Absolutely smooth tire 4 letters crossword puzzle. Slicks - pros and cons. Is it possible to put different tires on different wheels?

Don’t think I’m boring, but without knowing the terms in the modern auto world, there’s simply nowhere.

The other day, in a conversation with a friend, I heard the phrase: “yes, he was on slicks” ... And off we went. While he was there intently rubbing something into me, I had already drawn a new post in my head, an approximate picture popped up, etc.

Let's figure it out, what is a slick ...

Slick(English slick) - absolutely smooth tire, which does not have a tread or other elements that reduce the contact patch with the road. The first slicks produced were developed by M&H Tires in the early 1950s as drag racing tires. Due to the absence of tread grooves, the contact area of ​​the wheel with the road increases, which increases friction with the road, which as a result contributes to good grip on the road.

But there is one nuance here: this type of tire (slicks) provides greater traction only on dry roads, but has much poorer traction on wet roads, because on a wet track they simply slip because there is nothing to catch on the asphalt (loss of grip of a tire on a wet track is called aquaplaning).

Hydroplaning is the occurrence of a hydrodynamic wedge in the tire contact patch - that is, a complete or partial loss of traction caused by the presence of a layer of water separating the tires of a moving vehicle from the road surface. At the same time vehicle practically uncontrollable. It occurs when the speed reaches a critical value (on average 70 - 100 km/h, but can reach up to 40 km/h), at which the wheel does not have time to remove water from the contact patch. The larger the water film on the road surface and the smaller residual depth tire tread, the higher the risk of aquaplaning. On high speed on a wet surface the wheel literally floats.

Based on Wiki materials

Because of this, slicks are not suitable for use on public roads. Cars intended for everyday use must be prepared for all weather conditions. But slicks find their use in car competitions, where participants can choose the type of tire for a race according to the weather (and also change them directly during the competition).

Also, due to the absence of a tread, slicks deform less under load. Less deformation allows you to use softer rubber in tires: due to less deformation, it overheats and swells less. Soft rubber also increases traction. But wait, these are racing tires! When used in competitions, the tire wears out faster and, as a result, slicks have to be changed much more often than regular tires. About a couple of runs and the tire is scrapped. It’s a shame, of course, but this is a competition and you don’t have to save money here.

Also, when using slick racing tires, fuel consumption increases due to a larger contact patch with the track.

Now virtually all tire manufacturers, introducing new tire models for everyday use, focus on this, the economic component is approximately 150-200 grams of fuel per 100 km, compared to previous models, as well as the environmental component: less fuel consumption - less harmful emissions in atmosphere.

You can try the “slick effect” by using winter tires in summer time, because winter tires are softer in properties, the contact patch is larger, etc. As well as wear, consumption and the condition of the chassis... If the car is not prepared for competitions, then it is better not to experiment. IMHO

As in the post about this, there is a nuance, and as usual, Russian manufacturers distinguished themselves. Taking advantage of the big word on the lips of tuners, they registered the Slik company and began churning out alloy wheels.

Yes, yes, it is spelled differently, but pronounced the same.

I can’t say anything bad about the discs, because... I've never encountered them, but beware of confusion...

Bike tires affect how a bike performs on the road more than any other part. Not only ride comfort, but also safety of movement, especially on wet roads, depends on the quality of bicycle tires. It is clear that the higher the quality of the rubber, the more expensive the tire costs.

When choosing a bicycle tire, it is important to consider the following factors:

• time of year;
• weather conditions;
• road condition (asphalt, soil, crushed stone, sand, mud, snow and ice).

Rubber quality

Bicycle tires can be made of rubber or a composite material called compound. Rubber has better grip, but wears out faster. The constituent substance of the compound is often silicon. For the same price, a compound tire will outlast a rubber tire. You can distinguish a new rubber product from a composite by touch by rubbing it with a dry finger with force over the surface ─ clean rubber will rub and creak.

Rubber as a material is obtained by adding filler to rubber and then strengthening this compound with sulfur contained in soot using the vulcanization method. The worst quality rubber has the greatest amount of filler.

Bicycle tires can be natural or synthetic.

• Artificial rubber is cheaper than natural rubber, but it can be used to make oil-resistant rubber.
• Natural rubber is extracted by coagulation from the sap of rubber trees, which is very labor-intensive. Rubber made from natural material will last longer as it is more wear-resistant.

