Mavic Aksium tyre - replacement ?

aindriu80

hi

I got a Cannondale super six a few months ago and have put 1600km up on the bike since. I wasn't on the bike for 4 weeks and today I took it out to do 60km. I got a gut feeling the tyre is not so great ( feels slow and heavy). I'm not sure how long a tyre is expected to last ?

The mavic aksium came with the bike so I don't expect it to be top quality and I am thinking of a replacement. Any suggestions ? I don't want to spend too much but do want to get something that is fast. I'm 76kgs 183cm.

Seaneh

Maybe you need to check the pressure?

Mavic Aksiums are wheels not tyres.

They are pretty decent wheels too.

I'd imagine the tyres are something like Continental Ultra Sports or something.

aindriu80

i guess I should call them wheels but I was just thinking of the tyre. Maybe its just the pressure.. i did pump them today but they weren't 100% firm when I got home.

Seaneh

Yeah... sounds like tyre pressure to be honest...


You need a pumo with a gauge.

Wishbone Ash

Seaneh wrote: »

Mavic Aksiums are wheels not tyres

Presumably the OP means the Mavic Aksion tyres (very similar name to the wheel) http://www.mavic.com/en/product/tyres/tyres/tyres/Aksion.

Cookie_Monster

pressure should be up around 120psi
and tyres should last you about 3,000km at the least if they are any good.

Obviously check for wear etc on the thread and sideways beginning to crack or flatspots from skidding and replace if need be.

Continental gp4000 are regarded as one of the best available for decent money
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=15872

aindriu80

thanks very much for the posts. I do think its the tyre and not the wheel, I couldn't envisage replacing the wheel.



I think the wheels/tyre in the above picture are the same ones that came on my bike. I will get the Continental gp4000 when I hit the 3,000km mark

Wishbone Ash

aindriu80 wrote: »

I will get the Continental gp4000 when I hit the 3,000km mark

I don't think you'll get near that distance on the Aksions. I had a pair earlier this year and changed them after a few hundred kms as there were numerous cuts on them and they just didn't inspire any confidence.

(In saying that they were faster than the replacements but I'd be willing to trade some speed for peace of mind, especially for the commute).

RidleyRider

OP- if the tyres are losing pressure it might be a slow puncture, have you tried changing out the tubes?

aindriu80

RidleyRider wrote: »

OP- if the tyres are losing pressure it might be a slow puncture, have you tried changing out the tubes?

I hmm and hmm at it but did not replace the tubes.. I bought a spare set but didn't swap them. I'm not sure how long tubes are expected to last but if they went down at all I would expect them to be flat at some point.

RidleyRider

aindriu80 wrote: »

I hmm and hmm at it but did not replace the tubes.. I bought a spare set but didn't swap them. I'm not sure how long tubes are expected to last but if they went down at all I would expect them to be flat at some point.

I think what you should do is take off the tire and tube, clean the rim for debris and filings from the wheel and that- New bike, you never know. Replace the old tubes with new ones and see if the pressures are consistent.

Pressures will naturally drop anyway, but you'll know yourself if it seems to be an unnatural amount in a short period. Keep them logged each week of how much you started with and how much you had to top them up with.

Note poor quality tires will feel slow and sluggish, when the weather gets fine again and the roads are in a better state, I'd consider buying the Continental GP4000 tires recommended here earlier.

dave_o_brien

aindriu80 wrote: »

I hmm and hmm at it but did not replace the tubes.. I bought a spare set but didn't swap them. I'm not sure how long tubes are expected to last but if they went down at all I would expect them to be flat at some point.

All tubes lose pressure over time. How regularly do you pump your tyres? I would expect a drop of about 10% in my psi every fortnight or so. The Mavic Yksion tyres you seem to have are pretty good, and the wheels you have deserve their rep as being an excellent, solid, all year wheel. It sounds like you just need to monitor your tyre pressure, to be honest.

aindriu80

I have not touched the tyres since I got the bike. I examined them today and the tyres don't seem to have gone down much. I inflated them to almost rock solid and see how things go when I am out later in this week.

