I've been riding a regular loop taking in Cheddar Gorge once or twice a week (where possible) for general fun and fitness. My tyre of choice for the sort of riding I do (on and off road but with the bias on tarmac) for years has been the Michelin Hard Terrain (sadly no longer produced).
[img] 
[/img]
It's a 2.0" semi-slick but very wide and tall for its designated size.
Due to its size I though I'd try and speed things up a bit and bought a pair of Schwalbe Hurricanes; they're also 2" but with noticeably less volume than the Michelins. The Hurricanes are wire bead but according to the stats are the same weight as the Michelins; they also have a smooth centre tread apparently made from a hard rubber to improve rolling resistance and wear.
[img] 
[/img]
With the Schwalbe's being noticeably narrower, the same weight and with a slick centre tread I expected them to fly.
From the off it was apparent that they took a lot more effort to roll up to speed but I thought that I'd give them a fair try out. On the flat it felt like I was riding through treacle and, compared to the Michelins, seemed to just suck the energy out of my legs; bizarrely it even felt that they took more effort to maintain speed. On climbs though I really struggled and climbs that I'd worked to manage pretty well became nightmares again.
The Schwalbes added 15+ minutes to the ride into Cheddar but the real blow came when I bailed out of the climb up Cheddar Gorge; my legs just felt so drained that even in lowest gear (in which I can usually climb just about anything) I just couldn't get enough power through the pedals to keep the wheels turning.
Overall the whole bike felt slow and sluggish and completely different to ride than when fitted with the Michelins (which have now gone back on).
On the one hand it's a lesson learned and goes to show that I'm riding the right tyres, on the other it's really thrown me as everything I know about tyres would suggest that a narrower, slick treaded tyre of the same weight should run a bit faster (I'm also getting low on the Michelins and will need to source another tyre at some point).
The only thing I can think of is the rubber compound but the difference feels really marked.
My scales are out of battery so I can't confirm weights but I will try and do that later.
Can anyone explain why the Schwalbes felt so much worse than the Michelins; I'm confused?
Higher rolling resistance?
Maybe you're ill?
Have you put air in them?
Sounds like you're knackered. Try again another day when you've got the energy.
[i]The Schwalbes added 15+ minutes to the ride into Cheddar but the real blow came when I bailed out of the climb up Cheddar Gorge; my legs just felt so drained that even in lowest gear (in which I can usually climb just about anything) I just couldn't get enough power through the pedals to keep the wheels turning.[/i]
Tyres can make a difference, but not this much. Were you running similar tyre pressure?
Maybe you're ill?
Sounds like you're knackered. Try again another day when you've got the energy.
^ this
1 experience only so far. I've had days like that, normally either jsut before I go down with a cold/flu, or a random day after I think I've recovered.
Of course it could be the tyres, but don't rule out other probable causes.
15 mins !
What's that as a percentage of the ride ?
(You did pump them up with air and not water)
This is usually the first sign of Cat AIDS
I asked the world's leading expert on why things feel so bad, Moby, and he replied that he'll open doors, he'll open doors, he'll open doors, he'll open doors, he'll open doors, he'll open doors. Not entirely sure how that helps to be honest.
This is usually the first sign of Cat AIDS
The good kind or the bad kind?
[url= https://janheine.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/how-much-faster-are-supple-tires/ ]how much faster are supple tyres?[/url]
[url= https://janheine.wordpress.com/2015/02/17/tire-pressure-data-and-details/ ]tyre pressure[/url]
Loads of info on tyres/rolling resistance on jan's site above
I could've been an off day I suppose but I feel okay. Tyre pressure was the same for both setups. I'd assumed that the narrower width and smooth, hard centre tread would have reduced rolling resistance, but I'm no expert; the Michelins are certainly a much more supple tyre.
Weight-wise the Hurricanes are quoted as 650g (as are the Michelins); one's weighing in a 690g and the other 730g (which seems a bit high even when manufacturing variations are taken into account) but this shouldn't account for the struggle I felt I was having.
I'll wait to see if I go down with the flu!
Hahaha, Northwind, that made me laugh out loud... 😀
When you put the wheel back in after changing tyres, it wasn't properly aligned and your brakes are now rubbing?