When buying a tire, you can quickly check it.

1. By running your finger over the surface with strong pressure, if you get your hands dirty, then this tire is of poor quality.
2. Having tried to tear off a few tendrils remaining after casting the tire. If they come off easily without even stretching, then it's a bad bike tire.
3. By visually determining the quality of manufacture of a bicycle tire, so that the walls are without wrinkles, and its bead cord is smooth and not bent.

Anatomy of a tire

To clearly understand what the numbers marked on the tires mean, you need to understand the internal structure of a bicycle tire.

1. Tread ─ part of the outer shell of the tire. It is divided into a treadmill in the middle and side lugs. It is the tread pattern and depth that determine where the bicycle will be used.

• A positive tread pattern, when the total area of ​​the lugs is equal to or greater than the area of ​​the grooves, is designed for movement on hard road surfaces.
• A negative tread, in which the lugs are high and have a smaller total area compared to the area of ​​the grooves, is needed for good traction when driving on soft soil, sand, mud, snow and ice.

2. Cord ─ frame that gives the shape of a bicycle tire. It is woven from nylon or other synthetic threads. The higher the weave density of a tire, the harder it is. In other words: the higher the TPI (EPI) value - the number of stitches per inch of length - the more effectively the tire resists punctures. Weaving density for most budget tires is in the range from 24 to 67 TPI. For road tires this figure is 60–130 TPI. For racing monotubes, this value reaches as much as 320 TPI.

Cheap bicycle tires have a low weave density, and often the lack of strength of the tire is compensated by increasing the thickness of the rubber on the tread and beads, which naturally adds weight.

3. Boarding rope─ a clamp that holds the tire to the rim. Twisted from steel wire or Kevlar threads. The most common bicycle tires are those with a steel beading cable, which are called clincher tires.
Tires with Kevlar threads can be compactly folded like an accordion, which is why they are called folding tires. They weigh about 100 grams less, but also cost more.

Folding bike tire for BMX bikes Tire PP Ft 20x2.25

4. Tire beads ─ layer with increased wear resistance. Depending on the cost and purpose of the board, there are two types:

• Gumwall ─ low-density cord and a thick layer of rubber. On budget tires installed on most types of bicycles;
• Skinwall is a cord with a high density of weaving threads and has a thick layer of rubber only at the point of contact with the rim, and the rest of the beads are covered with a rubber film as thick as a sheet of paper. Expensive tires for sports bikes.

Main types of bicycle tires

The tread pattern and height determine what type of bicycle tire it is. The deeper the tread, the higher the grip on any road surface. Tires with deep negative tread experience high rolling resistance.

1. Slick ─ tires without tread. They may only have shallow drainage grooves. When riding on slicks, you need to be careful when braking on muddy or wet roads.

Slicks are ideal for driving on asphalt and racing tracks. Their main advantage is the absence of vibration when the wheel rolls, and, as a result, a bicycle with such tires can reach a higher speed.

Road slick Schwalbe Speed ​​Cruiser HS 321 28x1.20 (700x30C 30-622) on the right and more prominent Schwalbe Big Apple 24x2.0 (50x507) for city driving on the left

By installing Schwalbe Speed ​​Cruiser tires, you can even tilt the bike when turning on wet asphalt, because they are very soft. But the tire wears out quickly ─ if you brake sharply, you can tear it down to the cord over the summer.

The universal Schwalbe Big Apple cycling shoe is equipped with a puncture-resistant Kevlar layer. The textured but shallow tread allows this tire to be used on both the front and rear wheels.

A universal slick for road and city conditions is the CST City Classic Slik tires. Bicycle tires marked CST are of excellent quality and are produced by the reputable Chinese company Cheng Shin Rubber. Such tires will not last less than three seasons without visible signs of wear.

Universal tires without tread CST 26×1.90 Slik

2. Semi-slick has a full tread at the edges, and drainage grooves or small hooks are located in the center. These tires are suitable for driving on dirt roads in cross-country style and for off-road use in dry weather. In general, semi-slick tires can be chosen for cycling.

The Schwalbe Sammy Slick Folding tire is suitable for walking around the city and park on a mountain bike. According to the tread structure, it belongs to semi-slick tires.