I will probably get the Continental GP4000 in the new year. Thanks for the help !

Seaneh

aindriu80 wrote: »

I have not touched the tyres since I got the bike. I examined them today and the tyres don't seem to have gone down much. I inflated them to almost rock solid and see how things go when I am out later in this week.

I will probably get the Continental GP4000 in the new year. Thanks for the help !

If you hadn't touched them before, it was definitely just the pressure.

You need to keep them at about 120psi, buy a pump with a pressure gauge and check check them every few days/once a week. I'd say you will notice an instant improvement when you get back on the bike.

You said it was 4 weeks from the last time you were on it and you noticed them feeling slower. If I left my bike for 4 weeks without checking the tyres they'd be down to about 90-100 psi and I'd notice it the second I started rolling.

Hungrycol

aindriu80 wrote: »

hi

I got a Cannondale super six a few months ago and have put 1600km up on the bike since. I wasn't on the bike for 4 weeks and today I took it out to do 60km. I got a gut feeling the tyre is not so great ( feels slow and heavy). I'm not sure how long a tyre is expected to last ?

The mavic aksium came with the bike so I don't expect it to be top quality and I am thinking of a replacement. Any suggestions ? I don't want to spend too much but do want to get something that is fast. I'm 76kgs 183cm.

Soft tyres is indicative of the softening of the carbon layup used through out the frame. You might get another 5 or 6 kms out of the bike as a whole but to be on the safe side you better off selling to someone who can reintegrate the unidirectional high density fibre regularly. Its one of the overlooked problems of modern bikes, if the tyres go it can lead almost immediately to a multi-directional nano fibre layup softening.

I'll take the bike off your hands for €100, in fact, say €120 cos you're a boardsie. I have the specialist equipment that fits me. Just on me and I'll collect it at the weekend.

Seaneh

Hungrycol wrote: »

Soft tyres is indicative of the softening of the carbon layup used through out the frame. You might get another 5 or 6 kms out of the bike as a whole but to be on the safe side you better off selling to someone who can reintegrate the unidirectional high density fibre regularly. Its one of the overlooked problems of modern bikes, if the tyres go it can lead almost immediately to a multi-directional nano fibre layup softening.

I'll take the bike off your hands for €100, in fact, say €120 cos you're a boardsie. I have the specialist equipment that fits me. Just on me and I'll collect it at the weekend.

I'll beat Hungrycol's offer by a tenner.

RidleyRider

Seaneh wrote: »

I'll beat Hungrycol's offer by a tenner.

130.01 euro and not a penny more;)

aindriu80

thanks very much for the post but longer term I was looking at the tyres themselves.

aindriu80

I pumped the tyres rock solid today and they were much better, thanks !!

Wishbone Ash

aindriu80 wrote: »

I pumped the tyres rock solid today

Did you use a pump with gauge? Otherwise you could be over inflating them.

aindriu80

no gauge but left a pinch in the tyres

aindriu80

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I don't think you'll get near that distance on the Aksions. I had a pair earlier this year and changed them after a few hundred kms as there were numerous cuts on them and they just didn't inspire any confidence.

(In saying that they were faster than the replacements but I'd be willing to trade some speed for peace of mind, especially for the commute).

The exact same thing happened with my Aksium. Recently I got 3 punctures in a relatively short space of time. The tyres are cut up against the rims of my bike and they started doing that a while ago. These tyres are crap.

I had to cycle home on a flat - hopefully that's ok on the rims. I will have to replace them sooner than later... I only got less than 2500km out of them.

AltAccount

You need to go on a bicycle maintenance course. Like right now.

Go!

Dotsie~tmp

You cycle home on a flat on a ~1700 quid carbon bike? I know nothing but I know not to do that. Get some spare tubes, tyre levers and good mini pump. Then a saddle bag to put them in. You must be rich, can I have some money?

ford2600

Merlin cycles have good prices on new wheels at moment. You'll need one

aindriu80 wrote: »

The exact same thing happened with my Aksium. Recently I got 3 punctures in a relatively short space of time. The tyres are cut up against the rims of my bike and they started doing that a while ago. These tyres are crap.

