A new question about tyres......

Cheshley

or at least I think it is, I've not found anything else about it on the forum........

I've read about, and experienced, the problems of having the wrong tyres for the trail conditions, specifically trying to ride in wet weather on dry weather rubber...

BUT, what would the effect be of running on dry trails with wet weather tyres on?

The reason I ask is that I rode at Sherwood Pines last weekend and although it was 95% dry, the 5% that was wet was VERY wet and I wouldn't want to try to get through those sections on dry tyres but I also don't want to compromise the rest of the ride either......

Does anyone with experience of riding Sherwood Pines know how long it takes the tight muddy sections to dry out? I'm going back next week and the forecast between now n then is warm and sunny so I'm hoping it'll be a lot drier by then

Discuss.

robertpb

At 5% it's a no brainer, you don't need mud tyres.

Most tyres handle the occasional mud pretty well, but in these conditions the skill of the rider comes to the fore.

Mud tyres on dry trails can be rather draggy, plus the noise of them frightens walkers, they think an army truck is creeping up on them.

Too much air in the tyre in muddy conditions drops the traction drasticly.

Most of last autumn I used minions, come the winter I changed to trailrackers, then a a brief run with a mixture of these and some highrollers.

Now I'm running nobby nics, they seem to handle a good mix of conditions and are quick.

Most of the tyre pressures I use are in the lower 20's with an all up rider weight of 66kg.

All summer long you'll always have patches of mud that rarely dry out even if there's been the briefest of rainfall, learn to love and ride it.

Airienteer

robertpb wrote:

Most of the tyre pressures I use are in the lower 20's with an all up rider weight of 66kg.

I'm all for low tyre pressures. It can make a huge difference. But low 20s is way too far, you'll puncture soon if you haven't already, unless you're running UST and then you might get away with it.

robertpb

Airienteer wrote:

robertpb wrote:

Most of the tyre pressures I use are in the lower 20's with an all up rider weight of 66kg.

I'm all for low tyre pressures. It can make a huge difference. But low 20s is way too far, you'll puncture soon if you haven't already, unless you're running UST and then you might get away with it.

25 years of doing this and riding pretty hard my puncture rate is pretty low, nearly always thorns.

Last September I went to Edale to try out my Meta 5.5 , plenty of rocky descents there, on checking my minions after 3 days of riding I found I had 20psi out back and 17psi up front.

Rode there in all for 6 days and not one puncture.

Airienteer

robertpb wrote:

Airienteer wrote:

robertpb wrote:

25 years of doing this and riding pretty hard my puncture rate is pretty low, nearly always thorns.

Last September I went to Edale to try out my Meta 5.5 , plenty of rocky descents there, on checking my minions after 3 days of riding I found I had 20psi out back and 17psi up front.

Rode there in all for 6 days and not one puncture.

Impressive! I tend to run mid 30s. But if you're not finding it too draggy then I supose go for it!

Northwind

Mud tyres on dry trails can be horrible, slow and imprecise and wobbly. Depends on the tyre of course... But a sensible all-rounder tyre like a highroller or nevegal or similiar should get you through most wet stuff and will be far better on the dry bits.

Cheshley

robertpb wrote:

Most tyres handle the occasional mud pretty well, but in these conditions the skill of the rider comes to the fore.

well that's me screwed them

Pressures in the 20's at 66kg? well I do almost make 2 of you!!!!!!!!!! I run mine mid 30's usually n never had much of a problem with flats although I have had 2 in the list 2 rides but one was a thorn and the other was a 3mm HSS drill bit