Schwalbe Sammy Slick Folding semi-slick tire measuring 26x2.1 inches

The Schwalbe Hurricane mountain bike tire is an exemplary semi-slick. It is silent and, most importantly, fast on asphalt and provides reliable traction when driving onto sand.

Schwalbe Hurricane tire size 26x2.00

3. Mountain bike tires ─ so-called mud or gravel tires have a negative tread for the best traction on soft soil, crushed stone, sand or snow. Please note that such tires are not intended for long trips on asphalt roads. In addition to the fact that they will quickly wear out, their high lugs will make movement difficult.

Tubeless, folding tires from Schwalbe Racing Ralph are mud tires. It has a good combination of rowing lugs on the sides and a rolling track in the middle. This bike tire is universal for both forest and city use.
There is a more expensive modification with the Evolution index, which is 100 grams lighter, and it is positioned as a tire for racing.

Schwalbe Racing Ralph tire. Available in sizes: 26x2.10, 26x2.25, 27.5x2.10, 27.5x2.25, 29x2.10 and 29x2.25

The Continental Race King – Race Sport mud tire is a direct competitor previous model. It can also be folded like an accordion thanks to the soft side rope. It has no worse rolling performance on hard surfaces and does not lose traction in sand and mud.

Bicycle tire Continental Race King – Race Sport. Available in four sizes: 26x2.0, 26x2.2, 29x2.0, 27.5x2.2

4. The tires for a crossover or urban bike have a treadmill in the middle formed from fairly high lugs. These tires are universal for traveling on smooth asphalt and for driving on dry dirt roads.

The so-called Continental Grand Prix 4 Season training tires are highly durable thanks to reinforced carbon fiber beads. As the name suggests, it can be used all year round as it is made from a durable yet soft compound. This tire can be recommended to road racers who often ride on broken asphalt roads, because it can withstand enormous loads.

All-season road tire Continental Grand Prix 4 Season. Available in the following sizes: 700x23, 700x25, 700x28

Colored tires always look great on road bikes. Although now tires in bright colors are also installed on mountain bikes in order to diversify them appearance.

The bright color of a tire is by no means an indicator of its quality. The Taiwanese manufacturer Kenda, familiar to many cyclists, uses a high-quality wear-resistant compound marked SBC for the production of colored tires.

5. Winter bicycle tires are made of a soft compound, and some models are also equipped with studs. Studded tires are only needed for driving on icy roads to help you brake and turn on ice.

Winter tires, studded in four and two rows

6. Tubeless tires have a beading cable woven from Kevlar threads, that is, they are folding. They are installed on special rims with high sides. Additional sealing is performed using anaerobic glue ─ sealant.
Usage tubeless tires allows you to slightly reduce the weight of the bike, since you can fold out the camera. And their main advantage is that a punctured tubeless tire can be repaired without removing it from the wheel.

7. A bicycle tube looks similar to a tube, but it is still a tire, since it has a cord. The tube is attached to this tube using glue. Modern bicycle tubes are practically impenetrable, since they have an increased weaving density of cord threads ─ up to 320 TPI.
They are often used on sports bikes due to the fact that they have the lowest weight of all tires.

Cycling tube from Italian manufacturer Gommitalia Champion, size 700x23

8. Of course, there are no absolutely puncture-proof wheels, but you can reduce the likelihood of a tube puncture by installing tires with a puncture-resistant layer. Such a layer can be formed by either dense rubber or Kevlar threads.
The additional material placed between the cord and the tread adds an average of 170 grams to the weight of the bike.

Tire sizes

Finding new bike tires is not difficult if you look at what the old ones were. Dimensions bicycle tires, like any other tire, are indicated on the side. An extruded standard size always has a diameter and a width; they can be specified in inches or millimeters.

Tires for Niner are marked with the number 29, although in reality they have a diameter of 622 mm ─ the same as that of a motocross ─ so-called. You need to know that the Niner has wider wheels than the hybrid, so tires with the number 29 cannot be put on the narrow rims of a motocross bike.

Most road bike tires have a diameter of 700 mm or 28 inches. As an exception, sometimes a size of 650 mm is found for the front wheels of a teenage road bike. Many cyclists ride on the narrowest tires, 18-23mm wide. For long journeys, it is better to install tires with a width of 25–28 mm; they are easier to drive on dirt or wet roads.

