Author Topic: Tyres  (Read 15673 times)

Tyres
« on: 11 February, 2016, 06:23:47 pm »
Hi All,

I've managed to persuade my better half to join me on a 100k Audax event, but only on the proviso that we use our Tandem (a late 90's steel framed Dawes Galaxy Twin). As the bike needs new tyres anyway I'm thinking of fitting something a little narrower and that rolls a bit better than the ancient Conti Top Touring that are currently fitted (700c x 38).

As I'm sure those whose Tandem has a drag brake are aware a rear tyre puncture is a real pain to repair on the roadside so I don't want anything too light weight. Any suggestions on tyres and what's a reasonable width?

Re: Tyres
« Reply #1 on: 11 February, 2016, 06:48:57 pm »
Personally I wouldn't go narrower than 35mm on a tandem - If you choose good quality lightweight supple tyres ( even wide ones ) you will have lower rolling resistance & a better ride quality. Schwalbe Marathon Supremes or Marathon Racer spring to mind.
 

Re: Tyres
« Reply #2 on: 11 February, 2016, 06:50:56 pm »
Calling Mr Smith and his Stoker.  Please pick-up the phone!

Re: Tyres
« Reply #3 on: 11 February, 2016, 07:55:28 pm »
We run 28s, but we don't tour on ours, the most it ever has on it is us & a couple of changes of clothes. Marathon plus for flinty Norfolk winters and something lighter in the summer.

Re: Tyres
« Reply #4 on: 11 February, 2016, 08:07:17 pm »
Continental Gator HardShell 700x28c for us. We are rather heavy, probably around 180kg, including the tandem. In the last three years, we had about one puncture every 1500 to 2000 km. I think avoiding punctures is also a matter of experience:  knowing exactly where you should put your wheels on is at least as important as having proper tyres.

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Tyres
« Reply #5 on: 11 February, 2016, 08:33:15 pm »
I'm a fan of Pasela or similar tyres in medium widths (32-ish) for Audax tandems. Wider if you ride on crappy road surfaces, narrower if smooth.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

bhoot

  • MemSec (ex-Mrs RRtY)
Re: Tyres
« Reply #6 on: 14 February, 2016, 08:42:38 pm »
We are too lazy to change the tyres depending on season or the type of riding we are doing, so our tandem has had 700x35 Marathon Pluses on it every since it was built. In 3.5 years we have done 15,000 miles, quite a lot on audax rides, but also some cycle camping tours with a heavy load. In that time we have had two punctures - although we have gone through a couple of pairs of tyres in that time, so some tyres must have gone life expired without ever getting punctured.
No doubt they have been a bit slow, but we aren't planning to change any time soon.

Morat

  • I tried to HTFU but something went ping :(
Re: Tyres
« Reply #7 on: 14 February, 2016, 09:53:25 pm »
Although we're not an Audax team, we've done a 100mile charity ride on 25mm Gatorskin front/28mm Gator hardshell rear. IIRC we use 110PSI in each tyre.
I wouldn't say it's a plush ride, but we both survived on a Cannondale Road Tandem.
Everyone's favourite windbreak

Re: Tyres
« Reply #8 on: 16 February, 2016, 11:52:42 am »
My tandem came with Gatorskins which I have since swapped for a pair of Marathon Plusses. Although I found the Marathons horribly sluggish on the solo, the difference is far less apparent on the tandem (probably because we are horribly sluggish anyway) and I find them grippier than the Gatorskins. It's probably the extra width, though for a tyre to be grippier than a Gatorskin isn't hard. Width I would suggest 32mm as a minimum, 35mm or more better. Isn't the tendency now for wider tyres anyway?

clarion

  • Tyke
Re: Tyres
« Reply #9 on: 16 February, 2016, 12:05:31 pm »
We use 32s on our 90s Galaxy Twin.  We tour fully loaded.
Getting there...

Morat

  • I tried to HTFU but something went ping :(
Re: Tyres
« Reply #10 on: 27 February, 2016, 09:32:54 pm »
BTW, our total weight is definitely north of 230Kg (not sure exactly how far north at the moment, but it's been a lardy Christmas). The bike came with 25mm gators front and rear, the rear lasted less than a season before it was square.
Everyone's favourite windbreak

Re: Tyres
« Reply #11 on: 01 March, 2016, 07:59:44 pm »
That's great, thanks for all your replies. I think if I drop from my 38s to 32s and with some sort of puncture resistant band that ought to do the trick.

Now for another question upgrading the brakes. See a new topic.

Torslanda

  • Professional Gobshite
  • Just a tart for retro kit . . .
    • John's Bikes
Re: Tyres
« Reply #12 on: 03 March, 2016, 09:22:07 am »
Schwalbe Durano + are available in 32mm and claim the same protection level as Marathons. Comparatively light and fast rolling, just don't go anywhere near mud . . .
VELOMANCER

Well that's the more blunt way of putting it but as usual he's dead right.

