General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Too heavy for my tires Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2008-08-28 10:17 AM

Member
22

Subject: Too heavy for my tires
I hope I'm not repeating a previous post but:

I check my tire psi before every ride and keep it right up to the max psi. But as soon as I sit my butt on the bike and go, the tires look under inflated and are begining to wear flat on the tread.
The LBS said it's normal for a tire to wear like that. I am wondering if I am too heavy (245 lbs) for my tires and perhap I should be riding on wider ones. I am now riding on 700x23.

Thanks for any advice




2008-08-28 10:30 AM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Champion
16151
50005000500010001002525
Checkin' out the podium girls
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
Nope, you're good. Run them at 120psi or higher. If you want to, get Vredestein Fortezza Tricomps. They'll go to 175 max and are really flat resistant. Had great luck with these for years.

2008-08-28 10:42 AM
in reply to: #1634707

User image

Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
You're fine.  I get tires that are rated for 120psi or more and fill them to the max.
2008-08-28 10:56 AM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Expert
789
500100100252525
Lake Forest, Illinois
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
Ditto the above.  I was riding the same size tires at 250lbs with no issues.  As previously stated just make sure to get a tire that can do 120ish psi.
2008-08-28 11:28 AM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Expert
724
500100100
Simi Valley
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
I run a set of 700X25 Armadillos on my road bike without issues of uneven wear and tear.  The only flat I have gotten too date was a heat flat from breaking too heavy through about 3 miles of downhill curves.  That being said, at 302, I still have about 60 pounds on ya so I consider them a safe solid bet.
2008-08-28 1:56 PM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Veteran
161
1002525
Pasadena, MD
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
For what it's worth I'm only about 210 but I love my Conti GP4000's.  I had the stock Specialized tires on and for whatever reason started getting flats like every other ride.  Not a one since I switched.  They roll smooth as long as I inflate them to MAX pressure before every ride.


2008-08-28 1:57 PM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Expert
983
500100100100100252525
Tempe, Arizona (hot hot hot)
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
Im 309 and I role at 120psi and it holds fine. I am looking into the armadillos though heard a lot of good things about em.
2008-08-28 3:16 PM
in reply to: #1634631

Member
22

Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
It's not that I have ever had any problems. No flat tires, no bent rims etc. It's just when I sit on the bike they look like I forgot to check the pressure. I also didn't know if the tires wearing flat is normal or is it because of miles after miles riding on squished tires.

Thanks for the inputs. Sounds like I'm fine. I might consider tires that can be inflated higher, like 170 psi or so.
2008-08-28 3:36 PM
in reply to: #1635402

User image

Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires

shaggy28 - 2008-08-28 11:56 AM For what it's worth I'm only about 210 but I love my Conti GP4000's.  I had the stock Specialized tires on and for whatever reason started getting flats like every other ride.  Not a one since I switched.  They roll smooth as long as I inflate them to MAX pressure before every ride.

Funny you should say that.  I bought some specialized tires and I was getting LOTS of flats - even at pressure....  Weird.

I have some inexpensive conti Ultra Sport training tires that I run at 120psi and they seem great - no issues..

BTW - I'm about 230lbs....

2008-08-30 11:41 AM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Expert
773
5001001002525
Alexandria, NH
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
Just my .02 on the 175psi tires.  Those might be a bit much.  The more pressure you put in the harder the ride.  Not that 120psi absorbs much but I'm pretty sure that 175 is like riding on rocks.  
2008-08-30 5:14 PM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Expert
1170
10001002525
Southern Pines, NC
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires

In general, the higher-end race level tires will have softer, more supple rubber and will hold better in corners, especially in the dry weather. The trade-off is tread life. For a bigger guy, it's not at all unusual to square off the rear tire a little faster, or even a lot faster.

One option is to rotate the tires, but it's ill-advised because you really don't want a squared-off tire doing the steering. So the other, more recommended option is to just replace the rear and front as needed. So you may go through 2-3 rear tires before you have to replace the front. 

As for the high-PSI options out there, remember that in order to get any benefit from that PSI, you need to be riding on a very soft, supple tread, i.e. in the 290tpi range. Otherwise the tire will just bounce around and ride slower than the high-psi version. Bottom line is that some deformation of the tire is to be expected while you ride, and as long as you're at the rated PSI for any mainstream tire you should be fine.

 FWIW, I'm 210# and come from a crit racing background--when going around corners at 20-30mph in a pack you get to be a little anal about tires.



Edited by DrPete 2008-08-30 5:17 PM


2008-08-30 9:14 PM
in reply to: #1634631

Member
22

Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
Good information. Sometimes I fill in this sport you have to be part athlete and part crew chief.
2008-08-30 11:41 PM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Expert
987
500100100100100252525
Durham, North Carolina
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires

What about "normal" tires?

I just started a few weeks back and was budget conscious, just to see if I would like tri'ing, etc .... so bought a $299 hybrid bike at a local 's Sporting Goods store, a Diamondback, Marvista model.

I think the tires say to inflate to 85 psi or something like that.  It has 700 cc tires, not skinny road tires, not knobby tires or true hybrid tires with knobs on the sides and smooth down the middle.  It is smooth (has tread though) and seems to be twice as wide as soom of the high end road bike tires I saw.

Should I keep these tires at or under 85 psi, or can this be pushed up to 10 psi?  I weight about 15 lbs right now and even though I have about 80 psi in them right now, the rear tires esp. seems to be nearly flat when I ride it.  Actually, it is probably flattening out about halfway ....

 



Edited by klowman 2008-08-30 11:43 PM
2008-08-31 11:34 AM
in reply to: #1639956

User image

Expert
1170
10001002525
Southern Pines, NC
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
Bigger tires run at lower pressures. I would NOT try to crank the pressure up more than 5-10 psi. This is a little bit because of ride qualty, but more because of the fact that a tire that's overinflated for a given rim size can blow off the rim while riding. That's generally considered a bad thing. There is a few psi of lawyer-proofing leeway in the max PSI rating, but why tempt fate? You're never going to ride on a tire that doesn't deform under load. In fact you wouldn't want to.
2008-08-31 8:14 PM
in reply to: #1639660

User image

Regular
102
100
Auckland, New Zealand
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires
DrPete - 2008-08-30 10:14 AM

One option is to rotate the tires,


I do that every time I ride...lots of times actually.Hehehe

Best I can figure I weigh exactly the same as the OP of this post - 112kgs which I think is 245lbs. I ride Armadillos at 120psi and have just changed to Specialized Mondo Pro's (cam e with new bike and too lazy too change them) - used to get pinch flats all the time and realised I wasnt inflating them enough. Now I am good at 120psi, just keep 'em inflated!
2008-08-31 9:20 PM
in reply to: #1634631

User image

Master
1901
1000500100100100100
Central, IL
Subject: RE: Too heavy for my tires

I gotta ya by 10lbs.  You'll be fine.  I have over 1200 miles on my current set - fyi. 

 

 



New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Too heavy for my tires Rss Feed