Fat Tires 20x4 Road Tread

LewTwo

LewTwo

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OK ... so I have been looking at tricycles (aka granny trikes) with rear differential drives. The ones that I have found that have hydraulic dual disk rear brakes typically have heavy, inefficient, low pressure, spongy, noisy, butt-ugly 20x4 knobby fat tires. I have been looking for some good 20x4 tires with road tread. The closest thing I have found are:
20 x 4.0 inch Fat Tires.jpg

What I was looking for was something with a tread similar to this.
20 x 3.0 inch Fat Tires (Road Tread).jpg
They do not seem to be available in anything wider than 3.5 inch (and being a senile old goat, I do not recall where I saw those).
Suggestions, comments or flames below please ...
 
The first tread you posted isn't necessarily less efficient than the second, the bead type (wire or folding) and carcass construction will be way more important for determining rolling resistance as long as it's reasonably flat. i'd also submit that 20x4 is way overkill for pretty much any application you could think of except e.g. moon roving and there seems to be a solid selection of tires in 20x3 out there including in the tread type you're looking for (but to save weight and rolling resistance i'd prioritize folding over tread). it's also very unlikely you'll have problems mounting a 3" inch tire on whatever rims they have since 4" is probably pushing the width already
 
to expand, look for a folding bead in as high a TPI as possible and no excessive anti-flat layers etc. unless you're prioritizing practicality over speed, but it seemed from the original post that you're seeking performance mostly. i found these which if you can stomach a narrower tire are probably the efficiency champions (folding, 120tpi, 400g each) but there are other folding options in 3 and 4" that came up
 
sandshifter said:
The first tread you posted isn't necessarily less efficient than the second, the bead type (wire or folding) and carcass construction will be way more important for determining rolling resistance. i'd also submit that 20x4 is way overkill for pretty much any application you could think of except e.g. moon roving and there seems to be a solid selection of tires in 20x3 out there including in the tread type you're looking for (but to save weight and rolling resistance i'd prioritize folding over tread). it's also very unlikely you'll have problems mounting a 3" inch tire on whatever rims they have since 4" is probably pushing the width already
Click to expand...
I think that we are in nearly 100% agreement. Both of the examples shown above are of the 'folding variety' without wire beads and with a more or less low pressure, thin carcass. Alas I am looking for an alternative to having to replace rims (36 12 gauge spokes per wheel) or complete wheel assemblies.

Maybe someone out there knows something that I do not (not a big challenge in itself).
 
do you have the rim external/internal diameters? rim widths are much more forgiving that many people assume, as long as they're narrower than the tire you're probably fine
 
sandshifter said:
do you have the rim external/internal diameters? rim widths are much more forgiving that many people assume, as long as they're narrower than the tire you're probably fine
Click to expand...
Negatory ... TheTrikes ships from California but support emails arrive in the early mornings. Prying that type of technical information out of "Chinese" vendors is more difficult that pulling teeth from an angry alligator. First, I remain skeptical that anyone in China knows how to use a ruler or dial calipers (despite the fact most of them are made in China these days). Second, the support person may have never seen one of the units that they are supporting. I suspect the only way to get accurate technical data is buy one and break out the measuring equipment.
 
I've been using 100-406 Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires for a couple thousand kilometers and a few months now. Rolling resistance measures about 0.008 at 1bar/15PSI, so not great, but not terrible either. Don't have an objective way to measure sidewall stiffness, but subjectively much, much softer than the Innova bricks they replaced. One of the five I ordered was out of round enough that I did some janky balancing to the tire/wheel combo, but the others were good enough up to the ~500RPM I use them up to (50kph/31mph or so.) They do make some tread noise, but not objectionable compared to most knobbies.

They do have somewhat less puncture resistance than the Innovas (advertised as having 5mm of rubber armor in the layup,) but I haven't been stranded with thicker tubes + FlatOut sealant on the half dozen or so 16d framing nails the tires have picked up so far.
 
kuromaku said:
I've been using 100-406 Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires for a couple thousand kilometers and a few months now. Rolling resistance measures about 0.008 at 1bar/15PSI, so not great, but not terrible either. Don't have an objective way to measure sidewall stiffness, but subjectively much, much softer than the Innova bricks they replaced. One of the five I ordered was out of round enough that I did some janky balancing to the tire/wheel combo, but the others were good enough up to the ~500RPM I use them up to (50kph/31mph or so.) They do make some tread noise, but not objectionable compared to most knobbies.

They do have somewhat less puncture resistance than the Innovas (advertised as having 5mm of rubber armor in the layup,) but I haven't been stranded with thicker tubes + FlatOut sealant on the half dozen or so 16d framing nails the tires have picked up so far.
Click to expand...
Thank thee. I looked those up:
www.schwalbetires.com

Super Moto-X | Performance | Black-Reflex | 20x4.00 | Addix | 11159604

WIDE, COMFORTABLE, SAFE! Whether travelling on asphalt or trail, the beefy Super Moto-X offers the best riding characteristics and plenty of comfort. The extra-resilient DoubleDefense construction lets you reach your destination safely, even in the tough…
www.schwalbetires.com www.schwalbetires.com
Those look like a massive improvement over the knobbies.

I have not pulled the trigger on the trike yet, but I have a darned itchy trigger finger.
If i do pull the trigger then I think that I may actually first try mounting some 20x3 wire bead street tires.

UPDATE: Trigger pulled.
I have also ordered a single Sunlite UtiliT Seaside 20x3.0 Wire Bead tire and a Heavy Duty 20x3.0 Tube. I will try that on the front wheel first.
 

Attachments

  • Sunlite UtiliT Seaside 20x3.0.jpg
    Sunlite UtiliT Seaside 20x3.0.jpg
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Update:
I mounted the Sunlite Utility 20x3.0 Wire Bead tire on the 86 mm wide (outside) rim for the front wheel. Pumped it up to 40 psi and took a quick loop around the HOA park. No Problem .... and a lot quieter ... but now it is raining. They are a wee bit shorter (smaller OD).

Retraction:
Can not get tire to lock into the relatively non-existent clincher grove of the cheap Chinese single wall steel rim. Tire will not center on Rim.
 
Last edited:
Innova has a hybrid tire made for the super 73 (I think) 20x4-5. Now quality wide rims in 16 or 24…..
 
G8trwood said:
Innova has a hybrid tire made for the super 73 (I think) 20x4-5. Now quality wide rims in 16 or 24…..
Click to expand...
I have ordered a CST BIG BOAT, 20X4.0, 60 TPI tire that Chalo recommended.
shop.csttires.com

BIG BOAT

Experience unbeatable durability and performance with the CST Big Boat Tire, specifically designed for fat bikes. Equipped with a robust Aramid layer, this tire is built to withstand the rigorous demands of e-bikes, providing puncture resistance and peace of mind during your off-road adventures...
shop.csttires.com shop.csttires.com

I will give that one a try but I think the bigger problem may be the wheel assembly:
endless-sphere.com

Wheel Building ... This just looks Wrong

OK ... so I am no master wheel builder, half blind and senile but this just looks wrong to me. I have the crazy idea that spokes should be straight from the hub to the rim ... these ain't. I see bends in the middle and at the nipples. I also would call this '2 cross' configuration(one right next...
endless-sphere.com endless-sphere.com
 
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