Turbo trainer tyres

Why use a dedicated turbo trainer tyre

This range is only for than wheel-on turbo trainers, which press a roller against the rear wheel. A direct-drive trainer has no rear wheel, so there is no tyre to protect.

What the roller does to a road tyre

The roller presses on one spot with considerable force, with no airflow to cool the tyre and no change in where it contacts the tread. A standard road tyre heats up, the rubber breaks down, patches of tread wear smooth — and black dust ends up all around the trainer. An hour’s session damages a tyre you intended to use outdoors.

What makes a turbo trainer tyre different

• A hard, heat-resistant rubber compound, which does not crumble on contact with the roller.
• A smooth tread, with no unnecessary tread pattern, which helps reduce noise.
• A often distinctive colour — blue or red — that helps prevent you fitting it by mistake for a road ride: it has no grip on wet tarmac.

Which size

The most common size is 700x23C or 700x25C, but the range also includes 35-622 and 29x1.35 sizes for gravel bikes and mountain bikes used on wheel-on trainers. Choose a width your rim can accommodate, not necessarily the width of your usual tyre.

The best approach

The easiest option is to keep a complete rear wheel dedicated to the turbo trainer, complete with its tyre and cassette. You can switch between indoor and outdoor riding in thirty seconds, without removing or reinflating anything.

To find out more: How to choose a turbo trainer

See also: Turbo trainers and rollers · Turbo trainer parts and accessories · Road tyres