Just bought a TT but rather than wearing out expensive GP4000s I'm after a couple of cheaper alternatives, as opposed to buying a TT specific tyre. Any good deals about ATM? Cheers
I have a Bikehut turbo tyre from Halfords. Wasn't that dear and is nice and quiet.
Turbo trainer tyre on a spcific turbo (cheapish) bike? keep the good bike for proper riding?
or a spare rear wheel with a turbo tyre on it that you can use?
Tell a lie, just Halfords branded not Bikehut. £9.99. On a cheapo eBay bought wheel.
If it has to do duty on the road too I'd get something cheap like the Olanet X Guttersnipe and expect to replace it regularly.
A TT specific tyre is no more expensive (usually cheaper) than a decent road tyre. As coolhandluke says, it's a lot easier to have a specific rear wheel with it permanently attached. An old wheel with worn rims will be fine since you won't need to use the brakes - providing that the rims aren't too far gone of course. I started with a road tyre but they get shredded pretty quickly due to the heat build up, my wife complained about the tyre shards spread out behind the turbo 😆
I use a spare wheel on my decent road bike, I've a CX bike for winter road use.
Becuase I cannot be bothered with the faff of changing wheels I use Michilin Lithion 2's. They can be had for £11 ish each are hard wearing and fantastic winter tyres. Mine have been on for 2 winters and every other day on. Turbo with no obvious squaring.
Thanks for the replies.
Getting a bike to go with a TT sounds like a step too far, but an old wheel sounds feasible though I'd have to keep swapping the cassette between the wheels not to naff the drivetrain up. TBH I haven't even priced TT tyres - just heard they weren't cheap. This might be best option - change the tyre before the weekend ride is just as easy as changing the cassette over between wheels.
I've got this tyre http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-zaffiro-pro-home-trainer-tyre/ - at £14.50 it's not exactly bank breaking and about 50% of the GP4000s' price.
IME not having a bike you can leave in the turbo for the winter months at least will mean you dont use it much. I tend to use old tyres which I seem to have loads. If I did have to buy some it would be the Lithions which I prefer to GP4000's as well as them being 1/3 of the price.
Use up all the knacketed old tyres. Those with punctures, great rips in the side or with flat bits.
Vittoria Zaffiro on it's way from Northern Ireland - cheers