All weather tyres for fixed/free flip-flop

bennyhana22

Having finally taken the plunge and ordered a fixed/free singlespeed I now have the issue of which tyres.

It will be an absolutely all-weather machine replacement for my broken old faithful. My prefered tyres for several years for commuting/wet riding have been Conti 4-seasons and I love 'em....

...But presumably the fact that the tread pattern is NOT the same both ways 'round means that they're only supposed to roll one way. This means that if I choose to flip the wheel from fixed to free either the tread pattern is wrong and presumably will underperform or I'd have to change the tyres 'round.

Any advice and suggestions for a similar tyre choice that would give me what the 4-seasons do but with no formal tread so I can flip over and still have the 'same' tyres?

Thanks!

Ben

huuregeil

Ben,

It's a slight non issue for two reasons:

1. Bike tyres aren't really directional, in that the tread doesn't function to dispel water. You can mount the tyres either way without loss in performance.

2. If you're fussed about the way they rotate, for whatever reason, in reality it won't make much difference becuase you'll either decide to run fixed or with the freewheel on a semi-permanent basis and won't be flipping round every other day.

In other words, pick whichever tyre floats your boat!

huuregeil

PS What did you end up ordering?!

will3

Simply ride backwards when using the fixed side.

bennyhana22

huuregeil wrote:

PS What did you end up ordering?!

Thanks huuregeil - you're SUCH a helpful respondent!

Ordered a Condor Tempo, 55cm Navy Blue - 2009 frame so £50.00 less even though colour not quite as nice as a gunmetal one for 2010, but they're not expected until mid-December and I want to get it yesterday!

Mavic Open Pro on Miche Primato hubs, 18T fixed and free on 46T Miche chainset so around 70"
You get a decent Deda Black rain full carbon fork. No saddle, seatpost, bars, tape or brakes as I have all these in good nick on my recently deceased.

Interesting about the water dispersal - whilst I never imagined that it made a huge difference, I presumed that there was at least some rationale for the tread pattern on a tyre like the 4-saesons even though I realise that it's compound and not profile that gives the tyre its properties. So with that advice I'll likely stick with my old favourites - they really are a very good tyre and easy to get off/remount with that 6am dark and dirty on-the-way-to-work puncture...

Thanks again

Ben

bennyhana22

will3 wrote:

Simply ride backwards when using the fixed side.

Very quick, Will! Nice 8)

Ben