Tyre squirm

[tinkerer]

I recently dug out my nice light titanium hardtail complete with nice light Continental Competition Pro 2 tyres. Sadly I found the tyres that worked well when I was a svelte 11 stone squirmed around unpleasantly during cornering now that I am a more 'mature' rider (about 14 stone). I guess this sort of thing is common amongst retrobikers. I know the best solution is to diet back down to ones racing weight but if I'm too lazy to do this, can anyone recommend a reasonably light modern xc tyre that doesn't squirm around under the burden of the fuller figured rider?

 

[retroyetirigid]

What sort of pressures do you run ? Tried upping them a bit ?

 

[tinkerer]

Yes, I've put them up to the maximum official pressure for the tyres (65psi) but the front tyre still wobbles around quite alarmingly especially when coming downhill and trying to turn. The Continental Comp Pro 2s are very well made and have hardly been used but they are quite an old and primitive design and maybe sidewall technology is better these days. But I don't know as I haven't bought new tyres for years.

 

[Tallpaul]

What fork are you using?

 

[tinkerer]

I'm using a Judy Race 2000 - again nice and light and retro. I don't have any experience with modern forks so it might be a bit flexible adding to the problem but it certainly is plush, generally performing well and doesn't flex much visibly.

 

[Tallpaul]

65 psi seems crazy unless you are riding on tarmac, I'd expect them to be very sketchy as they'd just bounce off everything they hit. I run pressures more like 35-40 psi on narrow XC tyres and find that they provide a good balance of grip and shock absorption.

I've experienced poor front wheel tracking due to flexy forks, the worst being '95 Judy's and '96 RC-36's. But even my 2008 SIDs were a bit crap in that respect.

If the issue is unique to that bike and you've played with different pressures then I'd swap on some tyres from another bike and see what happens...

 

[tinkerer]

Thanks - that's a good point. I went for 65psi on the basis that it might stiffen up the tyre carcass a bit but I'll drop the pressure down and see how it goes.

 

[REKIBorter]

Conti Pro 2's are a paddle tread, aren't they? 65 psi will give zero grip no wonder they are sliding around.

 

[legrandefromage]

whats the width of your rims?

 

[mikee]

WTB velociraptors
crc are doing them for £12 each at the moment

maybe your tyres are suffering thru age