Why Use A Turbo Trainer Tyre?

Specific turbo trainer tyres use special compounds designed to stop the tyre from overheating and make it last longer. They also have a smoother surface. So that you get a better connection to the trainer and can use your power more efficiently.

How do Turbo Trainer Tyres work?

Most turbo trainers, other than direct drive ones, have a roller that your rear tyre sits on. It is the contact between your tyre and the roller that provides resistance. Giving you the feeling that you are pedalling against something.

The constant friction between the roller and the tyre will generate a lot more heat than you would ever get in a normal road cycling situation. As a result, standard road bike tyres will quickly start to overheat and will then wear very quickly. We have seen people destroy normal road cycling tyres within a few weeks when using them on a turbo trainer. If you do this to a set of Kevlar folding types, a winter of turbo training will be very expensive.

The turbo trainer specific tyres are made of a compound that can handle the heat more effectively and which does not wear as quickly. They will also have a smooth surface to give maximum contact with the trainer.

As you don’t need to worry about grip in corners or damp road surfaces on a turbo trainer. The turbo trainer specific tyres can do away with any surface features. This does mean that turbo trainer specific tyres can’t be used outside. One of the reasons why they are normally a bright colour. If you are going to be using your bike inside and outside during the winter. It makes sense to invest in a cheap spare wheel so you are not constantly having to change tyres and pump them up.

Most of the turbo trainer manufacturers produce their own tyres. Quite a few tyre companies are also now doing turbo trainer tyres. The two turbo trainer specific tyres that we recommend are the ones from CycleOps and Schwalbe.

What Turbo Trainer Tyre should I buy?

Available in yellow or black the CycleOps tyre is designed for use with their own range of turbo trainers. It is designed to be super durable but also to be as quiet as possible so you don’t disturb the whole house while doing your training.

The Minoura Dualist (made by Panaracer) is one of the only turbo trainer tyres that can also be used outside. So if you don’t have spare wheels and can’t be bothered with the faff of swapping tyres this is the one to go for.