Indoor trainer....tires

[Catrin]

I used my trainer for the first time tonight. I do have premium tires on that bike and I really don't want to put trainer tires on them just yet as it isn't late enough yet to come inside for the winter. 30 minutes on my Kurt Kinetic, however, really did "shine" my rear tire and I picked up a lot of black when I touched the tire.

Is there a rule of thumb about how long it is safe to use a regular tire on my trainer? Is there one?

[Owlie]

I picked up a cheap road tire from Performance. That way I don't have to swap out the tires if I want to go for a ride later.

Easiest thing would be to have a spare wheel, but that's a little unrealistic...

[Catrin]

I picked up a cheap road tire from Performance. That way I don't have to swap out the tires if I want to go for a ride later.

Easiest thing would be to have a spare wheel, but that's a little unrealistic...

My bike has 26 inch wheels... I will be putting a cheap tire on it when it is time, I am just trying to decide how long I can leave my premium tires on before they get damaged from the trainer...

[indysteel]

I don't know that there's any definitive answer. It depends on the tire, how tight you get the tension on the roller (you want it tight enough that it doesn't slip at all), and how much wear the tire already has. Plus, I don't know that a trainer necessarily eats everyone's tires. Yes, they get some wear to them, but that happens on the road, too.

Still, if it were me I'd find a cheaper tire and use it indoors and out for the rest of the fall and winter. I'm not why it's important to wait if you're otherwise worried about ruining your good tire.

[Catrin]

Good advice Indy, I always want to decide on some metric and sometimes that just doesn't exist. I REALLY like my current tires and don't want to ride anything else on the road...but of course that is the easiest approach. I COULD get in a lot of tire changing practice and switch tires every time I go outside...NOT

I did like how the trainer felt tonight though, which is a good thing. The Kurt Kinetic Road Machine wasn't all that loud and I only had to turn up my television just a little. Only did 30 minutes to test some sore neck muscles but all felt good!

[indysteel]

Like with a lot of things, you might need to compromise or just take your chances. Regardless of what you do, your good tires aren't going to last forever anyway.

[Norse]

Easiest thing would be to have a spare wheel, but that's a little unrealistic...

Late to the game here, but I DO have a spare wheel with a trainer tire on it and it was cheap. I asked around at my LBS if anyone had a used wheel with a compatible rear cassette for my bike's derailleur and one of the shop guys had just such a wheel that he was looking to sell. I think I paid about $70. It is sooooooo much easier just swapping out the wheel vs. a tire.

[spazzdog]

I've considered getting an extra rear wheel/tire to leave on the trainer but then I end up wondering why... how much wear does the trainer wheel really put on the tire?

It's smooth with no humps, bumps, potholes or street spooge. Logically I think the road tears up a tire a whole lot more, so why change out?

Other than personal preference, is there really a physical wear reason to go through the change?

Lay some science on me girls

spazz

[meganm]

Late to the game here, but I DO have a spare wheel with a trainer tire on it and it was cheap. I asked around at my LBS if anyone had a used wheel with a compatible rear cassette for my bike's derailleur and one of the shop guys had just such a wheel that he was looking to sell. I think I paid about $70. It is sooooooo much easier just swapping out the wheel vs. a tire.

I went this route too. I got lazy changing the tires.

I think using a trainer tire is a good idea. Besides the wear issue, I think the thicker tire grips the trainer better and therefore doesn't slip as much.