Folding MTB tyres...

JoeCycle02

Hi All,

Last weekend whilst going down some pretty mad trails i lost control and smashed into a small 'boulder' and burst my front tyre :oops:

Im thinking about buying a couple of these http://www.totalinnertubes.com/tyres/mo ... typre.html as they look small enough to put in my backpack as a backup should i ever feel the need to smash into any more boulders 8)

What has your experience been? Are they really small enough to take with me as a backup?

The Rookie

Do you have tubeless ready wheels? This can't be fitted to any wheel.

Are you running tubeless now?

Just take a roll of gaffer tape!

JoeCycle02

Wasnt aware that i had to have a special tyre for these to fit.

How do i tell if what i have is OK?

njee20

Well they can be fitted to any wheel, but won't work tubeless unless you've converted your rims.

I'd not bother. Take a tyre boot for if you rip your tyre - or a cut up toothpaste tube/bus pass wallet etc, replace tyre when you get home. That's a lot of weight and bulk to lug around 'just in case'.

nicklouse

JoeCycle02 wrote:

Wasnt aware that i had to have a special tyre for these to fit.

How do i tell if what i have is OK?

well it is a special tyre. IE tubeless. but you can add more weight and use a tube if you want.

benpinnick

JoeCycle02 wrote:

Hi All,

Last weekend whilst going down some pretty mad trails i lost control and smashed into a small 'boulder' and burst my front tyre :oops:

Im thinking about buying a couple of these http://www.totalinnertubes.com/tyres/mo ... typre.html as they look small enough to put in my backpack as a backup should i ever feel the need to smash into any more boulders 8)

What has your experience been? Are they really small enough to take with me as a backup?

Theyre going to be too bulky to carry about happily. I'd suggest investing in a larger front tyre! If it fits, something like a Hans Dampf or Bontrager XR4 in 2.35 will give you a huge volume to play with.

YeehaaMcgee

Do you actually need a new tyre? Can;t you just fix the puncture in the tube?

JoeCycle02

Fairly sure i need a new tyre as i have a big gash in the side wall where i clattered into the rocks!! The folding tyres looked ideal as its a bit of a pain to have to push it home when im out and about. Just not sure how convinient they really are.

cooldad

You don't buy folding tyres for convenience. They are lighter than wire beads and generally have better compounds.

warpcow

^this. Folding tyres aren't some kind of emergency replacement. They're just a different, better/more expensive, kind of tyre. Like a lot of people have already said, carry some tyre-boots in your repair-kit and maybe think about getting tyres with stronger sidewalls (Conti Supersonic tyres are closer to tissue-paper than rubber).

Edit: also, do Conti make a "Supersonic Tubeless" tyre? I thought it was one or the other.

JoeCycle02

Seems ive learnt a alot about the folding tye that i didnt realise!!

I guess the best thing to do would be to save some cash, and just buy some of these Mountain Kings to fit at home instead. http://www.totalinnertubes.com/tyres/mountain-bike-tyres/2-x-continental-mountain-king-ii-mtb-tyres-sizes-folding.html

I have to say, i thought the whole concept of folding tyres was to take one with you as a spare, doh!

YeehaaMcgee

Well, sort of. Touring riders do take them with you, but the kind of terminal tyre damage is so very rare in mtbing that it's just not worth the hassle, so it's not considered sensible.
In much the same way that you don't carry tools and spares for all eventuality, just the most common ones.

JoeCycle02

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Well, sort of. Touring riders do take them with you, but the kind of terminal tyre damage is so very rare in mtbing that it's just not worth the hassle, so it's not considered sensible.
In much the same way that you don't carry tools and spares for all eventuality, just the most common ones.

Very rare aye? i guess ill put my experience down as gross incompetence then

YeehaaMcgee

JoeCycle02 wrote:

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Well, sort of. Touring riders do take them with you, but the kind of terminal tyre damage is so very rare in mtbing that it's just not worth the hassle, so it's not considered sensible.
In much the same way that you don't carry tools and spares for all eventuality, just the most common ones.

Very rare aye? i guess ill put my experience down as gross incompetence then

It does happen every now and again, but it's not common.
same as destroying a wheel, or snapping a crank arm, or handlebar.
You just don't want to carry spares for every possible eventuality.

cooldad

I sometimes wish I had a spare body.

The Rookie

That's what someone who has ridden with you said...then something about not having to follow the one you use now.....

For a tyre to burst then
1/ Poor quality tyre
2/ Underinflated so not holding shape and snagging
3/ HUGE impact
4/ Combo of the above... you decide!