I would disagree. As soon as I put these tires on the wheels I felt the difference in how much slower they were rolling. 700g tire compared to a 400g tire is a huge difference in a spinning mass especially since all of the difference is on the outside of the rotation. I’ll trade comfort for speed any day.
Science/physics would beg to differ with your stance, but I understand the placebo effect…
Two quick references for those interested in the evergreen misconception of rotational mass:
https://www.slowtwitch.com/Tech/Why_Wheel_Aerodynamics_Can_Outweigh_Wheel_Weight_and_Inertia_2106.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/Velo/comments/29oedw/the_case_against_rotating_weight/
3 Likes
What we “feel” is a poor substitute for actual data……but if your times are indeed that much slower, it is like.y because it is a slower tire due to casing construction, etc. weight is not going to play a major role in it.
4 Likes
What Vittoria 38mm tire is 600+ grams?
hahahaha…no.
Honest question. I’m generally conservative on tire clearance because I’m larger and prone to bouts of exuberance and riding bikes harder than intended. Does anyone run tires with clearance like this?
That looks too tight!
1 Like
I wouldn’t run a tire that tight on my TT bike 
2 Likes
I just see comments like “ it doesn’t rub the frame so we’re good”, or manufacturer says 42s but I’ve got some 47s and stuff like that, and those don’t make sense to me
1 Like
I raced the traka with a 2.2in mtb tyre ~2mm on each side of the tyre to the sides of the fork… It was a bad idea as it rubbed through a lot of the paint with the small bits of mud we had.
saying that, it definitely enabled me to be very speedy on the descents and rough washboard.
Was it worth it? Yes, for this one race and in a pinch. would I do it again? no. The best tyre is the widest tyre you can run with enough clearance for what you do, how much clearance you need is up to you. My frame is supposedly 45mm tyre clearance with 6mm clearance each side, however I run a 2.1 thunder burt up front and a 50mm G one overland on the rear. both come out at around 48-49mm width when measured. and the frame has plenty clearance (3-4mm) each side.
I did not even try, too tight. Maybe a pro would since they can get free frames
2 Likes
Those that use conti race kings. Years ago i was running 2.2(?) race kings for gravel and i swore never to use them again since the sidewalls seemed to get super worn while riding. You could totally see the treads of the casing as the black rubber would get worn off on both sides. It like there wasnt enough tread width and the sidewalls were making contact with dirt. Cant remember the pressure i was riding, but didnt have pinch flat issues at all on rough Appalachian gravel.
Is this normal? Anyone else experience sidewall wearing on race kings?
I think protection casings just do this. I had an x king on my mountain hike years ago and it did the same thing, though I never flatted it
Forgot to ever follow up, but I got a sidewall puncture on my rear tire doing Grinduro PA during the most singletrack segment - completely ruined my time for the day as far as the segments go.
A tube was able to get me through the rest of the day, but still pissed me off enough that I will not get them again. Put a Tufo Speedero on the rear, but left the other TerraSpeed up front.
1 Like
Shit I just put on some Terra Speeds and love them so far. Did you have black or tan sidewall. Vaguely remember reading the tan had poor puncture protection
Yup, they’re the tans.
1 Like
did anyone actually figure this out - did they get updated? very curious?
If I’m riding a course that needs that tread I’m using my mountain bike. 
5 Likes
Ok