jomurphy
New Member
- Region
- Europe
I ride on a mixture of 50% small country roads with thorns, potholes, and a centre strip of mud and mud at each side of the road. 30% relatively OK larger country roads but with streaks that are very pumpy with random potholes. 20% smooth and safe. About 15% of the total would have random patches of loose gravel, especially the smaller ones where it builds up in the centre strip along with or instead of mud. The gravel is usually manageable, but veering into the mud is an instant wipe out. I don't ride very fast, but the pot holes can be deep and my eyesight is terrible so some can surprise me.
Because my bike is over 40kg, getting a puncture is a nightmare scenario. The two times its happened in the six months I've been here, I was very fortunate to have locals with suitable vehicles stop and offer a ride; pushing it on a flat is virtually impossible, and I imagine trying to flip it upside down and perform a tube replacement, especially on that back wheel, would be too challenging. Even getting it done at home where I had objects to keep the upside down bike stable and protect sensitive components while I worked was very much not something I enjoyed and I ended up taking a long time (like, weeks) getting from one stage to another in the process (although TBH I was prospecrastinating due to overwhelm and research effors).
So as of my most recent puncture (a slow [puncture that didn't go flat until I was home, thank you Odin) I decided to invest in prevention. I just bought some 20x3.0-4.0 Tannus Armor, along with 20x3.5-4.0" Heavy Duty inner tubes. I've tried researching puncture resistant, durable heavy duty 20x4" tyres which will provide the kind of traction and stability that even my knobbly stock tyres were lacking in (not wiping out any time I graze that mud might be nice), but I just can't identify a tyre that will make me happy.
Essential:
Dedicated puncture resistance technology
High TPI
Knobbly or Semi knobbly - able to handle small gravel patches, bumpy road surfaces, wet conditions, and NOT WIPE OUT when I touch the mud (maybe with a 40kg bike that's just impossible. Even at the lowest of speeds, carefully pulling over to the side of the road when a car is passing, I still slip and slide).
And ideally a larger ply number and deep treads, providing a greater depth for any thorns to have to penetrate before even having to go near the Armor and the tube.
This is probably an unrealistic amount of demands to be placing on a tyre, but I really don't know.
Can you guys give me some perspective? I know trade offs will have to be made, but what is a reasonable number of trade off to have to make? I'm willing to pay top euro over here.
First, can any other 20x4" owners offer first hand opinions on various candidate tyre brands? Open my eyes to any I've not yet considered?
Second, can you tell me about tubeless set ups, and secondly about using scooter style tyres on my ebike? I have heard that the specs of actual motor vehicle tyres, when used with fat tyre ebikes, essentially eliminate flats, and that they *can* be compatible with the rims if you make adjustments to the specs you choose and ensure that they will be compatible, but that there can be risks such as rim damage or failure, great difficulty fitting the tyres and so on.
This issue has led to me developing a phobia of taking my bike out, and since I can't get even to the shops without it, it's having an impact. I want to be able to ride with peace of mind again.
Your help and insight are greatly appreciated.
Considered so far:
CST Scout 20x4"
Hycline Tumble Kevlar 20x4"
Kenda (Kraze and Krusade, though EU availability seems lacking)
Schwalbe (but the Super Moro-X seems to have a tread that would not be good on my terrain, even though it seems to hava a great rep and active puncture protection)
YunSCM Heavy Duty 20x4" tyres (high avg review on Amazon.co.uk, and I'm already using YunSCM inner tubing on my rear wheel, but buying generic Chinese feels like doing myself a disservice even ig the tread pattern is appealing)
Maxxis Minion FBF/FBR
Hycline Rock Conquerors
Because my bike is over 40kg, getting a puncture is a nightmare scenario. The two times its happened in the six months I've been here, I was very fortunate to have locals with suitable vehicles stop and offer a ride; pushing it on a flat is virtually impossible, and I imagine trying to flip it upside down and perform a tube replacement, especially on that back wheel, would be too challenging. Even getting it done at home where I had objects to keep the upside down bike stable and protect sensitive components while I worked was very much not something I enjoyed and I ended up taking a long time (like, weeks) getting from one stage to another in the process (although TBH I was prospecrastinating due to overwhelm and research effors).
So as of my most recent puncture (a slow [puncture that didn't go flat until I was home, thank you Odin) I decided to invest in prevention. I just bought some 20x3.0-4.0 Tannus Armor, along with 20x3.5-4.0" Heavy Duty inner tubes. I've tried researching puncture resistant, durable heavy duty 20x4" tyres which will provide the kind of traction and stability that even my knobbly stock tyres were lacking in (not wiping out any time I graze that mud might be nice), but I just can't identify a tyre that will make me happy.
Essential:
Dedicated puncture resistance technology
High TPI
Knobbly or Semi knobbly - able to handle small gravel patches, bumpy road surfaces, wet conditions, and NOT WIPE OUT when I touch the mud (maybe with a 40kg bike that's just impossible. Even at the lowest of speeds, carefully pulling over to the side of the road when a car is passing, I still slip and slide).
And ideally a larger ply number and deep treads, providing a greater depth for any thorns to have to penetrate before even having to go near the Armor and the tube.
This is probably an unrealistic amount of demands to be placing on a tyre, but I really don't know.
Can you guys give me some perspective? I know trade offs will have to be made, but what is a reasonable number of trade off to have to make? I'm willing to pay top euro over here.
First, can any other 20x4" owners offer first hand opinions on various candidate tyre brands? Open my eyes to any I've not yet considered?
Second, can you tell me about tubeless set ups, and secondly about using scooter style tyres on my ebike? I have heard that the specs of actual motor vehicle tyres, when used with fat tyre ebikes, essentially eliminate flats, and that they *can* be compatible with the rims if you make adjustments to the specs you choose and ensure that they will be compatible, but that there can be risks such as rim damage or failure, great difficulty fitting the tyres and so on.
This issue has led to me developing a phobia of taking my bike out, and since I can't get even to the shops without it, it's having an impact. I want to be able to ride with peace of mind again.
Your help and insight are greatly appreciated.
Considered so far:
CST Scout 20x4"
Hycline Tumble Kevlar 20x4"
Kenda (Kraze and Krusade, though EU availability seems lacking)
Schwalbe (but the Super Moro-X seems to have a tread that would not be good on my terrain, even though it seems to hava a great rep and active puncture protection)
YunSCM Heavy Duty 20x4" tyres (high avg review on Amazon.co.uk, and I'm already using YunSCM inner tubing on my rear wheel, but buying generic Chinese feels like doing myself a disservice even ig the tread pattern is appealing)
Maxxis Minion FBF/FBR
Hycline Rock Conquerors
