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Post by brianbutler on May 9, 2023 18:08:47 GMT
Jim, what pressure do you use in your Kenda cyclocross tires? I inflated mine to the maximum 70psi when first installed. The next day they were down to 55-60 so I re-inflated to 70. The next day (the day of my off-road trip) they were back down to 60 so I re-inflated again. At first I thought I might have a leak, but it was both tires and the exact same loss of pressure in both. Now I realize the tires have grown! They have gained about 1mm in width and height, plus they are no longer perfectly seated. I am surprised the rated pressure is deforming the tires and I don't want to blow them off the rims (they are hooked bead rims), so I might reseat them and back the pressure off to 60. Brian The 700c version I am using are rated at 75 psi and I commonly inflate them to 75 psi. I have no problems with seating or excessive pressure loss; nor did I with my old 27" set. I also (like you) am running hooked rims. This sounds to me like a classic seating problem usually encountered when using hookless rims; but yours are hooked? The bead on these tires (as best I remember) seem a little fat; this makes me wonder if your rim tape is interfering with the seating? It will be interesting to see what you find. Thanks for a couple of ideas. I believe the rim tape is just in the bottom of the center channel but I will check. These are 1984 Araya rims so maybe they don't have the same degree of hookedness as modern ones, which I will check.
The problem I notice is not severe and is not growing if I don't inflate the tires to the max. When first installed they were perfectly seated and ran very straight. The other day I noticed a slight wobble in one spot and confirmed that the tire is seated a bit too low at that point. I guess that means inflating the tires pushed everything out EXCEPT for that spot. Now that they are stretched out, reseating might do the trick. Ah, it is always something.
Brian
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Post by brianbutler on May 9, 2023 20:58:12 GMT
I unmounted the front tire since that is the one I see all the time. The rim strip was riding up a bit in one spot so I replaced it. Now everything is in the center well, the tire is touching only the tube and the metal rim. The rim is hooked for sure but not as sharply as a few other examples I have hanging up. I remounted the tire very carefully, making sure the bead was even all the way around on both sides and brought it up to 70 psi. The wheel was slightly out of round in one area and slight;y out of true, so I trued it round and flat. There is still a small but noticeable horizontal wobble and the gumwall is not even around the tire. However, the bead line is perfect on both sides. I conclude that this tire is slightly deformed but I am going to use it anyway. I see no danger of it blowing off the rim and I cannot feel the wobble. Interestingly, it was back down to 60psi this morning.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on May 9, 2023 23:31:13 GMT
I agree, the tire must have some level of deformation. I suppose that is more likely on lower priced tires. Also, many products have suffered workmanship issues during the Covid epidemic; seemingly caused by lesser skilled workers filling in for the more highly skilled. As for tire pressure loss, it seems to me that tubes are the more likely cause. I have noticed that tire pressure loss varies among my bikes. I once read that most bikes have a 3% per day tire pressure loss; but 10 psi in one day (about a 14% loss) seems a bit much.
Cheers Jim
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Post by brianbutler on May 9, 2023 23:33:41 GMT
I agree, the tire must have some level of deformation. I suppose that is more likely on lower priced tires. Also, many products have suffered workmanship issues during the Covid epidemic; seemingly caused by lesser skilled workers filling in for the more highly skilled. As for tire pressure loss, it seems to me that tubes are the more likely cause. I have noticed that tire pressure loss varies among my bikes. I once read that most bikes have a 3% per day tire pressure loss; but 10 psi in one day (about a 14% loss) seems a bit much. Cheers Jim Good point. It happens in both tires and they have the same Kenda tubes. If it persists, I will try a different tube in one tire.
