Gatorskin + Zondas

omri

Yup so I pulled the trigger on pair of zondas + gatorskins. And have couple of questions:

1) I checked the tyres and can't see any markings of rotation direction on them, so they have - it has some strange triangular tread however so can someone advise me should the small triangle be infront first or the big one ?



2) It probably doesn't matter but on the hub there is a little cap with the screw on one side - so which way should the wheel be oriented - should that be on the left or right?

3) Gatorskin name on the tyre - I think I read somewhere that the common practice is that the logo/markings on the tyre should be positioned on the oposite side of the valve - true or false ?

Cheers.

XtotheZ

3) logo over the valve, makes it easier to find and looks in someway neat

torydiver

omri wrote: »

Yup so I pulled the trigger on pair of zondas + gatorskins. And have couple of questions:

1) I checked the tyres and can't see any markings of rotation direction on them, so they have - it has some strange triangular tread however so can someone advise me should the small triangle be infront first or the big one ?



Should be rotation arrow on sidewall. But you are right that small triangle in front of large.

Hunterbiker

I have the smaller triangles in front and haven't had a problem.

Eamonnator

Q. 2
I aligned the decal on the front hub, so that it faces the same direction,as the decal on the rear hub.
It does matter.

letape

Eamonnator wrote: »

Q. 2
I aligned the decal on the front hub, so that it faces the same direction,as the decal on the rear hub.
It does matter.

Exactly! I think the side with the small Allen key bolt will be on the non-drive side front and rear.

happytramp

I felt strongly that it didn't matter which way the triangles pointed. 'Holyboy' from Beecycles said they should point forward. I ignored his advice..... two days later my bike slipped on a twig and I broke my leg. Probably had nothing to do with the direction but i'd probably point them forward if I got them again

omri

happytramp wrote: »

I felt strongly that it didn't matter which way the triangles pointed. 'Holyboy' from Beecycles said they should point forward. I ignored his advice..... two days later my bike slipped on a twig and I broke my leg. Probably had nothing to do with the direction but i'd probably point them forward if I got them again

And now I will have to buy different tyres

omri

One more thing - should I put some grease on the QR axle before sliding it into the hub?

And on the threaded part of the QR axle and/or the tightening nut?

Brian?

omri wrote: »

One more thing - should I put some grease on the QR axle before sliding it into the hub?

And on the threaded part of the QR axle and/or the tightening nut?

Grease it all lightly.

Wishbone Ash

omri wrote: »

someone advise me should the small triangle be in front first or the big one ?...

torydiver wrote: »

... But you are right that small triangle in front of large.

Hunterbiker wrote: »

I have the smaller triangles in front and haven't had a problem.

:eek: I didn't know that!

**rushes out to shed to check fixie**

So when I flip the rear wheel, I have to rotate tyre also?

Wishbone Ash

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

**rushes out to shed to check fixie**

The front wheel was correct but the back was back to front. (Although if I flip it to single speed it will be ok).

omri

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

The front wheel was correct but the back was back to front. (Although if I flip it to single speed it will be ok).

If you have an option to flip the wheel then yes. However in the back of your mind you will forever know that your wheel is rotating in the wrong direction after flipping it

Can you live/ride with that ??

omri

torydiver wrote: »

Should be rotation arrow on sidewall. But you are right that small triangle in front of large.

I checked few times and could not see the arrow anywhere. I don't think there is any marking of this type on these - unless I'm totally blind now.

Wishbone Ash

omri wrote: »

I checked few times and could not see the arrow anywhere. I don't think there is any marking of this type on these - unless I'm totally blind now.

I,ve never seen a rotational arrow on them either.

Hunterbiker

Mine don't have any directional markings on them. When I was putting them on I looked at the pic online and just put them in so they matched the pic.

BadCharlie

I did some reading on this about 6month ago, because when fitting new tyres was wondering which way around. From what I found on the internet it does not matter what directing you fit them. Continental was said to put an arrow so to stop people ringing up customer service asking what way I should fit my new tyres.

omri

I will have to refit one of the tyres as the the valve is not exactly in the middle of the "gatorskin" marking - I shouldve used a ruler in the first place - would save me a lot of time...

DaithiMC

omri wrote: »

I will have to refit one of the tyres as the the valve is not exactly in the middle of the "gatorskin" marking - I shouldve used a ruler in the first place - would save me a lot of time...

Does "OCD" also stand for "Obsessive Cycling Disorder"?

To OP - on other types of Gatorskins there is an arrow but it is really, really difficult to see, its a slightly raised bump on the black part of the tyre wall so it doesn't contrast with the tyre background making it almost impossible to see. On the one I eventually found, the smaller triangles were forward of the larger in the direction of travel. This probably also makes it look in harmony with the universe and consistent with the OCD theme!

kenmc

The other option is to take a sharp razor blade and gently enlarge the small triangles so that there are now two large triangles, pointing in perfect symmetry, thus creating an omni-directional wheel.



Oh wait, that was yesterday.

letape

kenmc wrote: »

The other option is to take a sharp razor blade and gently enlarge the small triangles so that there are now two large triangles, pointing in perfect symmetry, thus creating an omni-directional wheel.



Oh wait, that was yesterday.

I think you mean an "omri"-directional wheel?

Colonel Panic

I'm pretty sure there's an arrow on Gatorskins for direction.

omri

letape wrote: »

I think you mean an "omri"-directional wheel?

Or omni-directional..

kenmc wrote: »

The other option is to take a sharp razor blade and gently enlarge the small triangles so that there are now two large triangles, pointing in perfect symmetry, thus creating an omni-directional wheel.



Oh wait, that was yesterday.

That is another option although the thread consists of triangle and some dots inside which might prove quite difficult to replicate.

Woody_FX

My good buddy Sheldon Brown reckons threads are meaningless on road tyres and you'll get better grip from a slick tyre.

http://sheldonbrown.com/tyres.html#tread