V8F Tire Swap UPDATE

[MacGyverCanada]

 

Hi all, finally got up the nerve to replace the tire on my V8F with something trail-capable. The tire swap process was much easier than I'd expected thanks to a video by EUCO. I'm pretty confident that I could do it all again in about 15 minutes.

The new tire makes the wheel handle so much better on grass, dirt, and crusher dust trails with very little performance loss on pavement. I was able to push the wheel pretty hard and was even learning to powerslide on my turns a little bit (scary)! However, I did take it onto some little side-trails that were just too gnarly and eventually I got a pinch flat causing a slow leak - it seems that roots and rocks are off the menu. Fortunately the stock tube has a removable valve core and I was able to inject some tire sealant in there; so far it's doing the job and should help to protect against further leaks for a few months.

Photo Gallery

TLDR: New tire turned my V8F into a trail-hungry beast, but too much gnar and you won't get too far.

[MacGyverCanada]

UPDATE #2:

Few weeks and a couple hundred km's on the new tire.  Such a massive improvement with a drastic expansion of the types of terrain where I can ride.  It's pretty obvious that the V8F is not intended for off-roading but as a beginner I'm finding it to be remarkably capable.  It really doesn't have the tire volume to take any serious impacts so I have to avoid rocks & roots, but otherwise it's happy to scurry about; it climbs hills slowly but successfully.  The tire sealant has been working great, I've checked the tire PSI after a couple of abusive rides and it's holding at 35 to 40.  Road noise has increased but that's actually been useful to help alert pedestrians out on the multi-use trails.  

10/10 would tire swap again.

[MacGyverCanada]

UPDATE #3:

Now that my V11 is non-functional I'm back to riding the V8F around town.  I had noticed that the Specialized Roller tire I'd installed is now completely bald; pretty poor durability considering the limited mileage I've put on it in the past couple of years.  So after some shopping around I ended up rolling the dice on an unknown tire, a Ralson R-4102 16x2.125 tire which I ended up ordering from a bike shop in the UK.  Shipping cost as much as the tire itself, but I couldn't find its equivalent for sale in Canada. 

I have a commute in the morning that involves some trail sections.  Will keep y'all posted...

Edited November 9, 2023 by macgyvercanada

[alcatraz]

I noticed that on average, less known brands tend to have shorter lifespan. 

[alcatraz]

Knobbier tires are usually a bit softer aren't they?

For the next tire try asking around. Maybe there's a good choice.

[Punxatawneyjoe]

31 minutes ago, alcatraz said:

I noticed that on average, less known brands tend to have shorter lifespan. 

Not necessarily true, Some "off" brands use a harder compound and last forever but suck at traction. Usually the softer the compound the better traction (depending on tread pattern) the tire has. There are some "sticky" tires that last only a few thousand miles because they are meant to stick to the road. US tire manufacturers usually mark this as tread wear. The higher the number the harder the compound. High mileage tires are somewhere in the 2-300's while as racing tires are around 20-50 tread wear. Unfortunately, not all tire manufacturers mark this number on the tire.

[MacGyverCanada]

Well I took 'er for a spin around the block and it's still got tread on it.  Very happy with it; feels like an aggresive BMX tire.  Doesn't contact the shell at all.  Leans into turns quite nicely on hard surfaces and has excellent grip on November's wet, muddy, near-freezing grass.  Had some trouble seating it properly but some soap on the bead took care of that.  Running it at ~40 psi.  Might wear down quick with no centerbead to speak of, but we'll see how it goes.  

Edited November 9, 2023 by macgyvercanada

[alcatraz]

2 hours ago, Punxatawneyjoe said:

US tire manufacturers usually mark this as tread wear. The higher the number the harder the compound. High mileage tires are somewhere in the 2-300's while as racing tires are around 20-50 tread wear.

Interesting. It would be a fun test to see if those nunbers have an impact on lifespan. Or if a knobby with a high number has a longer life than a street tire with a lower number.

[alcatraz]

I'd love to see a pic example of the number.

[Punxatawneyjoe]

7 hours ago, alcatraz said:

I'd love to see a pic example of the number.

[Punxatawneyjoe]

So my mistake i guess it goes all the way up to 800, when i was learning about them we were looking for racing tires so i never saw anything past 300. Here is an article explaining it's relation to tire life.

 

Relation Between Treadwear Rating And Mileage

Treadwear rating and mileage are two key factors often used to assess the longevity and durability of tire models. Treadwear rating is a standardized measure of how long a tire can be expected to last based on a test conducted by the tire manufacturer. It is usually expressed as a number, with higher numbers indicating longer life expectancy.

Meanwhile, actual tire mileage is the distance a tire can travel before it needs to be replaced. The relation between treadwear rating and mileage is complex, as there are many factors that can affect tire wear, such as road conditions, driving style, and maintenance.

• Tread Design. Because different tread patterns respond in various ways, the tread life of the tire is affected by the compound combination tread design of the tire.
• Driving Style. The potential of uneven and premature wear is increased by abrupt accelerations and hard braking, which can considerably reduce a tire’s useful life.
• Weather. Compared to tires used in temperate regions, extreme weather conditions, including heat and cold, can hasten the wear of the tread.
• Road Quality. A tire’s integrity and performance can be fatally damaged by a variety of road hazards and road surfaces, shortening the tire’s service life.
• Maintenance. To guarantee a long tread life, regular tire care is essential. This includes balancing, rotating, and checking the tire air pressure.

Generally, tires with higher treadwear ratings tend to last longer and achieve higher mileage, but this is not always the case. Other factors, such as the type of vehicle and the weight it carries, can also affect tire wear and mileage.

For example, we use Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac Radial 275/60R20 tires with a 500 treadwear rating on our Mazda CX-30 (SUV) and Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure LT275/70R18 tires from the same brand with a 640 rating on our GMC Sierra 1500 (pickup truck).

As we usually tow trailers, campers, and carry heavy cargo on the pickup truck, treadwear appears sooner on their tires, despite the higher treadwear rating. And we have to replace them after 45,000 miles, a lot shorter than the 60,000-mile warranty from Goodyear, while the tire set on our SUV is still in good use.

It’s important to note that proper tire maintenance, including regular rotation and alignment services, can significantly extend the life of a tire, regardless of its treadwear rating.

Keep in mind that the totality of the aforementioned elements might significantly reduce a tire’s usefulness. Tires should no longer be utilized once tread wear reaches the groove-mounted tread wear indicator.

[MacGyverCanada]

Well this tire doesn't have any treadwear markings; I checked earlier today.  I expect this to be a short-lived tire, but it is massively better than the Specialized tire that I had on there before (even before it was bald).   Had a couple of commutes through the trails of the local park over the past days and this feels like it's pretty good on all surfaces... at least, as far as off-roading with a V8F goes.  Obviously I still have to be very mindful of larger rocks and such, but so far I would recommend this tire to folks who want to take thier V8F on more varied terrain.

[alcatraz]

Yeah I've never seen markings on my tires so it's a bit back to square one. Trying to get a feel if a tire is softer compound or harder. Grip vs lifespan.

I'm pleased with the lighter CST tires. Compared to Chaoyang the CST are softer but for my 65kg I don't notice a short lifespan. Quite good actually. 10000km on 18x3 and 6000km on 16x2.5.

[MacGyverCanada]

I think i got about 1/10 that amount from the Specialized tire...