I had to cycle home on a flat - hopefully that's ok on the rims. I will have to replace them sooner than later... I only got less than 2500km out of them.

mirv

The reason the tyres are cut up near the rim is because you've been riding them grossly under inflated. It'll happen to any tyre no matter how expensive they are. It is definitely nothing to do with the quality of the tyres and entirely your own fault.

You also need to buy a pump with a gauge as 'rock solid' by pinching it isn't accurate in the slightest. You wouldn't be able to tell 70-80psi from 140psi from just your thumb and fingers alone.

A track pump can be as cheap as 15e, and taking care of your wheels and tyres costs nothing except 1 minute of your time per spin.

Also, spin the tyres and look for little bits of glass and stones in the cuts of the tyres and pick them out with a pocket knife. This occurs with every tyre and you will definitely have less punctures if you do this. Otherwise complaining about getting flats if you've glass in your tyres is like complaining about having a sore finger without picking out the splinters in it!

aindriu80 wrote: »

The exact same thing happened with my Aksium. Recently I got 3 punctures in a relatively short space of time. The tyres are cut up against the rims of my bike and they started doing that a while ago. These tyres are crap.

I had to cycle home on a flat - hopefully that's ok on the rims. I will have to replace them sooner than later... I only got less than 2500km out of them.

aindriu80

I'm well aware of what can happen a rim and a wheel if the tube is flat but that is not my concern.

I spent a while this evening going over everything and apart from the tyre everything is excellent condition.

I had maybe a lower amount of tyre pressure in the beginning as I didn't want to cause problems but then inflated more recently for better speed/support but the rims were always black from the tyres no matter what I did. That's the way I cycle and can't change my body shape but I was told in the LBS that I would just get the winter out of them.

I bought a mini pump from http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ and it was crap. It would just not pump up any wheel.

I took the Alksium tyres out and turned them inside out. They look totally smooth on the inside. I can't belive it. Well I am just going to replace them on wiggle.co.uk

DirkVoodoo

Oh dear...

PICS of GTFO!

aindriu80

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Oh dear...

PICS of GTFO!

?

DirkVoodoo

aindriu80 wrote: »

?

Internet Slang

Show us the condition of your Wheels!

aindriu80

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Internet Slang

Show us the condition of your Wheels!

I know what it means but I would say the same to you.

The wheels are fine.

DirkVoodoo

I think you are confusing everyone, you keep referring to the wheels, but it seems to be your tyres are worn?

At any rate, you need to buy a proper floor/track pump with a road bike.

After that, you need to make sure you are running the correct pressure for your tyre width and body weight.

Then, learn to replace an inner tube. Carry either a decent mini-pump, CO2 or enough money to phone home.

I'm guessing English is not your first language, which isn't helping the confusion, thus the request for a photo. If we were able to see the condition of your tyres, it might help.

So far you have described perfectly functional but under inflated tyres that you want to replace on wiggle to solve whatever problems you are having. But it doesn't sound like it will. To me, it sounds like you are getting pinch flats from running...wait for it...under-inflated tyres.

Dotsie~tmp

www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/pumps-pumps-mini-road-topeak-morph-turbo-w-gauge-mini-pump/topepumr290000000000

Buy this pump. As long as you are not a weakling you should get to 120 without much struggl plus its frame mountable or portable. Add in 2 new inner tubes to the order.

Use youtube for videos on how to change tyres/tubes, mend holes and clean your bike. Thats how I did it.

aindriu80

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I think you are confusing everyone, you keep referring to the wheels, but it seems to be your tyres are worn?

At any rate, you need to buy a proper floor/track pump with a road bike.

After that, you need to make sure you are running the correct pressure for your tyre width and body weight.

Then, learn to replace an inner tube. Carry either a decent mini-pump, CO2 or enough money to phone home.

I'm guessing English is not your first language, which isn't helping the confusion, thus the request for a photo. If we were able to see the condition of your tyres, it might help.