Mountain bikes are most often equipped with wheels with a diameter of 26 inches. The width of a cross-country bike tire is 1.8–2.4 inches. A freeride or downhill bike is equipped with 2.5-3.0-inch wide tires to ensure reliable grip on rocks.

The width can be specified as decimal─ 26×2.1, and ordinary fraction ─ 27×1 1/4. At the same time, tires are absolutely identical only with the same markings.

BMX bikes are trial bikes with tires with a diameter of 20 inches. The width dimensions of BMX tires are the same as mountain bike tires.

If you are still not well versed in the types of tires, then it is best to buy new tire for the bicycle is the same as was supplied at the factory when it was assembled. This does not mean the same brand, but with a similar tread pattern and the same diameter. But if you really want to choose best option exactly for your riding style - be prepared to experiment.

You can buy them.

Well, I thought carefully and decided to answer, because in this matter the “old school drivers” don’t cut a damn thing, and why should they cut in this trick, because many of them never even saw the Nissan Sunny where it came from? they know how and what they need to rock out on real ones sports cars. And all the “drivers of the new school” claim that a sports car is sports tires. Well, I’ll lay out my point of view here." newest school"Of course, take a slick and don’t be afraid of anything, and in order not to be afraid, I’ll tell you the little secrets of the “newest school.” So that a slick is not afraid of either “light ice” or pack ice, you need special studded slicks, and because this sports tires, then the studs should be sports, that is, 5-7 mm high. The whole point is in the density of the studs, it should be at least one stud per square cm of the tire area, or better yet, two or three studs per square. cm. At the same time, we immediately benefit from wear resistance, such tires will wear out much slower than usual, and their behavior on asphalt will improve, sports spikes will bite into the asphalt no worse than into ice, and no slipping at the start will be scary, because you can easily do it. dig through a thin layer of asphalt and get to solid ground. True, on wet asphalt it will be difficult to hydroplane on such tires, and this is bad, because then the car would simply fly through the film of water without touching the asphalt, and you can develop a higher speed, while doing so. saving gasoline. So look for the right slicks, and don’t hit the road without them.
Well, regarding the A539 slicks you have chosen, even if they are studded correctly, they will not be aggressive enough, take a closer look at Boggers from Interco, or Simex Extreme Tracker, after proper studding these are one of the best slicks for drag and circuit racing. If you have questions, ask them, the instructors of the “newest school” will always give “good” advice.

It would be better if I didn't answer =:)

Maybe offtop but still
This seems to be their test: (there are 3 parts. The Japanese drove on the track. One of them is Tsuchiya :))
(not sure what exactly this model is, but the tread pattern is very similar)

I'll take a look today. The conclusions there are probably in Japanese? =:)

Slicks have higher wear resistance... Well, well...
Slicks or pseudo-slicks are special tires and are not suitable for everyday use. This is an option for racing. In addition, the cost is much higher than regular tires.
I don’t quite understand how it’s possible to wear out a set of summer tires on a Sunny (if you’re talking about a car in the caption) over the course of a season...
The 539 you chose is not a slick.

They also have appropriate production technologies. For example, the A359 wears out quickly, but you need to take some kind of dinolop dz1 to fix it for 50 thousand. In addition, the larger contact patch prevents the wheel from slipping or skidding once again, which means less wear. Well, the production technology there, it must be said, also differs from the technology for manufacturing civilian tires.
About worn out tires... yes on a sled. I think the softness of the rubber had an effect. At the end of summer, the groove in the center was about a millimeter high. Rubber breeches, I don’t remember the model.

Edited: 04/03/2019

Today we will talk about this important detail a bicycle is like a tire. Its correct choice largely determines how well your bike will ride.

Today, there are hundreds of different options designed for driving both on smooth city asphalt and on mud, mountain trails, ice and snow.

Each type of tire was developed and must be used for its own roads. Therefore, the main choice depends on the type of bike you choose and what roads you plan to ride on.

In the figure on the right with the cross section of the wheel, these are the contours: 4 - bead ring (beading cable), 6 - tire and 7 - tread

So, in order.

Let's first look at the structure cycling tires.

It consists of several main parts:

• road grip;
• tire noise when driving;
• roll;
• wear resistance;
• bike handling.

