Does Kinetic Trainer require the "trainer tire"?
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Does Kinetic Trainer require the "trainer tire"?
I'm considering buying a Kinetic Road Machine indoor trainer. I thought I could just use the road tire and wheel I currently have on the bike. But I've read about the need for a trainer tire? Is that required, or just a "nice to have"?
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Depends on how expensive a tire you run on your bike. Would you rather wear down a inexpensive tire on the trainer or an expensive tire?
Probably doesn't have to be a "trainer" tire. Just something that wears long.
Probably doesn't have to be a "trainer" tire. Just something that wears long.
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I've had better experiences with road tires than "trainer tires" or maybe I'm better at selecting road tires than trainer tires. I'd say, just use what you got and see what happens. Don't like it, then change something.
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I have used a Kurt Kinetic Road machine for perhaps 6 years. I would never put a new tire on a trainer wheel, it would be a waste. I use an old tire that I no longer trust on the road and then keep an eye on it. I've never flatted during a trainer session. By far the best have been old Gatorskins. They last a long time.
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The key is having a "trainer rear wheel", not the tire. If you buy a trainer tire, but don't have a trainer dedicated wheel, you're wasting time swapping tires all the time. Which is silly.
Buy a cheapo 10/11spd rear wheel (probably heaviest possible for more flywheel effect), and put on a used tire you don't trust on the road any longer.
Buy a cheapo 10/11spd rear wheel (probably heaviest possible for more flywheel effect), and put on a used tire you don't trust on the road any longer.
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I use inexpensive Continental Ultra Sport II for outdoor rides and the Cycleops indoor trainer. No problems, even with HIIT sessions and lots of sprints. The trainer roller heats up but the tire is fine.
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You don't' need a specific tire for the trainer. I use tires that are a bit worn out and needing replacing from the regular outdoor bikes and finish them off on the trainer. A good way to use up tires not ready for the garbage but not good enough for the road.
What I learned over the last few years....
Specialized tires burn FAST....I mean the fastest.
Bont tires are pretty decent but when the let go is right now.
Cont tires do pretty decent.
Michelin tires will go forever on the trainer. I had a tire on my beat around bike the was getting bad and then I put it on the trainer, its been two seasons now and still going. Its been the best so far! Don't know if it means anything real world but if I ever do a bike trip over a very long distance I would put mich on my bike!
What I learned over the last few years....
Specialized tires burn FAST....I mean the fastest.
Bont tires are pretty decent but when the let go is right now.
Cont tires do pretty decent.
Michelin tires will go forever on the trainer. I had a tire on my beat around bike the was getting bad and then I put it on the trainer, its been two seasons now and still going. Its been the best so far! Don't know if it means anything real world but if I ever do a bike trip over a very long distance I would put mich on my bike!
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I don't think any wheel on trainer requires a trainer tire.
I've gone both ways: I started out just using what was on my bike that I put on the trainer, fairly expensive a treaded Schwalbe tire. The trainer pressure wore it down pretty fast, made a mess on the floor and was noisy.
I took that off and put on a worn slick road tire I in the trash bin. Solved the noise and the dismay of wasting expensive road tires, but still made a mess on the floor.
At the time, one of the online parts places had a big sale on tires, so I bought a discounted Continental trainer tire. Now on 3rd season of using that same tire, no mess on the floor, no noise, etc.
I'm only use that bike (a Trek 520) for loaded touring, which I'm not doing much of in the past few years so I don't have the major downside of having to change tires when I want to ride outdoors. If I did, I probably follow the earlier suggestion of having a trainer wheel, but I'd probably still put a trainer tire on that wheel because I am too lazy to vacuum up the rubber "sawdust" periodically!
I've gone both ways: I started out just using what was on my bike that I put on the trainer, fairly expensive a treaded Schwalbe tire. The trainer pressure wore it down pretty fast, made a mess on the floor and was noisy.
I took that off and put on a worn slick road tire I in the trash bin. Solved the noise and the dismay of wasting expensive road tires, but still made a mess on the floor.
At the time, one of the online parts places had a big sale on tires, so I bought a discounted Continental trainer tire. Now on 3rd season of using that same tire, no mess on the floor, no noise, etc.
I'm only use that bike (a Trek 520) for loaded touring, which I'm not doing much of in the past few years so I don't have the major downside of having to change tires when I want to ride outdoors. If I did, I probably follow the earlier suggestion of having a trainer wheel, but I'd probably still put a trainer tire on that wheel because I am too lazy to vacuum up the rubber "sawdust" periodically!
