I’m currently riding a Felt IA16 with Felt TTR2 wheels and tires on. Is it worth the money to buy Continental 4000 S II tires to replace the TTR2 tires? I am doing Ironman CdA in a few weeks and am making some last minute changes.
Thanks!
yes.
“worth the money” is very subjective for lots of reasons, but I’ll have a go at answering
I’ve never seen crr or aero data on the Felt tyre, but I would bet that the Conti’s are somewhat significantly faster in both departments.
It doesn’t seem unreasonable to me to say that you’d probably gain >10W in a typical riding scenario from switching.
Or, you could get some race day only tires and start wearing training tires strait down to the cord. I recently calculated in the long run it’s cheaper.
$77 force attack combo Nashbar (lets say 4 years or even more if used for racing only)
$20 set conti Ultra 2 (or some type of cheap and serviceable training tire) every year and a half
77 + (202.6) = 129
704= 280 GP 4000s
And this is somewhat high balling the cost of training tires, and low balling their durability. You could say GP 4ks last more than a year but is anyone really racing on tires that have a years worth of miles on them?
In short, yeah it would be worth it for the watts saved. But my new theory is why give up anything? Spend less money in the long run, throw in a bit of sealant to protect against punctures, and your in like flynn.
I should note, that I just now have tried this theory. Like within the last few weeks. So everything I’ve said is theoretical.
I suggest latex tubes, sealant and supersonic tires.
Yes, I’d change them.
I don’t like the TTR tyres much. I suspect they’re reasonable aerodynamically but they don’t feel great and I suspect rolling resistance is a lot higher than GP4000sII. Those wheels are heavy too but that’s not a big deal on a tri bike. I’m currently still using the first of the Felt TTR tyres that came on my IA14 as my trainer tyre. I have the other one for whenever the first wears out. I reckon that’ll be after next winter.
I use Vittoria latex tubes with 25mm GP4000SII tyres and wide rims on mine and I’m very happy with that for both training and racing. If you’re looking for all the speed you can get you might benefit aerodynamically from a 23mm for the front, especially if you’re using the stock wheels.
Life is too short to ride crappy tires. You spent a bunch on the bike, so get the 4000s and just use them all the time.
If you haven’t used latex tubes read up on the install, use the Orange sealant, and install and ride them a bunch before your race. Use regular tubes for your flat kit.
Is it pretty easy to install the latex tubes? I have never used them before and was considering switching to the continental race lite tubes since I’m not experienced with latex tubes. Also will heat be an issue in the latex tubes? I’m doing Ironman Coeur D’Alene in a few weeks and weather lately has been in the upper 90s.
Tubes are pretty much installed the same no matter what the material is. Some people suggest a little talcum powder with latex, but I have never used it.
Don’t brake very much and you won’t have to worry about heat.
Any suggestions on tube types or brands?
Also any suggestions on sealants?
I have been using the vittoria latex tubes and love them. They are pretty easy to get your hands on as well and not badly priced.
I find latex tubes about the same to install as butyl. They’re more flexible so more prone to getting out of position and getting pinched between the tyre and rim if you’re not careful but I’ve not a problem and it’s just something to be aware of, not a big deal.
I use the pink Vittoria ones. Hot weather shouldn’t be an issue for latex, but prolonged braking could be (i.e. dragging your brakes on a long alpine descent). For this reason I switched to butyl when I did the Marmotte Des Alpes recently where I’d be doing kilometer after kilometer of steep descents with lots of braking for switchbacks. However, for triathlon I don’t think it’s ever likely to be a problem and I do like the comfort and speed you get with latex.