How do I know when to replace Compass/Rene Herse tires?
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How do I know when to replace Compass/Rene Herse tires?
Conti GP4/5000 have little dimple wear indicators. Clements show their kevlar. But these things (slicks, Barlow Pass in my case) don't seem to give any indication of wear. There are extremely minimal tread patters that disappear from the center fairly quickly on the rear tire, but I'm not sure that means the tire is finished. Do I wait until they start getting flats, or disintegrate, or ...?
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Somewhere on their website, I read this: when that very light tread (in the middle of the tire) disappears, the tire is at its half-life. However, I think cycology has suggested a solid method, too.
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I find tires with many miles worth of wear to be more prone to punctures. If you are having repeated punctures through the tread of your tire, replace.
Also replace if you can see the casing anywhere through the tread, or if there is any damage that results in the tire having any lumps, especially lumps you can 'feel' through the saddle or handlebars.
Also replace if you can see the casing anywhere through the tread, or if there is any damage that results in the tire having any lumps, especially lumps you can 'feel' through the saddle or handlebars.
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I ran RTPs on my 26er for a bit over two years. About a month ago, after something like 3000 miles or so I had to give up on the rear tire. It was becoming flat-prone. The center section was worn smooth but just barely so about half the tread was gone.
The front RTP tire is still in use and has never flatted in that time. I have a Continental Contact Speed 26x2.0 on the back wheel now. Trying that out to see if it is a reasonable choice for the rear wheel. I may stick with RTP in front for a while.
Otto
The front RTP tire is still in use and has never flatted in that time. I have a Continental Contact Speed 26x2.0 on the back wheel now. Trying that out to see if it is a reasonable choice for the rear wheel. I may stick with RTP in front for a while.
Otto
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Thanks. I haven't had any flats, so maybe just keep going ...
I think in the case of the Barlow Pass, they made the rubber thicker than with some of the others, so maybe that is why it seems to keep going. I do wonder whether it is getting flatter in the middle. Sometimes I feel some anomalies, especially if the tires are at a lower pressure.
I think in the case of the Barlow Pass, they made the rubber thicker than with some of the others, so maybe that is why it seems to keep going. I do wonder whether it is getting flatter in the middle. Sometimes I feel some anomalies, especially if the tires are at a lower pressure.
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I second the "ride it until it becomes a hassle. I ride rear tires until I see sidewall or cord issues, I see casing through the tread or its becoming flat prone..Fronts I have less of a rule for, but I don't let them go that long because I don't want that big surprise happening while it is on the front. (Often a nasty crash. I:m getting too old for that.)
I put older tires on my fix gears to kill them. Fix gears scrub rubber. Gets older tires to the cord-see-through fairly quickly. That's the gentle and safe death. Plus I'm not going to be going through fast corners at big leans. (Pedal strike is the much faster "death"!)
Ben
I put older tires on my fix gears to kill them. Fix gears scrub rubber. Gets older tires to the cord-see-through fairly quickly. That's the gentle and safe death. Plus I'm not going to be going through fast corners at big leans. (Pedal strike is the much faster "death"!)
Ben
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I took my tire off, and it is clear that the rubber in the center is much thinner than it is say 1cm out from the centerline, so it has kind of an M profile now. Also there are a lot of diagonal marks on the inside of the sidewalls, making me think those were collapsing a bit on turns . Jan Heine has a recent blog post about this. This is his front pannier hitting the deck:
I probably am running the tire pressure a bit too low in the rear.
I probably am running the tire pressure a bit too low in the rear.
Last edited by Cyclist0108; 08-02-20 at 10:11 AM.
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Measure tread thickness when new, then compare thickness again when you wonder if they're too worn..
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Sounds like your rear tire may be worn out. Move the front tire to the back and put a new one on the front. (That'll prevent problems like the one I had last month when my front sidewall, with some 8,000 miles on it, blew out two miles from home. Do as I say, not as I do!)
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