Morat

  • I tried to HTFU but something went ping :(
Re: Tyres
« Reply #13 on: 06 March, 2016, 12:03:42 am »
These are heavy, but very reliable. They roll well too
http://www.schwalbetires.com/node/3810
Just don't tell a weight weenie that they weigh 750g each! :)

edit: tandem now rolling on Continental Gatorskin 32mm at 90 Psi. It's massively more comfortable and subjectively just as fast. I wanted Marathon Supremes (apparently saving 5W per tyre) but they're hard to get hold of (and still very pricy). For this season the 'gators feel like a great option.


Everyone's favourite windbreak

Re: Tyres
« Reply #14 on: 13 April, 2017, 10:48:39 am »
from my own experience with Tandems (which is admittely still growing) narrower tyres make little difference in terms of real world rolling resistance but wider tyres make a big difference in stoker comfort  - fwiw we mostly ride cinder / tracks etc and run 2.4" wide at 40PSI -  they barely clear the frame at the rear or I would happily got even wider

Re: Tyres
« Reply #15 on: 13 April, 2017, 11:48:46 am »
from my own experience with Tandems (which is admittely still growing) narrower tyres make little difference in terms of real world rolling resistance but wider tyres make a big difference in stoker comfort  - fwiw we mostly ride cinder / tracks etc and run 2.4" wide at 40PSI -  they barely clear the frame at the rear or I would happily got even wider

If stoker comfort is an issue for you, have you tried a sprung seatpost?

Re: Tyres
« Reply #16 on: 13 April, 2017, 02:51:47 pm »
We run conti gatorskins 28c on both our tandem and tandem trike, we have gone all winter with out a puncture.
I run them at 90psi which seems to aid comfort and no detriment to handling and or rolling resistance.

Re: Tyres
« Reply #17 on: 14 April, 2017, 04:20:51 pm »
If stoker comfort is an issue for you, have you tried a sprung seatpost?

oh yes, suspension seatpost present and correct! - but they still complain  ::-)

Re: Tyres
« Reply #18 on: 25 June, 2019, 03:15:54 pm »
I'm looking for a fresh pair of tyres for the Pino for PBP. It's a 20" front wheel and 26" rear and has previously had Schwalbe Marathon 47×406 (front), 50×559 (rear). The combined weight of captain and stoker is probably around 150Kg.

I'm not a massive fan of fixing p*nctures at the roadside on this, particularly at 4am on an audax, so I'm probably thinking something at the Marathon end of things, but less rolling resistance is also good. As is often the case, the front wheel is easier to take off than the rear, so different tyres might be in order.

Any suggestions appreciated!

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Tyres
« Reply #19 on: 25 June, 2019, 05:33:22 pm »
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/tour-reviews are mostly for 622 tyres but there are a few 559 options.

French roads are generally better than British, though there is pave through some village centres.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: Tyres
« Reply #20 on: 25 June, 2019, 05:40:58 pm »
Does the fact it's a tandem make any difference to comparative rolling resistance? Obviously there is a lot more weight on them...

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Tyres
« Reply #21 on: 25 June, 2019, 05:57:55 pm »
Greater weight increases absolute wattage differences between tyres but relatively the same. Keep tyres at or close to maximum. Don't pick the very lightest sidewalls, particularly for the rear wheel.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: Tyres
« Reply #22 on: 26 June, 2019, 11:43:16 am »
Greater weight increases absolute wattage differences between tyres but relatively the same. Keep tyres at or close to maximum. Don't pick the very lightest sidewalls, particularly for the rear wheel.

Thanks for all the advice on this. There are stickers on the Pino saying to inflate the tyres to 60 psi, so I usually stick to that, though I'm wondering about upping it a bit.


LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Tyres
« Reply #23 on: 26 June, 2019, 01:26:52 pm »
When I raced tandems, we generally went 10-20psi above maximum but that was with 25-28mm tyres. Belgian pave meant that pinchflatting was a real issue. You mainly have to worry about damage to the tyre casing or rim if you air up too much with such wide tyres.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Phil W

Re: Tyres
« Reply #24 on: 26 June, 2019, 02:02:31 pm »
What's is the maximum clearance for tyres front and rear?  Obviously the wider the tyre the lower the pressures you will run.  According to rolling resistance you have the Schwalbe Allmotion and Schwalbe Supremes if you want to drop the rolling resistance and still have decent puncture protection.   The only tyres (not the above mentioned ones) in 20" that significantly drop rolling resistance are in the 28mm width which I suspect may be a little narrow for your purposes.

Don't bother with Kojaks; they puncture easily and don't roll any faster. I recently swapped them over (35mm width) to the Schwalbe Marathons in 40mm on the recumbent for Fenland Friends 600 and rolling resistance was not a problem.  Like you I prefer not to get punctures on the recumbent as taking wheels on and off is some awkward, but mostly awkward on the rear.  My recumbent is also 26" rear, 20" front.