Tires are usually made from:

• Natural rubber is the most best option, but very expensive.
• Synthetic rubber is much cheaper to manufacture, but has fairly low wear resistance.
• Compound. It is a mixture of various mono- and polymers. It is quite cheap, wear-resistant, and in many respects superior to synthetic rubber, although still inferior to natural rubber.

Compounds can have different stiffness and, as a result, traction and wear resistance. You can read more about the rigidity of compounds in a separate article.

How to check the quality of the material from which a tire is made.

There are simple and reliable methods.

You need to run your finger or nail along the side - if there is a noticeable mark on the tire, it means that it will quickly wear out when driving on the road.

On new tires There's always a mustache. If you pull on them, and you see that they have stretched at least 2 times (or even better, if 3-4 times) and only then come off, it means this is a good tire.

Well then, general concepts about the tire we received. Now let's look at what they are, how to choose the right one and what it affects when traveling.

Tire types

You need to understand one simple truth - each type is designed to ride on the surface intended for it. And they are divided by tread type.

Slicks

The name comes from the English Slick, which means smooth, slippery. They have no or minimal tread pattern. Designed for travel on smooth city, highway and well-rolled roads dry dirt roads. On such roads there is no fundamental question about adhesion to the surface - it is always there. But the advantage is that slicks

• Silent;
• They have a good roll;
• There is no vibration when driving.

No studs slow down the tire when rolling, and the cyclist does not spend additional energy on overcoming the resistance to friction of the studs on the road surface, as with other types of tires. The pattern on them is designed to drain water. Sometimes the manufacturer adds dye and produces multi-colored products, which gives such bicycles an additional zest.

Please note that slicks will be very difficult to ride on soft ground and mud.

Such tires, for example, are installed on bicycles and.

Semi-slicks

As the name suggests, only half of these tires are slick. They have a low and “even” tread, and small spikes on the sides. The tread, evenly protruding above the cord over the entire surface of the tire in contact with the road, provides good rolling, and the side studs provide traction with soft soil and prevent the tire from falling into it. Designed for both dry and dry driving wet asphalt, highway, compacted primer, and on loose, viscous soil. For most cyclists, semi-slick tires are the ideal solution, allowing them to ride almost anywhere. They have good rolling and grip on dry and wet soils and asphalt. This happens due to the fact that water is squeezed out of the contact area into the voids of the tread, which makes the contact area itself drier and more tenacious.

When driving on semi-slick tires, you need to take into account that during sharp turns, the surface area of ​​the wheel in contact with the ground decreases (the wheel seems to rise on the side spikes) and grip decreases, increasing the risk of falling. Usually, novice cyclists begin to “feel the turn” quite quickly.

Correctly selected pressure is important for these tires. With low blood pressure, all benefits are lost. A properly inflated semi-slick should roll on a hard surface with the smooth part of the tread and only on soft ground the side lugs begin to work. At low pressure, the tire will flatten and cling to a hard surface with its side lugs, creating additional resistance and wearing out faster. In general, you can read about what pressure should be in tires.

Mud

Tires with high tread. This usually includes all tires with a rubber stud height on the tread of up to 10 mm. The lugs are hard and tightly spaced. Their rolling is poor, especially on asphalt, but the grip on the ground is much better than on semi-slick tires.

Designed for travel to:

• not very much dirt;
• loose soil;
• sand;
• shallow snow.

Driving on asphalt on such wheels is possible, but not very comfortable. They are noisy, you can’t develop much speed, and the handling is rather weak.

Winter or high mud tires

From can be divided into

1. Tires with high tread teeth, but without metal spikes.

These are tires with a stud height of more than 10 mm.

At the same time, the spikes themselves are not located as often as on the previous ones, which does not allow heavy dirt and snow to get stuck between the spikes. Ideal for traveling through heavy mud, deep snow, and passable swamps. On asphalt and ordinary roads - this is not a trip, but a complete mockery of the body. No roll, speed or grip. Due to the high studs, the contact area is sharply reduced, also worsening the bike's handling. By the way, you won’t be able to ride them on ice either; you need studded tires for that. Often semi-slick tires will feel better on ice, since they have a larger contact surface. In general, these are tires for “gourmets”.

2. Protectors with metal spikes.

This tread is the best option for traveling on ice, very dense snow crust on roads compacted by cars and with constant temperature fluctuations around zero. Either “plus” or “minus”. At this temperature, rain or falling snow constantly melts and freezes, forming an ice crust on the road. In some regions of our country this is even a fairly long period throughout the year.