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KK trainers have a larger roller diameter than many trainers and are easier on tires. I just use older tires (GP4000) and have never noticed any significant wear.
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Rollers are the one specific type of indoor trainer that I think many do see more tire wear on. However there were a couple posts around recently that several people were talking about how they had wear and/or deformed tires while using wheel on trainer. However the unanswered question that was never answered by them was whether or not they ensured they checked and maintained their tire pressure while leaving it on the trainer for the three maybe four months of indoor cycling they reported.
Still, if I were using a indoor wheel on trainer or rollers, I'd put a less expensive tire on a set of wheels I can swap out. Or, I'd use one of my bikes that I've left sit idle. I don't see a reason for my bike used for actual cycling out doors to be used for indoors when I have others sitting around that fit just as well.
Still, if I were using a indoor wheel on trainer or rollers, I'd put a less expensive tire on a set of wheels I can swap out. Or, I'd use one of my bikes that I've left sit idle. I don't see a reason for my bike used for actual cycling out doors to be used for indoors when I have others sitting around that fit just as well.
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YMMV.
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I have used a Kurt Kinetic Road machine for perhaps 6 years. I would never put a new tire on a trainer wheel, it would be a waste. I use an old tire that I no longer trust on the road and then keep an eye on it. I've never flatted during a trainer session. By far the best have been old Gatorskins. They last a long time.
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The key is having a "trainer rear wheel", not the tire. If you buy a trainer tire, but don't have a trainer dedicated wheel, you're wasting time swapping tires all the time. Which is silly.
Buy a cheapo 10/11spd rear wheel (probably heaviest possible for more flywheel effect), and put on a used tire you don't trust on the road any longer.
Buy a cheapo 10/11spd rear wheel (probably heaviest possible for more flywheel effect), and put on a used tire you don't trust on the road any longer.
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You don't' need a specific tire for the trainer. I use tires that are a bit worn out and needing replacing from the regular outdoor bikes and finish them off on the trainer. A good way to use up tires not ready for the garbage but not good enough for the road.
What I learned over the last few years....
Specialized tires burn FAST....I mean the fastest.
Bont tires are pretty decent but when the let go is right now.
Cont tires do pretty decent.
Michelin tires will go forever on the trainer. I had a tire on my beat around bike the was getting bad and then I put it on the trainer, its been two seasons now and still going. Its been the best so far! Don't know if it means anything real world but if I ever do a bike trip over a very long distance I would put mich on my bike!
What I learned over the last few years....
Specialized tires burn FAST....I mean the fastest.
Bont tires are pretty decent but when the let go is right now.
Cont tires do pretty decent.
Michelin tires will go forever on the trainer. I had a tire on my beat around bike the was getting bad and then I put it on the trainer, its been two seasons now and still going. Its been the best so far! Don't know if it means anything real world but if I ever do a bike trip over a very long distance I would put mich on my bike!
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I don't think any wheel on trainer requires a trainer tire.
I've gone both ways: I started out just using what was on my bike that I put on the trainer, fairly expensive a treaded Schwalbe tire. The trainer pressure wore it down pretty fast, made a mess on the floor and was noisy.
I took that off and put on a worn slick road tire I in the trash bin. Solved the noise and the dismay of wasting expensive road tires, but still made a mess on the floor.
At the time, one of the online parts places had a big sale on tires, so I bought a discounted Continental trainer tire. Now on 3rd season of using that same tire, no mess on the floor, no noise, etc.
I'm only use that bike (a Trek 520) for loaded touring, which I'm not doing much of in the past few years so I don't have the major downside of having to change tires when I want to ride outdoors. If I did, I probably follow the earlier suggestion of having a trainer wheel, but I'd probably still put a trainer tire on that wheel because I am too lazy to vacuum up the rubber "sawdust" periodically!
I've gone both ways: I started out just using what was on my bike that I put on the trainer, fairly expensive a treaded Schwalbe tire. The trainer pressure wore it down pretty fast, made a mess on the floor and was noisy.
I took that off and put on a worn slick road tire I in the trash bin. Solved the noise and the dismay of wasting expensive road tires, but still made a mess on the floor.
At the time, one of the online parts places had a big sale on tires, so I bought a discounted Continental trainer tire. Now on 3rd season of using that same tire, no mess on the floor, no noise, etc.
