MCHardmanUK
07-02-2006, 08:46 PM
Article from BMX-Zone.com, http://www.bmx-zone.com/en-article-id-499.html
When I first read about these new super lightweight folding tires my gut reaction was what a load of rubbish, folding tyres will pop like flies on those electric fly zapping things. I was a true sceptic and unlike most spectics I decided to try them for myself, admitably I was in a weight whore mode so thought that this would be the perfect excuss to buy these tryes and give them a whirl.
Putting the tyres on was at first something I was dreading my my Himiko rim and its raised edge every tyre I had tried to put on required many tyre levers and elbow grease in bucket loads. To my surprise they went on without any tyre levers and they slotted into place nicely. Once pumped up I slotted my wheels back into my frame and forks and emediatly the difference was obviuos, I'd taken nearly 2lbs off my bike weight and i nthe most important area. Now would all this weight loss mean endless punctures or would it be the best thing since sliced bread.
I've been rocking these tyres now for just over a month and I run them at the full whack, 120psi front and rear and as of yet I haven't had a single puncture and I'm not smooth by any means. Having 120psi coupled with there low profile and super low weight these tyres sure as hell roll. I was over the moon when I found out these tyres have grip and lots of it, especially from a 1.7 tyre in the rear where I need it for stalls and wallrides. The front beeing a 2.1 means theres plenty of shock absorbtion for those big heavy landings. I don't run pegs anymore but it doesn't stop me from grinding and even though I'm not running the Street versions, which are recommended to be used if grinding, these still haven't seen any wear or damage to the sidewalls. Only time will tell and I do miss a fair few grinds.
Myfirst gripe is that on hot days when I've been out riding for a long time and the tyres have heated up they start to squirm and drag on the roads and it feels like I have a puncture, but everytime I check to see whats going on they are fully inflated. It's nothing major, it just bugs me.My second gripeis I originally bought two Park tyres and they measure up as big as a Ruben 2.25 which meant that the rear didn't fit In so I had to swap it over for the Flatland version which measures up about 1.75. I was just a little pissed off that I couldn't ride becasue someone at KHE can't use a tape measure. Please KHE in the future make some inbetween tyre sizes like 1.85 or 1.95 to fit the majority of frame son the market, I'm sure you'll see more.
This is a revolution in the BMX industry and it will become the new tyre standard, I'm sure of it in a few years time and I believe tyre design will only get better still. You could say I've been converted and I won't be so quick to judge new things and yes I will always be rolling on foling tyres from now on.
Specs
<ul>
Now available in THREE sizes:
[/list]
Flatland version: 300g, 40mm width (1.7).
Park version: 329g, 55mm width (2.0).
Street version (with stronger sidewall): 424g, 55mm width (2.0). <ul>
All have a max. psi of 120lbs.
Foldable.
Kevlar beaded.
Improved traction.
Special durable compound.
Available in FLATLAND (lightest, smaller 1.7 size), PARK (light with thin sidewall) or STREET (with thicker sidewall). If you are planning on doing feebles and stuff where the side of the tyre is likely to get any wear then we definitely reccomend the STREET version.
[/list]
Pros:
<ul>
Super Light
Very grippy
Fast rolling
Long lasting
Easy to fit
[/list]
Cons:
<ul>
Expensive
Measure up bigger than stated so check your frame clearence before buying them.
Need some more inbetween tyre sizes.
[/list]
Summary
Considering these tyres weigh 1/3 of the weight, if not more than most of the other tyres out there, yet still offer just as much gripand most puncture pretection than most of the other tyres out there, it's some feet of engineering and I'm sure many other companies will be on the foling tyre bandwagoon very very soon.
Rating
Almost perfect 9/10 - There still expensive for a tyre but as more companies bring out super lightweight folding tyres the prices will drop a fair amount.A truely revolutionarytyre, easilyone of the top ten BMX componantas of all time.
Costs: about £20
When I first read about these new super lightweight folding tires my gut reaction was what a load of rubbish, folding tyres will pop like flies on those electric fly zapping things. I was a true sceptic and unlike most spectics I decided to try them for myself, admitably I was in a weight whore mode so thought that this would be the perfect excuss to buy these tryes and give them a whirl.
Putting the tyres on was at first something I was dreading my my Himiko rim and its raised edge every tyre I had tried to put on required many tyre levers and elbow grease in bucket loads. To my surprise they went on without any tyre levers and they slotted into place nicely. Once pumped up I slotted my wheels back into my frame and forks and emediatly the difference was obviuos, I'd taken nearly 2lbs off my bike weight and i nthe most important area. Now would all this weight loss mean endless punctures or would it be the best thing since sliced bread.
I've been rocking these tyres now for just over a month and I run them at the full whack, 120psi front and rear and as of yet I haven't had a single puncture and I'm not smooth by any means. Having 120psi coupled with there low profile and super low weight these tyres sure as hell roll. I was over the moon when I found out these tyres have grip and lots of it, especially from a 1.7 tyre in the rear where I need it for stalls and wallrides. The front beeing a 2.1 means theres plenty of shock absorbtion for those big heavy landings. I don't run pegs anymore but it doesn't stop me from grinding and even though I'm not running the Street versions, which are recommended to be used if grinding, these still haven't seen any wear or damage to the sidewalls. Only time will tell and I do miss a fair few grinds.
Myfirst gripe is that on hot days when I've been out riding for a long time and the tyres have heated up they start to squirm and drag on the roads and it feels like I have a puncture, but everytime I check to see whats going on they are fully inflated. It's nothing major, it just bugs me.My second gripeis I originally bought two Park tyres and they measure up as big as a Ruben 2.25 which meant that the rear didn't fit In so I had to swap it over for the Flatland version which measures up about 1.75. I was just a little pissed off that I couldn't ride becasue someone at KHE can't use a tape measure. Please KHE in the future make some inbetween tyre sizes like 1.85 or 1.95 to fit the majority of frame son the market, I'm sure you'll see more.
This is a revolution in the BMX industry and it will become the new tyre standard, I'm sure of it in a few years time and I believe tyre design will only get better still. You could say I've been converted and I won't be so quick to judge new things and yes I will always be rolling on foling tyres from now on.
Specs
<ul>
Now available in THREE sizes:
[/list]
Flatland version: 300g, 40mm width (1.7).
Park version: 329g, 55mm width (2.0).
Street version (with stronger sidewall): 424g, 55mm width (2.0). <ul>
All have a max. psi of 120lbs.
Foldable.
Kevlar beaded.
Improved traction.
Special durable compound.
Available in FLATLAND (lightest, smaller 1.7 size), PARK (light with thin sidewall) or STREET (with thicker sidewall). If you are planning on doing feebles and stuff where the side of the tyre is likely to get any wear then we definitely reccomend the STREET version.
[/list]
Pros:
<ul>
Super Light
Very grippy
Fast rolling
Long lasting
Easy to fit
[/list]
Cons:
<ul>
Expensive
Measure up bigger than stated so check your frame clearence before buying them.
Need some more inbetween tyre sizes.
[/list]
Summary
Considering these tyres weigh 1/3 of the weight, if not more than most of the other tyres out there, yet still offer just as much gripand most puncture pretection than most of the other tyres out there, it's some feet of engineering and I'm sure many other companies will be on the foling tyre bandwagoon very very soon.
Rating
Almost perfect 9/10 - There still expensive for a tyre but as more companies bring out super lightweight folding tyres the prices will drop a fair amount.A truely revolutionarytyre, easilyone of the top ten BMX componantas of all time.
Costs: about £20