Turbo Trainer Specific Tyre - Necessity?

[944fan]

I have just bought a turbo trainer 2nd hand. Tacx Force One.

I need the Tacx quick release skewer as my one wont fit, when ordering from Wiggle I noticed they do tyres specific for use on the trainer.

Are these absolutely required? I will eventually get a new cassette and use the spare wheel to leave the trainer set up all the time and will get a trainer tyre then. But will it be ok to use it for a bit in the meantime? Will be using it for about 1-1.5 hours at a time. Got some Sufferfest videos to work through.

[bakerstreet]

I use one of the Giant tyres that came with the bike. I also bought myself a cheap rear wheel and cassette from Decathlon and just swap that over when I want to use the Turbo.

The dedicated turbo tyres are meant to be a bit quieter than normal tyres.

[mr pg]

Standard tyres overheat, and you end up getting marbles like off an F1 car. Eats through normal tyres in no time.

[robpearson]

i used the original wheel that came with the bike and a turbo specific tyre - it's like plastic instead of rubber

[Disco You]

Don't use a tyre which you'll be using on the road, they destroy them.

As for using a turbo specific tyre, I just use worn out old tyres because they're free

[neenaw]

I've always just used whichever tyre is on the bike at the time, never a turbo specific tyre.
The last one I was using was a Continental GP4000 and I never had any problems with it.

[anonymous-user]

I used to use old tyres but specific ones are better because;

- They dont wear out as easily
- Dont shred bits of rubber everwhere
- Seem to have more grip on the roller

Other than that old road tyres have been ok in the past.

[anonymous-user]

I used to use old tyres but specific ones are better because;

- They dont wear out as easily
- Dont shred bits of rubber everwhere
- Seem to have more grip on the roller

Other than that old road tyres have been ok in the past.

[scubadude]

Another vote for retired road tyres, "because I'm cheap" :-)

As an aside, I've not had any problems with tyres shedding "marbles" but they do get warm to touch and the surface goes all weird after extended turboing... is that the right word? :-)

What you should do is put something on the floor, old towel perhaps, otherwise you will flood the room with drippage.

[944fan]

I have a "sweat catcher" which looks like an enormous y-front and attaches to the top tube and bars.

The Rubino's I have on the bike at the mo still have plenty of life left but I think I still have the puncture magnets that the bike came with so will start with those.

[944fan]

mr pg said:

Standard tyres overheat, and you end up getting marbles like off an F1 car. Eats through normal tyres in no time.

Did the Sufferfest AVDP the other night, half way through I could smell burning rubber and when I finished I had marbled all over the floor!

Turbo tyre on route from Wiggle!

[bakerstreet]

I've never had any issues with slip or marbles being flung off the rear tyre. I'm also tight and don't want to spend £20 on a turbo specific tyre

I'm still commuting at the moment, but I think the weather will eventually force me off the bike and onto the Turbo

[Chicken Chaser]

No.

Provided the turbo is set up properly and tyres inflated sufficiently, you shouldnt get any beading. You will see some shinyness to the tyre at its contact, but 2 minutes down the road and that is gone. I also do not see any noticeable wear on the tyres.

I've done a couple of years of turbo-ing with a fair amount of miles on it and never had problems.

[simonk68]

I had always sworn off turbo tyres, thinking they were a waste of time, until I moved house last year - the turbo room floor (laminate flooring in a upstairs room with slightly bouncy joists) resonates pretty badly at my normal mid-tempo turbo pace, to the extent that I was worried I would have the neighbours coming round with pitchforks. Sticking a turbo trainer tyre on to replace the old gatorskin made a huge difference to the noise level.

[Chicken Chaser]

simonk68 said:

I had always sworn off turbo tyres, thinking they were a waste of time, until I moved house last year - the turbo room floor (laminate flooring in a upstairs room with slightly bouncy joists) resonates pretty badly at my normal mid-tempo turbo pace, to the extent that I was worried I would have the neighbours coming round with pitchforks. Sticking a turbo trainer tyre on to replace the old gatorskin made a huge difference to the noise level.

Actually i'd agree with that. I tried a turbo tyre and it was noticeably quieter however it makes little odds to me as I'm whirring away in the garage.