You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I pootle around the countryside on my Singular Swift which I essentially use as a gravel bike (probably a bit over biked).
I've got Hope XC wheels (19.5mm internal) and I've got on well with 2" tyres in the past. A while back I bought some [url= https://www.vittoria.com/us/en/tires/mtb-xc/terreno ]Vittoria Terreno XC tyres[/url] rated at 2.1" but my first impression when I got them on was that they looked huge.
They've been great, rolling really well on tarmac and comfortable and robust on rough, stony bridleways but I'm finding that on smooth tarmac , if there's a raised spot or ridge in the road, that the rear tyre wants to kick slightly to the side. It's not a big deal but I'm just finding it a little disconcerting at times; previous tyres haven't done this.
Is it simply the extra width (they do come up much wider then the previous 2" ones) or should I be playing with the pressure. When I started riding them I ran them around 35-40 psi - the same as the previous 2" tyres, but they felt brutally hard and I'm now running them at around 27psi, making them much more compliant; I'm not sure how low I could safely go (they're rated for 29-58 psi).
Interestingly I've come across a [url= https://www.ridinggravel.com/components/vittoria-terreno-xc-2-1%E2%80%B3-tires-checkpoint/ ]review of the Terrenos[/url] which rates them highly but notes that they need to be run at lower pressures than you might expect and that they come up at 54mm wide (rather than the 52 quoted).
Vittoria are quite happy with them being run on 19.5mm rims but note that 19mm would be the minimum. I did wonder if they were perhaps a tad wide for the rims.
Why not try lowering the pressure a bit more? I think I run rear tyres at about 20-22psi at most and I'm 75kg and ride in reasonably techy terrain. Not the same tyres as yours, but that's my starting point.
Also, I think rounded tyres seems to skip about more anyway, there's a Conti Race king on the back of my Scandal at the minute and it does the same thing that you describe.
Is it a cheap hard compound?.
Is it a cheap hard compound?.
No, it's a an 120tpi folding tyre (so fairly supple) with Vittoria's new added graphene compound.
I might try tinkering with the pressure.
+1 to lower pressures. Tubeless I run 2.2/2.25 tyres at 19-20psi at 60kg.. Yours don't sound far off a 2.2.
Aye, sounds like they're needing deflated a bit, give 30psi a go.
Edit - I run mine lots lower than this, but your local riding sounds as if it's not really techy, more of a lite XC style?, so you want a bit of XC speed too?.
Vittoria are quite happy with them being run on 19.5mm rims but note that 19mm would be the minimum. I did wonder if they were perhaps a tad wide for the rims
I'd be amazed if it was a rim width thing, pretty certain we were all running 2.35" tyres on Mavic XC717 rims back in the day.
I have same tyres, they're ridiculously fast and mostly fun although I still can't find as much grip as I'd like on fast loose corners, just can't get them leant over enough. Hadn't noticed any sideways skittishness on the flat but did notice the rear will lose traction pretty fast, distinct impression of just floating over marbles when braking hard on loose tracks...
Could it just be a semi-slick/lack of grip thing? I run 38mm Terrenos on the gravel bike. Overall I'm massively impressed by grip levels, but occasionally get a weird sideways punt from the rear wheel which I can't quite explain, like it's loaded up over an obstacle then 'pinged' sideways.
Could it be caused by the transition from those centre 'scales' to the shoulder knobs when the tyre is a bit leant over? Especially if it's a harder compound rubber to try and help wear life and rolling on tarmac/gravel/hardpack?
But yeah lower pressure (assuming you're using them tubeless) could well help...
New bike is the only guarantee solution.
Also, check your hub. Loose bearings can make the rear wheel feel like it has tyre grip issues especially when cornering
I agree with others, doesn't seem like a rim to tyre thing...
I don't know the Vittoria Terano's but maybe they have less sidewall support? Maybe its the tread ?
Could even be they are brill and lower rolling resistance and you're riding faster in the techy stuff?
Obviously try different pressures ... (why not its free) ..
Might just be a "feel" thing ???
Maybe get used to it ? It's only the rear ... I swap wheels about all the time and I can't imagine the worn racing ralph 2.1 has anywhere near as much grip in loam as the MM or DHR and way more on tarmac... but it's "just a feeling" you get used to ..
Thanks all, I'm running them tubeless so I'll have a play with pressure; hopefully it's not too problematic to run them below the minimum recommended psi.
occasionally get a weird sideways punt from the rear wheel which I can’t quite explain, like it’s loaded up over an obstacle then ‘pinged’ sideways.
This is pretty much it I think although I'm only noticing it on smooth tarmac, if it goes on when things get rougher it's lost in the general bump and buzz.
but maybe they have less sidewall support?
Possibly this, they're 'Race' flavour with tan sidewall which I think is just bare carcass. They're tubeless compatible but were a nightmare to seal as they lost a lot of air through the sidewalls initially. There's a heavier grey sidewall version available to proper TNT tubeless compatibility, so they might be worth a try when they need replacing.
They’re tubeless compatible but were a nightmare to seal as they lost a lot of air through the sidewalls initially. There’s a heavier grey sidewall version available to proper TNT tubeless compatibility, so they might be worth a try when they need replacing.
You might just get used to it ... I get it may feel alarming but I'm guessing nothing bad has happened. You are probably making it worse by worrying (to some extent). There is a Worldwide Cyclery video on Youtube somewhere which is a but tongue in cheek asking "which are the best tyres" and at the end the summary is "so much is in your head".
By all means you can buy your way out of it... and that's totally valid (Matrix "I know this steak isn't real but...")
I have my own issues with tyres ... I lost the front end a couple of times on MM's on hardpack or tarmac and whilst they are obviously not the best, in my head they are/were much worse. I can say a specific with those that being the side knobs (whatever the correct term is) tends to ping out one by one ... but my reaction was probably to lean back and unweight... (yeah stupid but ..) or brake (more stupid).
I get these are the opposite end of the spectrum but I think the theory stands up... a different "feel" doesn't always mean its worse just not what you are used to. The front wheel washout on the MM is actually predictable and when you expect it is controllable. Obviously won't be winning races on dry hardpack but equally once the "feel" is dialed in it doesn't need to spoil the fun.
(As it happens yesterday took the hardcore HT for a bridleway run... stuck on some wheels with fast rolling and I distinctly remember coming to the bottom of my avenue on the way home and leaning it extra hard... it would have felt very different with the usual wheels on but then the rest of the ride would have been miserable with the usual wheels...
occasionally get a weird sideways punt from the rear wheel which I can’t quite explain, like it’s loaded up over an obstacle then ‘pinged’ sideways.
This is pretty much it I think although I’m only noticing it on smooth tarmac, if it goes on when things get rougher it’s lost in the general bump and buzz.
Does sound a but pressure related ... if the smooth tarmac isn't "that smooth".
Possibly this, they’re ‘Race’ flavour with tan sidewall which I think is just bare carcass. They’re tubeless compatible but were a nightmare to seal as they lost a lot of air through the sidewalls initially. There’s a heavier grey sidewall version available to proper TNT
Hmm, I have the tan sidewalls as well, they are the lighter carcass although hadn't expected them to be harder to seal. Might just stick with latex tubes, they're certainly not slowing the wheels/tyres down!
My gravel tyres are the grey sidewall 38mm versions so the weird sideways punt thing still happens, but they're a different kettle of fish anyway, higher pressures, tubeless and weirdly more confident in corners, I think they cut through the loose stuff more, instead of floating over the top.