Front tyres

[rick howell]

I have a new rider trying his luck on the Exeter main trial starting from Crealy. He's never ridden competitive events before (though may have done by the time the Exeter arrives) and has an MT43 rear but a Michelin Enduro front tyre - it has no entire cross gaps but the spacing of the tread is more open than, say, an MT43. He's not worried about prizes or medals

Problem?

Rick

[Paul K]

It depends which particular tyre is fitted, i.e. Enduro 21, 1E, Comp 6, etc.  Best thing is to email The MCC Competition Secretary at dickpeachey@talktalk.net and ask the question. It might help if you can add a link to an image of the particular tyre.

The bike tyre specification was amended at the last meeting of the Executive Committee so that the tyres for use in class C can now be used in all bike classes. The tyre specification is being looked at again to see if it can be simplified further.

[Jason Potts]

So what is the new ruling on tyre specifications Paul?

[Jason Potts]

So where it states 'Class C only' this is now extended to ALL classes?

That's good news because im using a Bridgestone trailwing on my class B Honda. Only fitted this because I was really struggling to find a tyre that would fit. I was worried I would get told no by the scrutineers.

[Stephen Bailey]

Figure if they are OK for Class C then they should be OK for the other Classes.... 

[Stephen Bailey]

Class D & E as well?

[Jason Potts]

It is an SL230 yes. All the trials tyres I looked at are too deep in profile. Width is no problem but they have a weird tubeless rim and a really short swinging arm. I have a brand new Mitas ET-01 4.00-18 but when I fitted it I found that the tyre fouled the back of the swing arm and I was restricted on chain adjustment. I couldn't actually get the chain to the correct tension. Add a link and it's on full adjustment and still slack, remove the link and it's tight and fouling the back of the swing arm. hence my frustration. It's supposed to have a 120/80 18 tubeless on. I've fitted a 120/80 18 Bridgestone trailwing with a tube. It fits perfect but is very low profile so I won't be going too low on the tyre pressure.

[David (tufty) White]

How about adding the link and going one tooth bigger on the sprocket?

[Jason Potts]

I changed front and rear sprockets and messed about with chain links. I could get it to the correct tension but the moment the chain stretches I'll have next to bugger all adjustment. The best solution is to fit the correct size tyre, so that's what I did. Hope this trailwing has enough grip. It will be good enough to get me to the finish and that's all I care about.

[Stephen Bailey]

As Ian says...… Try Half a link....

[Jason Potts]

Tried, no good.

It doesn't change the fact that the tyre is too big for the swing arm. Setting of at the start of a trial with the wheel almost all the way to the back of the slot with no means of adjusting the chain other than messing about taking links or half links out isn't for me. Especially in the dark with numb fingers and rain running down my back. You've only got to lose the clip and its trial over.

Thanks for the advice though guys and hopefully catch up with you on the Exeter.

[Paul K]

So where it states 'Class C only' this is now extended to ALL classes?

That's good news because im using a Bridgestone trailwing on my class B Honda. Only fitted this because I was really struggling to find a tyre that would fit. I was worried I would get told no by the scrutineers.

You're now ok to use the Bridgestone Trail Wing 302 in any bike class.  I discussed the matter with Dick Peachey (Competition Secretary) today.  The SSR 2019 will be amended at some time to reflect that extension, but you will be ok for the Exeter Trial 2019.

The Trail Wing is a range of tyres, available in a variety of tread patterns.  The pattern specifically mentioned by the MCC for use in all bike classes is the TW302. Other Trail Wing tread patterns would be acceptable provided that their tread pattern was no more 'aggressive' than the current class C tyres, which are the TW302, Continental TKC 80, Michelin T63, Dunlop 603, or Kenda 270.

Hope that helps.

[Jason Potts]

Welcome back Paul, been any where nice?

[Paul K]

A bit off-topic, but since you ask .  Spent four nights in Paris .  Apparently, there were riots by the 'gilet jaune', but all we saw was a bunch of riot police on foot and horseback, milling about, then a ramshackle load of 'gilet jaune', ambling down the boulevard .  All the teargas, fires and excitement was somewhere else.

Loads of bikes and scooters tearing around.  Saw a couple of nice-looking Moto Guzzis and a few, neat, Mash motorcycles http://www.mash-motors.fr/en/203-motorcycles , looked interesting as an MCC trailer.

[Stephen Bailey]

The pattern specifically mentioned by the MCC for use in all bike classes is the TW302. Other Trail Wing tread patterns would be acceptable provided that their tread pattern was no more 'aggressive' than the current class C tyres, which are the TW302, Continental TKC 80, Michelin T63, Dunlop 603, or Kenda 270.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Paul. Very useful information.