trial bike Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Hi folks, I know this is an extremely debatable subject. (Do you ride mud, rocks, for pleasure or to win, etc) I'm just trying to get a feel for how long people keep a tyre going and whether sharp edges are the be all and end all. I have a rear on a 4RT with about 40 to 50 hours of grass slopes and rock sections, practising front wheel lifts and upto 2 foot steps, mainly. The front edges are quite well rounded now. But I still find grip doing tight turns on steep wet grass. I struggle finding grip in mud, but that is probably lack of practise and technique. How often do you change your rears? Do you ever "turn them round" to use the rear edges of the blocks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pschrauber Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Depens to so many factors where you have ridden, have you done some road riding with the bike, age. I recently changed the tires for the SWM they where mounted in 2012. The edges were pretty well rounded and there were too some deep cuts too. Then the knobbies of the tire had some wear in highness too due to some road riding. But mostly the tire got stiffer compared to a new one I had mounted to another bike and in fact the newer tire did stick better on nearly every ground. Interesting on grass there was no difference as you mentioned. But sand, stones and logs were significant better to travel with the new tires. To mount them "in other direction" I did not test as the in rear stiffnes was my personal reason to change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heffergm Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 My set has over 100 hours on it. All rock riding. Trials tires are so sticky, especially at clubman level I just don't see any reason to replace them much. It's not like a knobby where all your grip is from the knob/edge. I'll probably replace mine at the end of this season in another 50-100 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazybond700 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 I turn the rear around once, when the edges are worn. Not too much work and good tyre changing practise lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cleanorbust Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 I started riding trials in 1973 and have bought, oh, five or six rear tyres in that time. Sharp edges can be overrated in comparison to technique and correct pressures. I still notice lots of people running too much air, new tyres or not. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trial bike Posted July 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Interesting point about the stiffness with age, I hadn't considered that. (Except in my knees) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2stroke4stroke Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 (edited) I'm even tighter than cleanorbust and ran a Pinky which came with a part used tyre for nine years but can't remember fitting a new tyre though I suppose I must have at some time as the bike did get a lot of use. That bike found grip where other Yams didn't. I'm sure most of us have turned tyres - sometimes more than once☺ Edited July 10, 2016 by 2stroke4stroke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4stroke Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 Its all in your head. If you think your bike has good grip then you don't need new tyres. I turn and replace regularly, because I think I need to. Having the correct pressures is far more important! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyc21 Posted July 10, 2016 Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 I am with cleanorbust pressure and technique to me are the largest factor in getting grip, however I would also agree with pschrauber that if its getting to old and stiff even good technique and proper pressure will not get you all the way there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lineaway Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 I just rode the National in Colorado in the Vintage Twinshock class on a 1976 Cota 348. The old Michilen was splitting cross wise on the knobs about 1/3 of the tire. So about 12 really bad cracks. I cleaned 28 of 36 sections. New tires are over rated. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Depends where you are in the south of england an edge is very imprtant eleswhere not so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floydbassman Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 I got my Greeves TFS back together last year after it being apart since 1980. A guy at work gave me a good 2nd hand rear tyre which I fitted to give the best grip according to the wear. All good until mot time when I, and the mot tester both noticed the tiny arrow on the sidewall denoting the correct rotation for the tyre. Had to reverse the tyre to pass the mot.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 (edited) I got my Greeves TFS back together last year after it being apart since 1980. A guy at work gave me a good 2nd hand rear tyre which I fitted to give the best grip according to the wear. All good until mot time when I, and the mot tester both noticed the tiny arrow on the sidewall denoting the correct rotation for the tyre. Had to reverse the tyre to pass the mot.... Dremel. Edited July 11, 2016 by b40rt 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pschrauber Posted July 11, 2016 Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 (edited) I just rode the National in Colorado in the Vintage Twinshock class on a 1976 Cota 348. The old Michilen was splitting cross wise on the knobs about 1/3 of the tire. So about 12 really bad cracks. I cleaned 28 of 36 sections. New tires are over rated. = super skills and a twinshock Bou? Sorry for winding up but it was so obvious. It really depends to the underground and yes in classic trials it doesn't matters so much, the radial tires came first in the beginning 80's and were firstly only available for works riders. With the TY mono the new Michelin radial tire was available for the public in W and S version, these tires changed the riding style completly in trials. W = winter = temp. under 17°C S = summer = temp. over 17°C Anyway the benefits between a very good or a decent trials tire when new are also obvious on a twin shock bike the way the carcasse is build (diagonal or radial inforcement makes a huge difference) and what rubber mixture is used really makes a difference. Still 75% is up to the rider and with a tire that sticks more to ground even on slippery and wet surfaces gives you more confidence. Edited July 11, 2016 by pschrauber 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trial bike Posted July 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2016 Interesting reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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