“You complete me.” This is what I envision when thinking about wheel/tire combinations. Not really, but choosing the right tire for your wheel does matter. We’ve spent countless hours in the wind tunnel, talking to experts, and understanding the nuances of tires and how they can affect your ride. We’ve designed our wheels with specific tires in mind to create a symbiotic relationship. The wrong tire could cost you 8 minutes on your next Ironman, so what should you look for when selecting a tire?
Tire Selection and Mechanical Efficiency
No wasted watts. Tires are subject to being a watt wasters through heat and sound. As you’ve learned about wheels, to save the most watts (be most efficient/fastest) you need to consider both aerodynamics and rolling resistance, the same goes for tires.
A tires tread pattern and shape influences its aerodynamics.
The tire casing, the layers of the tire that make its structure, influences rolling resistance.
Tires are Like a Three Legged Stool
A three legged stool is sturdy when it has all three legs. Look for a tire with the following:
- Great aerodynamics
- Low rolling resistance
- Great durability
If you lose any of these characteristics in a tire you end up wasting watts or spending a lot of time changing flats.
Tire Durability
Tire durability comes with trade offs. Very durable tires do not cut, tear, or flat easily but tend to have poor rolling resistance numbers.
Very supple tires, come with great rolling resistance but tend to cut, tear, and flat easily.
Choose a tire in the middle of the road. Look for a tire with a casing that lowers rolling resistance and offers good protection AND a rubber that is tough enough not to tear but supple enough for grip.
Wheels & Tires
Good wheel design takes into account tire profiles. A properly designed rim works with a tire profile to help control airflow once it leaves the tire. Most wheel companies will recommend a tire width for their wheels because of this. There needs to be a smooth, reasonable transition from tire to rim.
At FLO, we 3D scan tire profiles and run them through our optimization algorithm to find a rim that works best. We recommend 28mm Continental GP 5000s for the FLO All Sport line. (Size down if the tire is too large for your frame.)
Our Tire Recommendation
Hands down our favorite tire to hit all three legs of the stool is the Continental GP 5000 series of tires. Both the tubed and tubeless versions are incredible tires. This tire alone will save you minutes over your next Ironman.
Wheel 1:1
We could write a book on tire selection but these basics will give you more knowledge than 95% of your competitors. If you’d like to discuss tire selection in detail and learn how to optimize your wheels for your next triathlon feel free to book a Wheel 1 on 1.
Co-founder at FLO Cycling. Jon manages the day to day operations and acts as the lead engineer for all FLO products.