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Message started by SouthernMD on 04/05/06 at 06:08:39

Title: Tire Questions
Post by SouthernMD on 04/05/06 at 06:08:39

Some friends have told me that I need front and rear brakes and a back tire on my bike. After looking at a few tires online I have a couple of questions. I know how car and truck tire sizes work so do bike tire sizes work the same? For instance 140/80-15, I’m guessing 15 is the rim size, is the 140/80 the width of the tread face and the sidewall width as a % of the tread face, and if their’s a letter H or S is that the speed rating? Second, do bike tires need balancing? Third, are radials better than bias ply on a bike like they are on a car?

Title: Re: Tire Questions
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/05/06 at 06:31:04

I've seen several descriptions but this one is just plain easy to read.

http://www.heeters.com/tirechart.shtml

Yes, bike tires need balancing. Some weights are rim-mounted while others may be attached to spokes.

Title: Re: Tire Questions
Post by SouthernMD on 04/05/06 at 13:58:12

Thanks Savage_Rob that got me the information I needed but left 1 question unanswered bias or radial. What-d-ya think?

Title: Re: Tire Questions
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/06/06 at 05:35:19

SouthernMD wrote:

Thanks Savage_Rob that got me the information I needed but left 1 question unanswered bias or radial. What-d-ya think?

I specifically left that for someone else because I really don't know enough about it to advise someone else. What I've read says that cruisers generally use bias-ply tires while sport bikes would be more likely to have radials. Apparently the way the bands/fibers/cords overlay each other in the skeletal framework of the tire is the primary difference. Bias-ply fibers overlap each other and generate more heat than radials but are more structurally rigid and create a rounder profile. Radials have fibers that cross each other at 90° angles resulting in less heat generation but less rigidity. This allows more flexing in the sidewalls. Because of this, radials have shorter sidewalls than bias-plys. The general advice seems to be that the bike is probably designed to handle best with a certain type so you should use whichever type is stock for the bike. Either way, you should never mix the two.

Title: Re: Tire Questions
Post by SouthernMD on 04/06/06 at 11:09:43

Thanks again Savage_Rob, I ordered the Pirelli MT66’s.