Thanks for posting your experience. I was mostly referring to behavior on
pavement, but it's conceivable that the negative tread would help in mud.
However, it seems to me that the grooves would clog up with mud pretty
quickly. We should research this further, especially if we ever plan to
>
>
>- *“Negative” treads*, that just cut grooves into the tire, apparently
>are inspired by car tires, where they help prevent hydroplaning. But even
>very wide bicycle tires are too narrow for hydroplaning (and our speeds
> are
>too low, too). Perhaps a fatbike with slick
Obviously removing material reduces the stiffness of the tires contact area,
and allows it to deform around uneven surfaces. What I don't buy is the notion
that there is a benefit to directional specific tread patterns. A Pasella is
the same as a Jack Brown is the same as a (brand x) Panaracer
Bicycle tires also don't have the wide spectrum of weight and power output
of vehicles, and picking tires with performance to match is critical.
Cycling has a narrower envelope of grip versus wear in which to maneuver,
tire makers to produce, buyers to purposely choose from and
303 Aerospace Protectant was recommended by the maker of the Handlebra tape and
I use it on my waterproof leather, quality product. I have wondered if it would
be worth it to apply this "sunscreen for your stuff" to tire sidewalls, but
haven't ever bothered with it. I wonder if it would be
As long as the casing isn't fraying, your tires should be fine to ride.
They won't just rip in half and explode. Deterioration due to UV or ozone
is easy to see - look at an abandoned bike somewhere, and you'll see the
"dry rot" on the tires.
Most black tires use more rubber on the sidewalls,
IIRC, Grant politely disagreed with Jobst Brandt, who dismissed the value
of tread on bike tires, by spec'ing light file tread on tires like the Jack
Browns, saying that this might help on wet roads, and anyway, doesn't hurt.
A very small data point: I recall riding slick 32 mm Fatboys back in
Interesting. One additional remark about the tires on racing cars and
motorcycles: They run 'em very hot. That's why you see the cars swerving
from side to side when they're going slow during a yellow caution flag in a
NASCAR race, to keep 'em heated up for when the green flag goes down.
Jan's observations on tread design makes a lot of sense to me, and I think,
having had roly-poly,ruffy tuffy and Jack Browns, (along with Compass,
panaracer, pari-moto, Michelin, and Schwabe marathon racers, and avoctes)
that GP believes the same. The concern I often have with tires,
