My Tire's Are Rotting !!??@$

[PCeBiker]

,.. Since your tires are moped rated, they might have a similar DOT code on them.
Not sure if required on a "bicycle" tire

I couldn't find any DOT type code, just the codes shown in the picture above.


This is the stamped code inside the tire that Schwalbe wanted a picture of,..

I'm sure that it includes the exact date and time and even what machine made the tire as well as who was operating it on that day.

It's probably part of the quality control measures, and there probably aren't too many people that know how to read the code?
It's probably privileged information that helps Schwalbe prevent counterfeit tires?

 

[PCeBiker]

I agree.. If you stayed within the pressure limits it shouldn't split like that before the tread wears.
That said I don't think you need max pressure to have max efficiency either.

That's what I was thinking.
I've got no problem turning down the pressure, I just didn't know that there was any problem with turning it up ??
Other than a small loss of range.

I might get a more comfortable ride and better control too ??

I'm not too concerned about getting a flat tire, but having a tire blow out can be dangerous.
Seeing exposed threads on the tire looks kinda dangerous??

I find that middle of the range is a good place to start and often where I stay.

The guy from Schwalbe suggested 25 psi, but half way is ~32 on my tires (20-45 psi) so I'm going to go with that, at least on the rear.

I've got a lot more weight on the rear, so I'm going to go with 30-35 psi, and maybe the suggested 25 psi on the front.

I've decided to leave the old front tire on the bike at least for a couple rides to see if I notice any difference with the changes in pressure.
If I put a different tire or wheel on the front now, I won't know if any difference in handling is from the change in pressure or the tire change.

That suits my laziness too, cuz my bike is all ready to go, and I don't have to swap wheels or tires first.
I just have to charge my batteries.

edit: I'll add I ride a lot of mixed terrain often during the same ride so that's another reason middle of the range works for me.

I ride flat gravel roads over 90% of the time, so it's pretty smooth sailing, but I do hit A Lot of pot holes and washboard areas on the roads.
Some of the potholes are 3" deep, 1½' across, with 2" vertical edges, so I can hit pretty hard.

I guess that I might need to worry about getting a pinch flat now?
I figure it's more likely to happen on the rear wheel which should be safer than the front wheel, but I've never had a pinch flat, so I don't know what to expect?

Can a pinch flat happen "explosively" causing a crash? Or should I have time to get stopped.

I've never "used" my elbow or knee pads, or my helmet and I'm not looking forward to testing them.

 

[stompandgo]

With 650B x 2.8" I would expect you'd want to run at least 32psi front and rear. I haven't had a pinch flat on an e-bike but I have had many on an analog road bike. The tube deflates quickly, but you'll know it, and you should have no problem coming to a stop before the tire comes off the rim. That said, I was not running wire bead tires, only folding. Wire beads may react more violently.

 

[PCeBiker]

With 650B x 2.8" I would expect you'd want to run at least 32psi front and rear.

I actually lied a little bit on the Schwalbe warranty request.

I had always been running ~42 PSI up until about 2 months ago after I rolled my ebike into the edge of the cement step on my back porch.
The corner of the step squashed my tire half way to the rim, and that was with me rolling my ebike at 3 mph!!??

I'd always wanted the most efficient, so I decided to inflate to the maximum pressure (45 PSI), figuring less chance of a pinch flat and the most efficient.

I've also got my full suspension with tons of travel and set to Extra smushy, to help keep my tires in contact with the road, so I wouldn't need the tire itself to flex as much to maintain contact.

I'm pretty sure that the threads started showing in the last couple of months since I increased the pressure?
(Unless I just didn't notice the cracks earlier?)

@stompandgo
Am I correct in assuming that running at maximum pressure can stretch the tire carcass and cause it to "delaminate"?
I just kinda made that up. Is that really a thing?

Do you think that if I run 32 PSI on the exact same set of tires on the same roads that I would be able to get more than 8000 km without the tread peeling off?

I haven't had a pinch flat on an e-bike but I have had many on an analog road bike.

I've only had one flat in the 12,000 km I've ridden on my two ebikes, when I installed my Super Moto-X rear tire.
The rim tape slipped and the spoke hole cut through the tube.

It wasn't abrupt and the first thing I noticed was a crunching, squashing sound from my tire on the pavement.
It was more of a slow leak.

The tube deflates quickly, but you'll know it, and you should have no problem coming to a stop before the tire comes off the rim.

I remember going for a bike ride with my sister in 1976 when I was 12 years old.
We pedaled to the gas station and filled up our tires first.

After about 5 minutes of riding, my sisters front tire (on a Targa 5-speed) went off like a gun shot and scared the Living s*it outta both of us.

If I ever have my ebike tire EXPLODE in the same way, the shock of the noise alone will probably crash me ??

That said, I was not running wire bead tires, only folding. Wire beads may react more violently.

I would have assumed that a wire bead would be more inclined to stay on the rim than a folding bead?

My beads were kinda "stuck" to the rim as well. They were kinda hard to break free from the rim.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Honestly the more I think about it... Schwalbe was probably bs'ing you a bit. No reason for that damage within its stated psi rating.
Like I said I'm around 36psi now and that's where I also started. But for a while I did ride around 45psi when I had some long paved rides planned. I really didn't find much benefit and if anything the ride was harsher. Currently with 4600 miles on them and they way they look right now I'd expect to get 3x that.
I love to lean into a turn at speed which I would think stresses the tire and they show no sign of splitting.
Also keep in mind that at low pressure it's not only pinch flats but rim damage that can occur so i wouldn't go that low unless you are on sand or snow.

 

[PCeBiker]

I'm gunna go with 35 PSI in each tire.

I just weighed my ebike with me on the ebike and I'm ~175 pounds on the rear wheel, and ~80 pounds on the front wheel.
(And of course I wiped out again and dropped the ebike. That's my fourth crash inside the house. )

Honestly the more I think about it... Schwalbe was probably bs'ing you a bit. No reason for that damage within its stated psi rating.

Well, they did give me a 50% coupon for my next tire purchase.

Like I said I'm around 36psi now and that's where I also started.

What tires are those again?
The AL Grounders?
What's the tire size and pressure rating on those?

But for a while I did ride around 45psi when I had some long paved rides planned. I really didn't find much benefit and if anything the ride was harsher.

I probably don't need a harsher type ride especially on loose gravel.
Softer is probably safer?
Another good reason to reduce the pressure.

Currently with 4600 miles on them and they way they look right now I'd expect to get 3x that.

My tread looked like it had 100 miles on it !!??

I love to lean into a turn at speed which I would think stresses the tire and they show no sign of splitting.

Yeah, I'm getting a kick outta doing that too.
No leaning At All anywhere near the gravel though.
The absolute Worst is hitting sand or gravel on the pavement in a turn.
I did that twice this year, but luckily I could steer out of it instead of slamming to the ground.

Also keep in mind that at low pressure it's not only pinch flats but rim damage that can occur so i wouldn't go that low unless you are on sand or snow.

35 PSI it is then.
(I've got to air down my rear shock a bit too. I put too much in after I added a Slickoleum Air Puck. )

 

[Gionnirocket]

Al Grounder 27.5 x 2.6 (23 - 50psi) E50

Al Grounder | 65-584 | Tube | Wired | DD, RaceGuard | ADDIX | Black+Reflex | 2022 | 11159274

Crossover for E-SUV and touring bikestrue all-round capabilities for use on roads, dirt track and easy trails. With its unique tread design, it runs quietly and quickly on asphalt while providing sufficient stability on unpaved surfaces. Equipped with th…

www.schwalbetires.com