..tyre/wheel aesthetics...

deswahriff

opinions please........big decision time.... ;-) .I'm due to replace the PRO4 SC's on my matt black Roubaix...also with black hand-builts with black Archetype rims (no brake wear marks yet..)...

..I'm thinking its all maybe a bit too black and am considering the black/ivory PRO4's to break things up a bit (black/white might maybe too contrasty)....I work in finance so obviously have no imagination and am incapable of envisaging what it would look like...any thoughts out there?

Happy Friday!

ju5t1n

You'll be forever cleaning them to keep them white. Go for a colour

xscreamsuk

I've had them for 18 months, done about 12,000 miles on them, still look pretty clean, but I do wipe the bike down after every ride. Don't use them in the winter though

Wooliferkins

There is no discussion. Rule 8 applies

deswahriff

..shame they don't do a black/grey like they used to with the Krylions...that would be a winner on all counts - would'nt get so dirty and would match with the script and detailing on the frame to keep The Velominati happy... :-)

johnmcsorley

I was told by 2 different LBS's that painted sidewall tyres are a very bad thing. The paint makes the tyre hard and it cracks, reducing the shelf life of the tyre.

Interested to hear the forums thoughts on this?

drlodge

Black tyres, black rims, silver spokes and black hubs.

Except that my tyres now have a green stripe all round them.

markhewitt1978

I've heard various things along those lines too, as well as coloured tyres not having as much grip. No idea if it's true. All black tyres are the best, I know that

GiantMike

Wooliferkins wrote:

There is no discussion. Rule 8 applies

There is a discussion. The rules suck. Big time.

Why not have mismatched wheels and tyres like I do? All bikes look good at 30mph.

deswahriff

...well if a particular colour combo was cheaper, then that would decide for me!!

...surely the colour thing is a pigment in the actual rubber as opposed to "paint"?...

monkimark

The colour will be pigment. Rubber isn't naturally black so black tyres also have a pigment added but the pigment used (carbon black) actually improves the rubber in a number of ways, it's probably the lack of carbon black that's considered a problem.

In practice I don't recall having had any problems with coloured tyres degrading faster than black tyres - they're worn out long before they perish unless your bike lives in the garden and never gets ridden.

ju5t1n

I remember reading on Schwable’s website that black rubber compounds perform better than coloured ones. They don't say why. Here’s a link…

http://www.schwalbe.com/gbl/en/produkte ... rodukt=245

thegreatdivide

Matte black bike, black rims/brake track = gumwall tyres.

http://www.highonbikes.com/vittoria-ope ... g9Ee5LKFc4

thegreatdivide

Deeper than an Archetype - but tell me this doesn't look good!