So far you have described perfectly functional but under inflated tyres that you want to replace on wiggle to solve whatever problems you are having. But it doesn't sound like it will. To me, it sounds like you are getting pinch flats from running...wait for it...under-inflated tyres.

I am only talking about tyres. I did mention the wheels but I did not mean to bring them up.

I will get the floor pump but thought a mini pump would have more use.

I know how to replace a tube and have done quite a few. But I have been unlucky lately.

English is my first language but use a few Irish words.

So far I have been trying to figure out if the tyres that came with the bike should be replaced. I can appreciate if all my posts are incoherent but I couldn't care less.

Thanks for the help.

mirv

I don't mean to be condescending but are you sure you know the difference between the terms; wheel, rim and tyre?

A wheel is the rim including the hub and spokes. A rim is just the metal circular band which supports the tyre.

My point was if you run an under inflated tyre you can squish and crack the sidewall (the part of the tyre in between where the tread of the tyre contacts the ground, and the braking surface of the rim). If you cycle home on a flat tyre, you're pretty much guaranteeing that you ruin the tyre that you cycled home on, and that you risk denting the rim if you hit any potholes or bumps on the way back.

I don't understand how the tyre would affect the rim and cause it to become black. I assume you mean the braking track of the rim right? The tyre shouldn't touch the rim except at the bead of the tyre and the hook and very outermost circumference of the rim. It shouldn't obscure the braking track at all. If there's black on your rims it's most likely a combination of road dirt, rubber and bits of oxidised aluminium.

I really think you should do your homework and perhaps do a bike course so you get an idea of what sort of tyre width and pressure you should be running as well as general repair skills so you can get the most out of your machine. If you're a heavier rider then you might want to run 25mm or 28mm tyres and you can do so at lower pressures of 80-100psi which provide a cushier ride. But most importantly get a pump with a pressure gauge and use it often and consistently. A pinch test is nearly useless - but if you look at how much the tyre flattens when you have your weight on the bike you can use that to judge whether you have enough pressure. Too much pressure can equally be bad for the the rims, tyre, tube and your ride quality as you'll be bouncing everywhere instead of absorbing the bumps.

DirkVoodoo

aindriu80 wrote: »

I am only talking about tyres. I did mention the wheels but I did not mean to bring them up.

I will get the floor pump but thought a mini pump would have more use.

I know how to replace a tube and have done quite a few. But I have been unlucky lately.

English is my first language but use a few Irish words.

So far I have been trying to figure out if the tyres that came with the bike should be replaced. I can appreciate if all my posts are incoherent but I couldn't care less.

Thanks for the help.

Fair enough. You've been told more or less the same thing by a few different people, it's up to you whether to take it or leave it.

Personally, I wouldn't consider 2500km to be high-mileage on a bike tyre unless they were cut to shreds from glass or other road debris, so I can't understand why you think they need replacing.

Again, you were asked about the condition of the tyres and seemed to indicate that when you ran your finger inside them, there was nothing that might cause a repeat puncture.

Are there large visible cuts on the tyre tread? Ones that you can put a fingernail in?

If not, then again this all points to not pumping up your tyres. Yes, a mini-pump is a lot more useful...on the road. Your problem seems to be most likely one of prevention, and if you had a track pump at home you could get your tyres up to pressure and GREATLY reduce the likelihood of getting a puncture through anything other than bad luck.

aindriu80

mirv wrote: »

I don't mean to be condescending but are you sure you know the difference between the terms; wheel, rim and tyre?

A wheel is the rim including the hub and spokes. A rim is just the metal circular band which supports the tyre.

My point was if you run an under inflated tyre you can squish and crack the sidewall (the part of the tyre in between where the tread of the tyre contacts the ground, and the braking surface of the rim). If you cycle home on a flat tyre, you're pretty much guaranteeing that you ruin the tyre that you cycled home on, and that you risk denting the rim if you hit any potholes or bumps on the way back.

I don't understand how the tyre would affect the rim and cause it to become black. I assume you mean the braking track of the rim right? The tyre shouldn't touch the rim except at the bead of the tyre and the hook and very outermost circumference of the rim. It shouldn't obscure the braking track at all. If there's black on your rims it's most likely a combination of road dirt, rubber and bits of oxidised aluminium.