The spikes themselves are made mainly from pobedite alloys and they can be pointed or blunt. Spikes with a pointed top have good grip on ice, while those with a flat top are great for driving on mud.

When driving on asphalt, flat and pointed spikes eventually become semicircular.

The studs themselves are placed on the rubber in 2, 3 or more rows.

To optimally use all the advantages of studded tires, you need to carefully select the tire pressure.

Tire size and width

As for the tire size, everything is clear here. It is taken according to the size of the rim. But let’s take a closer look at the width.

Rolling up, road grip and cornering control depend on it. The greater the width, the better the road grip and cornering control, but the worse the roll-up. Typically, semi-slick tires are produced with a width of 1.95 inches, while toothed tires most often start at 2.1 inches in width. Manufacturers produce tires different sizes, and you yourself must decide what is more important - rolling or controllability.

Please also note that the wider the tire, the more stable it is, but also the slower it is.

If you are going to mainly drive on less smooth roads, it is better to use tires up to 2 inches wide. If you are going to drive off-road, it is better to take wider tires, more than 2 inches wide.

On road models, narrow tires are installed: 18-27 mm or 1 inch and narrower.

The width of the tire is indicated by the manufacturer on the side of the cord, usually in the same place as the diameter. For example: 26”x2.1” - diameter is 26 inches and width is 2.1 inches.

Markings can also be indicated in millimeters. For example: 700x23 - diameter 700 mm and width 23 mm.

More details about the types of markings, sizes and the interchangeability table for tires of different sizes and manufacturers are described in the article "". The principles of selecting tire width depending on the rim width are described)

I would like to dwell on a few more points

Is it possible to put different tires on different wheels?

Actually front wheel When steering a bicycle, it plays a greater role than the rear. If the skid rear wheel You can compensate, at least by quickly leaning on your leg, but if the front one skids, you will definitely fall. The front wheel has less traction - there is less pressure from the cyclist's weight on it.

Based on the above, you can put more toothy tires on the front wheel than on the rear one. But this only makes sense when traveling on dirt.

If you have a city bike or your trips are limited only to regular roads, then this does not make any sense at all.

This issue is discussed in more detail in a separate article:

Symmetrical and asymmetrical protectors.

Tread patterns are most often symmetrical. But sometimes they are also found specially designed for a specific direction of movement. In this case, the direction of movement of the wheel will be indicated on the tire. If such a tire is installed incorrectly, then instead of a rowing effect, it will result in a sliding one.

For example, the photo below shows such a tire with an arrow indicating the direction of rotation of the wheel after installation on a bicycle.

About how the direction of movement of the wheel is indicated on the tire, what else the manufacturer writes on bicycle tires, as well as what the other numbers on it mean are on our website.

Tire wear

If the tread pattern is worn down to 60%, then such a tire can be moved from the front wheel to the rear. Please note that this can be done only for asphalt and dirt roads. And if there are 10-20% left, then definitely buy a new one.

Tires cannot be changed for driving on mud or off-road. Throw out the worn ones and buy new tires - you will be healthier.

Which camera to choose.

They differ:

• Dimensions;
• nipple type;
• wall thickness;
• the material from which they are made.

The camera is chosen uniquely according to the tire size and the diameter of the hole in the rim for the nipple. The issues involved are covered in more detail in a separate article on our website.

Tire pressure.

To put it very briefly, we can say the following:

When riding a mountain bike in the city and on compacted dirt roads it is 3-3.5 atmospheres, when riding on the ground - 2.5-3 atmospheres.

At the same time, if your weight is more than 80-100 kg, feel free to add another 0.5 atmosphere to the wheels, making sure not to go beyond maximum pressure indicated on the tire.

On road bike- feel free to pump up 3.5-4 atmospheres, again, looking at the limit values.

Remember, you can only find the optimal pressure for yourself after riding a bike for some time. Every cyclist has their own weight and riding style. In this case, the same pressure will be optimal for one person, but too low or high for someone else.

Conclusion

Based on the above description of tread types, it becomes clear that the main type of tires used by most cyclists for riding on city and dirt roads are semi-slicks and slicks. They are the ones on all types of bicycles sold in our country.