spare tire

[Badger]

Very good discussions on the rear wheel in this forum which leads me now to think about the rubber on these wheels.  The tires I am using are not really foldables so that kind of rules them out as far as being used as a spare. In this case which tire would work best as a spare?  

[RussellSeaton]

I'm a proponent of carrying a spare tire when touring.  I have a Michelin Hi Lite Tour tire, 35mm.  Bought it back in 1992.  I've used it a few times on tours since.  Any tire with a kevlar bead is acceptable for a spare.  It does not have to be the same size or quality as your normal touring tires.  It only has to work until you get to a place where you can buy a permanent replacement tire.  Then you put the foldable spare back in the panniers.  Continental makes their Ultra 2000 in 28mm with a kevlar bead.  6 months ago Nashbar or Performance had them for about $14.99.

[wanderingwheel]

You can bring a non-folding tire with you as a spare.  Simply loop it onto itself three times and tie it zip-ties or string.  This will make the tire small enough to fit in your panniers or on your rack.

I'm a tire snob, so I like to carry a good tire with me as a spare.  I don't use the spare as an emergency tire like Russell, but just as a replacement.  Once the tire is on, it stays on and I will pick up a new spare when I find one that I like.

Russell, how has your 13-year old tire not rotted by now?

Sean

[RussellSeaton]

I'll have to admit to not seeing the foldable spare for 5 years now.  It was November 2000 the last time I had it on a tour.  And used it on the last day because the 1992 Cheng Shin 35mm tire, bought in Austria, blew off the rim three times.  I decided the old, tough, reliable Cheng Shin had finally given up its soul.  Or the 8.5 years of continous mounting and 7,000+ miles had finally weakened something.  I store the Michelin HiLite Tour tire folded in its box.  Michelin must have used some good quality sidewall material.  I'll have to remember to pull the tire out of its box to see if its still in good shape.  I have some Specialized Epic 41mm tires back from about the mid 1980s that are showing some sidewall hardening, brittleness.

I prefer the kevlar bead tire for a spare because it takes up much less room than a folded wire bead tire.  Space in my panniers is at a premium.  And the idea of hanging it on the outside goes against my bicycle neatness principles.  I'm a slob in many things, but not bikes.  Neat and sleek is right.

[wanderingwheel]

I'm lucky to get 3,000 miles out of my Avocet Cross tires before the sidewall fails.  I guess I'm too picky to ride something with a substantial enough sidewall, such as a Conti Gatorskin or a Specialized Flackjacket.  I even try to avoid tires with kevlar liners (not to be confused with kevlar beads) when possible.

I don't think a wire bead tire takes up enough extra space to make much of a difference, but then again my oversized rear panniers are usually nearly empty.  However, I prefer the ride of kevlar beaded tires so I generally carry them, anyway.

Sean