I really think you should do your homework and perhaps do a bike course so you get an idea of what sort of tyre width and pressure you should be running as well as general repair skills so you can get the most out of your machine. If you're a heavier rider then you might want to run 25mm or 28mm tyres and you can do so at lower pressures of 80-100psi which provide a cushier ride. But most importantly get a pump with a pressure gauge and use it often and consistently. A pinch test is nearly useless - but if you look at how much the tyre flattens when you have your weight on the bike you can use that to judge whether you have enough pressure. Too much pressure can equally be bad for the the rims, tyre, tube and your ride quality as you'll be bouncing everywhere instead of absorbing the bumps.

Yes I am aware of the different terms and what they mean. I did try to have things set properly but it did not work out. I will ensure that I have the exact psi and will get a new Continental GP4000 Tyres.

DirkVoodoo

aindriu80 wrote: »

Yes I am aware of the different terms and what they mean. I did try to have things set properly but it did not work out. I will ensure that I have the exact psi and will get a new Continental GP4000 Tyres.

I'd say try correct PSI for at least one or two rides before buying new tyres, for which there may be no need.

mirv

I reckon he's probably killed his set of Aksions from general riding on low pressures and he's definitely killed the one he rode back home on a flat. Perhaps he should get a sturdier tyre in a 25/28mm width - maybe a folding Conti Gatorskin HardShell or a Vittoria Rubino Pro or a Schwalbe Durano/Stelvio. He'll just end up killing a GP4000s in 23mm quickly as it's a racy thin and narrow tyre that probably won't put up with bad habits.

aindriu80

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

I'd say try correct PSI for at least one or two rides before buying new tyres, for which there may be no need.

I am going to get new tyres as I don't want to damage the bike.

DirkVoodoo

aindriu80 wrote: »

I am going to get new tyres as I don't want to damage the bike.

Again...what? How bad are your current tyres? I just want to know what is wrong with them, I'm being murdered by my own curiosity here!!!

I keep picturing shredded tyres rolling off your rims. Can I at least see a pic of them? Or can I buy your old tyres???

aindriu80

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Again...what? How bad are your current tyres? I just want to know what is wrong with them, I'm being murdered by my own curiosity here!!!

I keep picturing shredded tyres rolling off your rims. Can I at least see a pic of them? Or can I buy your old tyres???

I did cycle on one of them flat. The sidewall on the rear tyre does not look great.

Darkglasses

aindriu80 wrote: »

I am going to get new tyres as I don't want to damage the bike.

Keeping your tires fully inflated is the most important step you can take to ensuring you don't damage your wheels.

mirv

Well you won't damage your bike running worn tyres unless you puncture and crash :P.

If you have a look at the tube which punctured and you see two holes in the inner tube side-by-side that's called a snake bite puncture or a pinch flat. It's caused by hitting a bump with too low tyre pressure and causing the rim to puncture the inner tube without an external object like a nail or pin penetrating the tyre. Look at pictures 3 and 6 here:

https://www.google.ie/search?q=pinch+flat&aq=f&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=1m9PUYTOIOHT7Ab60oCoCQ&biw=1440&bih=775&sei=229PUfWeO_Kh7Aag9YHQBQ#imgrc=_

aindriu80

mirv wrote: »

Well you won't damage your bike running worn tyres unless you puncture and crash :P.

If you have a look at the tube which punctured and you see two holes in the inner tube side-by-side that's called a snake bite puncture or a pinch flat. It's caused by hitting a bump with too low tyre pressure and causing the rim to puncture the inner tube without an external object like a nail or pin penetrating the tyre. Look at pictures 3 and 6 here:

https://www.google.ie/search?q=pinch+flat&aq=f&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=1m9PUYTOIOHT7Ab60oCoCQ&biw=1440&bih=775&sei=229PUfWeO_Kh7Aag9YHQBQ#imgrc=_

I see that, I don't think I hit anything at too low of a pressure.