60TPI vs 120TPI tires? pros cons?
04-24-19, 10:41 PM
#1
Life Feeds On Life
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Hondo,Texas
Posts: 2,143
Bikes: Too many Motobecanes
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4416 Post(s)
Liked 4,525 Times
in
3,027 Posts
60TPI vs 120TPI tires? pros cons?
I really could use some opinions from you guys and gals. Fixin to buy me some gravel tires. 60s supposedly last longer the 120s better ride. I would love to hear from other gravel grinders 
04-25-19, 06:03 AM
#2
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Gatineau, Quebec
Posts: 293
Bikes: Lynskey GR270
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 115 Post(s)
Liked 69 Times
in
49 Posts
What you said is right with regards to durability. On top of this, 60s will be a bit heavier than 120s. Also, rigidity is different, where the 60s will also have a stiffer casing, which may make installing the tires on the rims a bit harder.
04-25-19, 07:47 AM
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,610
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10954 Post(s)
Liked 7,483 Times
in
4,185 Posts
All the 120tpi tires I've used(or 330tpi due to marketing) have lasted a long time. They have been durable and reliable.
In terms of durability, its not like 60tpi is a basketball and 120tpi is a balloon ready to pop.
120tpi are lighter, ride better, and are faster while still being plenty durable(in general)
The one downside is they cost more.
In terms of durability, its not like 60tpi is a basketball and 120tpi is a balloon ready to pop.
120tpi are lighter, ride better, and are faster while still being plenty durable(in general)
The one downside is they cost more.
04-25-19, 10:11 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,764
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1975 Post(s)
Liked 232 Times
in
173 Posts
Don't compare across brands though they can use different casing materials. Some 60tpi casings(tubeless ready) ride better than 120tpi casings if set up tubeless compared to with butyl tubes
04-25-19, 01:42 PM
#5
junior
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Fresno, Calif.
Posts: 282
Bikes: 2020 Surly ECR / 2018 Norco Search XR steel gravel bike with GRX / 1983 Bianchi Campione D'Italia / Gary Fisher Wingra / Motobecane Nomade mixte (daughter's)
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 72 Post(s)
Liked 12 Times
in
11 Posts
Mine are listed as 60tpi, but with a "light and supple" casing. Set up tubeless.
eric/fresno, ca.
eric/fresno, ca.
04-25-19, 02:52 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Generalizing: 120 is lighter and more supple and more expensive. 60 has a thicker cord is harder to cut than the thinner 120 cord. The 60tpi is sometimes used on tires with extra puncture protection.
04-25-19, 03:00 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2228 Post(s)
Liked 2,011 Times
in
972 Posts
Isn't the TPI spec relatively meaningless? I've heard some manufacturers will make a tire with two 60 tpi layers and call it a 120 tpi tire.
04-26-19, 09:49 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
Usually it is meaningful. Continental loves to say they have 330TPI, when it is really 3x110tpi. Basically you have to divide any TPI number conti has by 3. They label their 60TPI tires as 180TPI. Everyone else seems to do it legitimately .
Likes For chas58:
04-26-19, 12:50 PM
#9
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Like others have said, tpi theoretically can make a difference when all else is equal... but all else is often not equal.
I think TPI used to be a better indicator of suppleness and quality than it is now. I don’t know why that is.
I think TPI used to be a better indicator of suppleness and quality than it is now. I don’t know why that is.
04-26-19, 03:33 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
interesting comments, but there are many tires that are offered in both 60 and 120 configurations. In that case, all other things are equal, and it is a valid comparison. The 60TPI tires are often sold and a more heavy duty or flat resistant tire though (with a different construction).
Idunno - 120 makes me think the tires are more supple, so it must be so! ;-)
Idunno - 120 makes me think the tires are more supple, so it must be so! ;-)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Metieval
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
8
09-07-18 07:52 PM
mack_turtle
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
7
11-25-16 10:44 AM
Inpd
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
6
09-05-16 01:08 PM
