires as practice for races, I have a question: If you race on tubulars would you fix a flat with Stop Leak or would you carry a replacement tubular and chance not glueing it?

Paul Hough

The trainer tires are so much harder to remove and reinstall and I am lazy. A couple of yrs ago I bought another wheel from Performance bike so I now have a dedicated trainer wheel/tire.