Brian
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Post by brianbutler on May 13, 2023 11:56:51 GMT
I agree, the tire must have some level of deformation. I suppose that is more likely on lower priced tires. Also, many products have suffered workmanship issues during the Covid epidemic; seemingly caused by lesser skilled workers filling in for the more highly skilled. As for tire pressure loss, it seems to me that tubes are the more likely cause. I have noticed that tire pressure loss varies among my bikes. I once read that most bikes have a 3% per day tire pressure loss; but 10 psi in one day (about a 14% loss) seems a bit much. Cheers Jim Good point. It happens in both tires and they have the same Kenda tubes. If it persists, I will try a different tube in one tire.
Brian
Maybe the valve stem was not fully seated but after taking off the tire and tube to re-seat, then inflating and deflating several times during that process, the leak seems to be cured. Both tires were inflated to 70psi and both lost about 3psi over the course of several days. That is acceptable, and more importantly, the same for both tires. Case closed.
Jim, I was thinking of you this morning as a cleaned my Aerospace single speed and rinsed it off with Universal Solvent, a.k.a. water
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on May 13, 2023 23:54:18 GMT
"Jim, I was thinking of you this morning as a cleaned my Aerospace single speed and rinsed it off with Universal Solvent, a.k.a. water
Brian"
Yep, water does have it's uses; say the bike is covered in mud. As once mentioned I generally use waterless car wash products on my bikes as well as on my cars. These products are popular in California which discourages people from running a hose for 20 minutes while washing their car. They work well and leave a protective wax on the surface. As for bikes, I never spray water onto places that house bearings; if I must use water, it is from a bucket. See my favorite waterless car wash product.
Cheers Jim
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Post by brianbutler on May 18, 2023 15:17:32 GMT
Following up on the Kenda K161 KrossCyclo tires, I'm afraid they will be taking early re-tirement. The tread wobble in my front tire never did settle down and, in fact, has gotten a bit worse despite the bead line being perfect on both sides of the tire. The wheel is true and the tire is inflated to the rated 70psi. Something weird must be happening to the casing. Then yesterday the rear tire suffered a catastrophic puncture. I did not find the culprit but it must have been significant - a nail, large thorn, or piece of glass. It pierced the tire and put a hole through both top and bottom of the tube, pretty much unpatchable, plus the tube already had three patches on it. I had to resort to my spare tube, which unexpectedly had a hole in it from something in my tool kit, so it needed to be patched before I could use it. I made the 15 mile trek home OK. The tire casing has a larger hole in it than I like to see. Sharp objects always find their way into these cracks, so that tire is probably toast.
I wish I could report a better experience with these tires because they look good, handle rough trails well, and are cheap. But I would feel like a dope if I got another set and had a similar experience, so I am now considering replacement tires. The choice depends on how I plan to use the Fuji del Rey. I had intended using it to check out a number of less developed rail trails in this region but my recent experience with the Washington Secondary Trail suggests that many of these trails are rougher and slower than I expected. With that in mind, I'll have to consider whether it is a project I'm really interested in. It probably is. I just have to re-calibrate.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on May 18, 2023 16:38:24 GMT
Brian I am saddened by your experience with these tires. You must have received a crummy set; perhaps they all now are crummy? This link is to the Bike Tires Direct reviews for the tire; none seem to reflect your experience. Perhaps you should add to their input? I currently have three sets, two are 700c and work just fine; the other a 27" set I have never mounted. Over the years I have experienced a few cord failures (mystery lumps and bulges) all were expensive tires that never were over inflated. Ironically, the other inexpensive tire I commonly us (Michelin Dynamic Classic ) also have never had a problem. I suspect it all comes down to quality control that I would expect to be better on expensive tires.
All the Best Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Jun 5, 2023 16:13:27 GMT
Continuing my quest for some good quality 27" tires for exploring undeveloped trails, I bought and mounted a pair of Continental Ride Tour Extra 27 x 1-1/4:
Evidently they are on sale on Amazon at about $29 each, not much more than the Kenda KrossCyclo's. The quality seems excellent, easy enough to mount, and they roll perfectly true. I am hoping the extra traction and puncture protection will suffice for a few ride projects I have in mind.
Brian
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