MattTheHat 

This thread has really cracked me up. Firstly, I've never though of installing a tire inside out. Hats off to the OP. Fun stuff. I think the responses warning of impending doom are the best part. But we also had the reference to backwards underwear. That's funny, I don't care who you are.

To the posters asking why, I answer why not? Seems like this belongs in the same category as wheelies or riding no-hands. Or riding the bicycle backwards. IS FOR FUN!

MattTheHat 

If you wear them as outerwear instead of underwear, you can get a few more days yet!

MattTheHat 

The only thing that would have made this thread better would have been if it had been posted in Advocacy and Safety! Can you imagine?

fullergarrett

Well, I also don't think everyone heeds warnings. You know the saying: "rules are meant to be broken." Look at all of the people riding their bikes without helmets, DESPITE the manual and various warnings telling them that they have to wear their helmet. Look at all of the people that smoke cigarettes DESPITE all of the warnings that say that it will cause cancer. I could go on for days.

I'm usually one to follow all warnings I see. I'm the type of person who reads instructions and tries my hardest to follow them to a tee. But there are also times where I'm cautiously curious - this is one of those times. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with that as long as you take safety into consideration and try to minimize the harm.

I think too many people here are reading too far into it. I even said it was a dumb idea. I admitted it was a dumb idea. I don't need people reiterating what I already know, and I definitely don't need people attacking me personally because of one bad/dumb idea. Because I think we all have those ideas from time to time. With that said, I did expect criticism when posting this - just didn't know it'd go this far.

Will also note these again:

1. There is no "why" to this experiment. I saw a YouTube video of someone who did something similar and it interested me. I wasn't anticipating on finding some magical cure for tears in tires, or anything else.
2. Safety is my top priority. I mentioned that it would be done in a fairly controlled environment, so if anything did go wrong it wouldn't result in any major injury - at worst just a couple scrapes and maybe a bruise or two.
3. Anyone else who attempts this should do the same - take safety (both yours and others) into consideration. I wouldn't do this on a street, on a trail 50 miles from the nearest trailhead, or on a road bike going 30 mph. Then you'd be asking for serious injury, if not worse.

Daniel4

I wouldn't expect the comments to be very different at the first person to ride a bicycle with no hands or the people who invented the workable parachute.

Inventors fail 99% of the time.

However, what I find interesting is that amongst all those who criticize and mock, there is one person missing who normally does nothing but criticize and mock.

Just goes to show you, when you research to find out one thing, you discover sonething else completely unrelated.

Milton Keynes

I'm surprised the bead would stay put on an inside out mounted tire.

tkamd73 

Let’s all try this with our cars next, bet that will go well. One of the primary laws of humanity is: you can’t fix stupid.
Tim

Alex Atkinson

Won't say that's the idea I'd like to try, but I'm quite interested in the result.

Metieval

Do hookless rims also surprise you?

livedarklions

I agree that criticizing this is beside the point, but since the op agrees that this is frivolous, I don't think there's anything wrong with treating it as a joke.

I have it on good authority that this only works if you wear your shoes on the wrong foot, btw.

Milton Keynes

Just thought I'd post the theme song for this thread:

Flip Flop Rider

great song!

AlmostTrick

Well, someone had to try this. Thanks for posting, fg. Fun thread.

burnthesheep

Nobody ever heard of a dollar bill or a sticker patch? They work. Used one this weekend (sticker patch).

I accept fully that this is borne out of too much time on one's hands, so cannot really give it any crap.

I just say, you should do some kind of bogus test like a roll down a hill to see if the rollout of the inverted tire was better or worse...............like GCN does science.

Also, perhaps, do a test where you fill the tube with helium.

livedarklions

When they jump out from behind the sofa? Yes.

fullergarrett

Helium costs too much for me to waste it. I've always wanted to fill a tube with helium (outside of a tire) just to see what happens. My hypothesis is nothing.

On a practical note, I am going to do an experiment testing different patches - both official patches (unfortunately I'm not sure where to buy a proper kit - the Walmart stopped carrying them and we don't have a bike shop) and jury-rigged household items and old tubes. And for those concerned about that experiment, don't worry: the bike won't likely be leaving anytime soon as its winter an its actually better to walk to my classes instead of take the bike.

As for the test, I've decided to call it off. Mostly because I really don't want to ruin a perfectly good tire. I may resume the experiment when that tire gets worn down and needs replacing.

As for the hole, tire boots an dollar bills are only meant as a temporary patch. While people have got many, many miles out of them - I decided that I may as well replace the tire. The replacement tire is due here today.

FWIW, I have hookless 27" rims on my 1987 Free Spirit Pinnacle road bike. Unless you inflate the tires to over ~80 PSI, you're good. One time I inflated the tire to 90 PSI (the recommended PSI on the tire sidewall) and didn't make it far before the dreaded BANG! There was a kid down the hill from me who probably needed new pants after that. Thankfully I wasn't too far from home. I found that 70-75 PSI is the sweet spot, though I've managed to carefully get to 80 PSI on the rear tire.

Reynolds 

As there are reversible garments, one could imagine reversible tires. Different treads, colors, etc.

fullergarrett

Wonder how the developers of that tire would've been received on the BikeForums...

Reynolds 

"Yo dawg..."

Unca_Sam

I'll bet you can do that with a slick inside a 29er. I also know why we don't do it.

(It's because it's heavy and makes handling sluggish).

Milton Keynes

Your hypothesis is likely correct. Maybe a little different handling characteristics, but that's probably it. Mythbusters did a segment on helium-filled footballs to see if they'd fly farther than regular air-filled ones. They found out that they flew less far due to the lesser density of the helium compared to regular air.

fullergarrett

IIRC, there was someone on YouTube who tried helium in their BMX tires. Didn't really do much.

Here's one video. Although there are others on YouTube. See, I'm not the only one willing to do dumb experiments.

FiftySix

Here's one opinion, overlooking the cost of the tires and skins.

The zipper system looks like trouble. I can't put a load on a clothing or bag zipper without it going off track. I can imagine if tire pressure lowers how much strain is put on those zippers. Plus, those zippers are subject to getting mud and debris in the zipper teeth. Which would likely make zipping the outer skin onto the inner tire problematic. Unless, you brush the zipper clean before each skin installation.

I'd like to see a long term test of that tire system.

Miele Man

That's a completely different system that running a tire inside out is. No comparison at all to what you plan on doing.

Cheers

BlazingPedals

Thanks for doing this experiment so I don't have to!