Are solid tyres bad for rims?
#1
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Are solid tyres bad for rims?
I was wondering whether solid tyres would be more likely to deform alloy rims during impacts than pneumatic tyres?
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Absolutely - for a road bike, notwithstanding "vertically compliant" frames and other sales nonsense, that ~1" of compressed air between the rim and the asphalt is the sole suspension component for 150-200 lb of combined rider and bike weight. Remove that, and every bump or pothole is transmitted directly to the bike and rider, and of all the parts, the rims and spokes are likely to take the brunt, located as they are between the ground and the rider (i.e., the heaviest part of the equation)
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I used solid tires on my commuter for several years. Yes, they rode harsher, but how much worse it actually was for the bike is hard to say. At 6000+ miles each year, rims fail eventually anyhow.
I wouldn’t let concern for premature rim failure keep me from using solid tires.
Assuming it does happen, you still have an excellent chance of getting good use out of the wheels before it becomes critical.
Rim going out of round never troubled me.
I wouldn’t let concern for premature rim failure keep me from using solid tires.
Assuming it does happen, you still have an excellent chance of getting good use out of the wheels before it becomes critical.
Rim going out of round never troubled me.
Last edited by dabac; 08-21-18 at 10:25 AM.
#4
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I used solid tires on my commuter for several years. Yes, they rode harsher, but how much worse it actually was for the bike is hard to say. At 6000+ miles each year, rims fail eventually anyhow.
I wouldn’t let concern for premature rim failure keep me from using solid tires.
Assuming it does happen, you still have an excellent chance of getting good use out of the wheels before it becomes critical.
Rim going out of round never troubled me.
I wouldn’t let concern for premature rim failure keep me from using solid tires.
Assuming it does happen, you still have an excellent chance of getting good use out of the wheels before it becomes critical.
Rim going out of round never troubled me.
Airless tires or tubes do weigh considerably more than a pneumatic tube and tire, so that may be something you'll want to take into consideration.
On my mountain bike (1984 Fuji Mt. Fuji) it felt like the airless tubes nearly doubled the weight of the bike when I picked it up.
The added weight did not bother me while riding, nor did the additional rotational weight.
I did go back to pneumatic tubes, a few months before that bike was stolen.
I think it is Green Tire that makes airless tires you can have custom made to a density that will "give" the same amount as a pneumatic tire at whatever air pressure you want, at no additional cost.
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Hm - clearly I need to educate myself on the distinction between "solid" vs "airless" tires before spouting off. Disregard everyone I said!
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I'm happy that I came across this tread as the fact that ' solid tyres would be more likely to deform alloy rims' was an axiom for me. I dunno how this idea came to my mind though...
Well, seems like today I learned something new.
Well, seems like today I learned something new.
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One thing to consider, particularly with the greentyre brand, and probably with all polyurethane tires/inserts, is that they change firmness with temperature. Mine (extra firm) rode OK in 3 seasons. But below freezing, it felt like riding with a fan belt wrapped around the rim.
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That might still be true. They will transmit impact force more directly to the rim. But something being true doesn't guarantee that it's important. I used a good-quality double wall rim and didn't have any issues with flat-spotting or flared brake tracks despite riding with a pannier for thousands of miles.
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Airless, airfree, solid, I don't particularly care. I'll understand. We talk about tires or inserts that don't need to be inflated and don't rely on some sort of spring action.
The pros and cons for various kinds of use is far more interesting to talk about.