Marathon Supremes

[lewis noble]

Hello everyone - I am fitting 26 x 2 Marathon Supremes prior to a spell of pretty well 100% road riding over the next few weeks . . . .

Unless I've missed it in the poor light in my garage, no direction arrow is on the tyre.  But, looking at the tread, I guess you fit it so that the 'head of the arrow', at the central peak of the tyre, hits the ground first??

That way the water gets squeeezed out to the sides?? 

As I think Dan once said, the only silly question is one that goes unasked when in doubt . . . . . .

Good luck, by the way, Dan!!

Lewis

[Lemming]

That's how I have always fitted them and the Marathon winter (studded ones) do have a 'rotation' arrow showing the same thing.

Not that I am convinced that it makes any difference!

[David Simpson]

Ron's new bike has the Supremes, and here are some photos showing the tread direction:

http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=8949.msg61637#msg61637

- Dave

[Danneaux]

Good luck, by the way, Dan!!

Thanks so much, Lewis!

For what it is worth, I've always followed the "directional" requirements for automobile tires when mounting ones of similar design on my bikes. I mount them so I see an inverted "V" (arrow pointing straight ahead) when I look down at the top of the tire when I'm astride the bike. The car-tire makers advise this is indeed the preferred direction to assure water is pumped away from the contact patch.

I've long been a fan of Formula One auto racing, and those directional rain tires mount the same direction and can pump enormous volumes of water off the track, causing the racing line to dry faster than the rest of the course. Bridgestone once said...

Whilst the wet tyre is capable of displacing in the region of 34 litres per second per car, the extreme wet can displace almost double this at 61 litres per second, with these figures dependant on the speed travelled and amount of water on the track.

See: https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071204235254AAAtntM

Wow.

Of course, if a mechanical link between tire and dirt is unneeded, a slick can work as well and perhaps better than a treaded one on pavement in the wet for bicycles: http://sheldonbrown.com/brandt/slicks.html

All the best,

Dan. (...who really, *really* hopes his contact-lenses arrive later today and with the right prescription, 'cos the new eyeglasses still aren't right after a re-do and it is too late for another attempt before departure)

[lewis noble]

Thanks for the replies and the links, guys.

Will be fitting them soon.

Lewis

[Danneaux]

Lewis,

Here's Schwalbe's take on tire tread "directionality": http://www.schwalbetires.com/tech_info/tire_tread#direction

What do the direction arrows mean?
Most SCHWALBE tire sidewalls are marked with a "Drive" arrow, which indicates the recommended rolling direction. When in use, the tire should run in the direction of the arrow.

Many MTB tires are marked with a "Front" and a "Rear" arrow. The "Front" arrow indicates the recommended rolling direction for the front wheel and respectively the "Rear" arrow is the direction for the rear wheel.


Why are there so many tires with direction arrows?
In road tires, a tread with a rolling direction generally provides a slight reduction in rolling resistance. In addition to this, aesthetic considerations can also be important.

Off road, rolling direction is far more important, as the tread ensures optimum connection between the tire and the ground. The rear wheel transmits the driving force and the front wheel transmits the braking and steering forces.

Driving and braking forces operate in different directions so this is why certain tires are fitted in opposite rolling directions when used as front and rear tires. There are also treads without a specified rolling direction.

Jags suggests...

dont forget to sprinkle talc into inside

I do always talc my tubes, finding it helps in seating the tubes and prevented pinch flats when mounting the tire beads. Not everyone agrees, however, and that includes Jobst Brandt: http://sheldonbrown.com/brandt/talcum.html

Best,

Dan.