Trainer tires...

[LivetoRide]

Trainer tires aren't worth it-- I'd just buy a cheap tire for trainer use or use what you have on the bike if tires are something you'd like to / are planning to upgrade soon. I personally use an old tire on my bike for indoor riding.

[Becky]

I can and do use an old/cheap tire as my trainer tire, but it doesn't work for my DH. He can "slip" a normal tire pretty easily (leading to horrible squeaking noises) and manages to heat up and trash tires far faster than I can. For him, a true trainer tire makes a big difference in terms of noise, which in turn saves my sanity

[Owlie]

Thanks everyone! I had a feeling that a cheap/old tire was the best bet. My tires are relatively low mileage, and while I'd like to replace them, it's not worth doing it just yet. Off to Performance after Christmas, I think! (My LBS doesn't have cheap tires. Seriously.)

[Bike Writer]

Owlie, you might want to check another LBS. My sister bought me a trainer for Christmas and I've been checking out tires. The LBS where I normally shop said to buy a slick or cheap tire. A new LBS opened recently and I stopped in and the owner said he had some old tires laying around and all I'd have to do is pay for the mounting. I'll give that a whirl and see how it works out.

[LivetoRide]

Owlie, you might want to check another LBS. My sister bought me a trainer for Christmas and I've been checking out tires. The LBS where I normally shop said to buy a slick or cheap tire. A new LBS opened recently and I stopped in and the owner said he had some old tires laying around and all I'd have to do is pay for the mounting. I'll give that a whirl and see how it works out.

Bike Writer, I too, thought of that after I posted; It wouldn't be a bad idea to ask your LBS if they have any used tires lying around that'd still be ok for use on the trainer.

[Cataboo]

I keep an old tire on an old beat up wheel and use it on my trainer - the rim isn't perfectly smooth so breaking is entirely too annoying to use it on my bike out on the road.

If I keep my tire inflated and crank the trainer down hard on the wheel, I don't have problems with slippage or burning rubber on the wheel. The times I have had issues were when the pressure was too low and that became my trainer tire.

Does your bf or his parents not have a spare old tire? I never actually seem to throw out my old tires, they just end up in a pile hanging in my shed.

[chicagogal]

I have thousands of miles on last season's tires, and will want to replace at the least the rear one at the start of the next racing season anyway, so I am just "using" up my current rear tire on the trainer through the winter.