I'm only use that bike (a Trek 520) for loaded touring, which I'm not doing much of in the past few years so I don't have the major downside of having to change tires when I want to ride outdoors. If I did, I probably follow the earlier suggestion of having a trainer wheel, but I'd probably still put a trainer tire on that wheel because I am too lazy to vacuum up the rubber "sawdust" periodically!
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The key is having a "trainer rear wheel", not the tire. If you buy a trainer tire, but don't have a trainer dedicated wheel, you're wasting time swapping tires all the time. Which is silly.
Buy a cheapo 10/11spd rear wheel (probably heaviest possible for more flywheel effect), and put on a used tire you don't trust on the road any longer.
Buy a cheapo 10/11spd rear wheel (probably heaviest possible for more flywheel effect), and put on a used tire you don't trust on the road any longer.
The challenge, though, is the cassette. If you have very different cassette wear on the trainer wheel and outdoor wheel, then you're going to have choppy shifting on at least one of them.
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Rollers are the one specific type of indoor trainer that I think many do see more tire wear on. However there were a couple posts around recently that several people were talking about how they had wear and/or deformed tires while using wheel on trainer. However the unanswered question that was never answered by them was whether or not they ensured they checked and maintained their tire pressure while leaving it on the trainer for the three maybe four months of indoor cycling they reported.
Still, if I were using a indoor wheel on trainer or rollers, I'd put a less expensive tire on a set of wheels I can swap out. Or, I'd use one of my bikes that I've left sit idle. I don't see a reason for my bike used for actual cycling out doors to be used for indoors when I have others sitting around that fit just as well.
Still, if I were using a indoor wheel on trainer or rollers, I'd put a less expensive tire on a set of wheels I can swap out. Or, I'd use one of my bikes that I've left sit idle. I don't see a reason for my bike used for actual cycling out doors to be used for indoors when I have others sitting around that fit just as well.
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Rollers are the one specific type of indoor trainer that I think many do see more tire wear on. However there were a couple posts around recently that several people were talking about how they had wear and/or deformed tires while using wheel on trainer. However the unanswered question that was never answered by them was whether or not they ensured they checked and maintained their tire pressure while leaving it on the trainer for the three maybe four months of indoor cycling they reported.
Still, if I were using a indoor wheel on trainer or rollers, I'd put a less expensive tire on a set of wheels I can swap out. Or, I'd use one of my bikes that I've left sit idle. I don't see a reason for my bike used for actual cycling out doors to be used for indoors when I have others sitting around that fit just as well.
Still, if I were using a indoor wheel on trainer or rollers, I'd put a less expensive tire on a set of wheels I can swap out. Or, I'd use one of my bikes that I've left sit idle. I don't see a reason for my bike used for actual cycling out doors to be used for indoors when I have others sitting around that fit just as well.
My strong guess is that everyone who uses a trainer checks their tire pressure, at least the rear. Kinda have to to get consistent results.
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To the contrary, I've been riding resistance rollers for over 20 years and really don't see any tire wear on my nice road tires. Thousands of miles, no wear. It's the large drum size and the lack of roughness to tear at the rubber. That's a really cool thing about resistance rollers - just throw your road bike on them and ride, plus plenty of resistance to do intervals, anything you want. They have trainers beat all hollow for everything except standing sprints, and you shouldn't be sprinting indoors anyway, waste of time.
My strong guess is that everyone who uses a trainer checks their tire pressure, at least the rear. Kinda have to to get consistent results.
My strong guess is that everyone who uses a trainer checks their tire pressure, at least the rear. Kinda have to to get consistent results.
I think like you said roller user users just jump on and ride. Trainer set up folks check not enough regular items on the bike. BUT a wheel on trainer requires the roller to be pushed against the wheel with a screw type applied pressure. The rollers are using your body weight pressure to apply the contact. I imagine the wear is greater because the force to push the roller into the wheel is probably pretty high? I don't know this just my thoughts.
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I think like you said roller user users just jump on and ride. Trainer set up folks check not enough regular items on the bike. BUT a wheel on trainer requires the roller to be pushed against the wheel with a screw type applied pressure. The rollers are using your body weight pressure to apply the contact. I imagine the wear is greater because the force to push the roller into the wheel is probably pretty high? I don't know this just my thoughts.
My wife uses a Computrainer which has an internal method of measuring or applying resistance to the rear wheel, thus measuring or creating the power one rides against. The exact force of the roller on the tire can vary as can the type of tire, so this device includes a method of calibrating the resistance between that rear tire and the roller in order to take that out of the equation.
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