Tannus tyres

bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
Have fitted a pair to cyclotricity revolver. Very reassuring. Definitely a harder ride. Fitting requires a bit of muscle, but is perfectly doable. Main problem on my rear wheel is that the internal rim width is beyond the scope of Tannus supplied plastic pins. So I had to make 36 custom size. So its been two weeks and so far so good.... Pricey at £59 each (26" wheels), but having had multiple punctures and replaced tyres, tubes, fitted liners etc I have prob almost spent the same amount already, only to still get flats.! Great idea from Tannus.
 

Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
I'm quite intrigued by these and would be interested to know how you get on with them.
I would be prepared to sacrifice a bit of comfort to get a puncture free cycling life, not to mention never having to carry a repair kit, tubes and the associated tools.
With the hassle of a puncture with a hub motor, especially a rear hub motor, i'm surprised there isn't more interest in these tyres on here.
 
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bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
Yamdude - same reasons I switched. They are great. My son is doing 22mile round trip each day and cannot afford to get flats. After the initial change of feeling from not very well pumped up tyres and tube's you forget they are on. If you Google Tannus tyre reviews there is very little not to like apart from the initial cost. Delivery was about a week from ordering...
 
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bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
Just to add that I use the bike unpowered at the weekends for a short local ride with my 8 yr old and they roll just fine. Longevity is the only thing I can't advise on. I will update when they have more miles on them...
 
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Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
Another plus for me, would be not having to check pressures and pump up tyres, something i'm seeming to always have to do every time i take my bike out.
Not sure i'd put them on my hybrid, as i go over pretty rough ground with it and the 700x45 that are on there give a good ride for this.
But as i'm after a flat bar road Ebike, either ready built or conversion, i may well give these Tannus a try when i get it.
The only downsides i can see, is that its an expensive trial at over £100 a pair if i dont like them.... and it doesn't look like you can swop em to other bikes once they are fitted ?
Any idea if they can be removed (without damaging them) to put them on another rim ?
 

bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
Another plus for me, would be not having to check pressures and pump up tyres, something i'm seeming to always have to do every time i take my bike out.
Not sure i'd put them on my hybrid, as i go over pretty rough ground with it and the 700x45 that are on there give a good ride for this.
But as i'm after a flat bar road Ebike, either ready built or conversion, i may well give these Tannus a try when i get it.
The only downsides i can see, is that its an expensive trial at over £100 a pair if i dont like them.... and it doesn't look like you can swop em to other bikes once they are fitted ?
Any idea if they can be removed (without damaging them) to put them on another rim ?
Yes you can remove, but would just need to buy a bag of new pins as they would likely be damaged during removal. The pins are only a couple of £s.
 
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RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,312
I've read generally positive - but still mixed - reports of Tannus tyres.

No doubt they are light years ahead of previous solid tyres which were all but useless on anything other than a wheelbarrow.

Reducing grip as they wear is a concern.

Old style solid tyres used to hammer rims and spokes.

That will be a problem if Tannus tyres do the same, particularly if you have a hub motor.

In any case, changing a spoke on a Tannus tyre/wheel is difficult because tyre removal is not straightforward.
 

Wingreen

Pedelecer
Jul 28, 2015
194
59
Anglesey
I'm quite intrigued by these and would be interested to know how you get on with them.
I would be prepared to sacrifice a bit of comfort to get a puncture free cycling life, not to mention never having to carry a repair kit, tubes and the associated tools.
With the hassle of a puncture with a hub motor, especially a rear hub motor, i'm surprised there isn't more interest in these tyres on here.
If the problem with changing an inner tube on the wheel where the hub motor is located is the main issue, have a look at the new Gaadi linear inner tubes. I'm aware of some users of this site being very happy with these linear inner tubes. More info here:
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/product-news/rubena-introduces-bicycle-inner-tube-can-fitted-without-removing-wheel-133637
 

bikerun

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jun 22, 2014
10
2
I have been looking at tannus tyres also, but my local dealer says they could not take the power of a 250 watt motor which rather put me off,also the prospect of a harder ride, it would be nice to try a pair
 

Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
Hmm..... The possible broken/changing spokes wasn't something i gave any thought to. Could be a problem i guess.
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,312
I but my local dealer says they could not take the power of a 250 watt motor
I find that very unlikely.

The tyre is solid, and very solidly attached to the rim.

It could probably take more power than an ordinary pneumatic tyre
 

bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
I have been looking at tannus tyres also, but my local dealer says they could not take the power of a 250 watt motor which rather put me off,also the prospect of a harder ride, it would be nice to try a pair
I don't understand how they can't take the power of a 250w motor... How would that problem manifest - any one know?
 

bikerun

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jun 22, 2014
10
2
I did ask him and he said the tyre would slip on the rim, I was surprised as a good rider can put lot of pressure through the pedals, some I know pedal on the flat at 25mph plus, which is more then my e bike could hope to achieve unrestricted although it may catch up on hills a bit.
 

bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
I did ask him and he said the tyre would slip on the rim, I was surprised as a good rider can put lot of pressure through the pedals, some I know pedal on the flat at 25mph plus, which is more then my e bike could hope to achieve unrestricted although it may catch up on hills a bit.
OK - yes that is a good point although I've not experienced this. The fit is very tight, but with the high torque i guess that is possible, although unlikely. Thanks for the info.
 

Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
I wonder if this dealer has any experience of these Tannus tyres slipping on the rim with an electric hub motor...... I suspect they are just making an assumption with no clear proof of it.
I'd be more inclined to believe it with a high powered motor, but not with a 250W one.
 

bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
I wonder if this dealer has any experience of these Tannus tyres slipping on the rim with an electric hub motor...... I suspect they are just making an assumption with no clear proof of it.
I'd be more inclined to believe it with a high powered motor, but not with a 250W one.
My bike is the 500w version and whilst I use it routinely fully restricted and road legal, I have used it unrestricted again with no issues. However I have not used it unrestricted for any length of time so it is a bit of an unknown. Fair to say that for a 250w configuration, I can see no issues and I have fitted this tyre to a wider than recommended rim, using custom made clips, totally against the advice from Tannus.
 

Yamdude

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 20, 2013
842
639
Somerset
My bike is the 500w version and whilst I use it routinely fully restricted and road legal, I have used it unrestricted again with no issues. However I have not used it unrestricted for any length of time so it is a bit of an unknown. Fair to say that for a 250w configuration, I can see no issues and I have fitted this tyre to a wider than recommended rim, using custom made clips, totally against the advice from Tannus.
I guess you'll be the first to know on here, if there ever is an issue with these tyres. So keep us posted.
Out of interest...... What did you make the custom clips out of ?
 

bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
I guess you'll be the first to know on here, if there ever is an issue with these tyres. So keep us posted.
Out of interest...... What did you make the custom clips out of ?
Well at the risk of being ridiculed.... I used a strip of aluminium from B&q, used tin snips to cut to an approx size of 28mm length then used a hand crank grinding wheel to round off the edges and reduce to 27.5mm. 36 custom made clips. Fitted using the standard Tannus tool which allows you to either lever the clip into place or bang it into place. I know this is not ideal, but the bike has now done 330 miles and is looking fine. I wanted to get half round section nylon rod to make these and still will probably, but Tannus didn't reply to my question about what their clips are made of and I needed to get the bike on the road immediately. It is being used by my older son on a daily bases and he cannot afford to be without it. The aluminium clips are flexible enough to fit the tyre to the rim without damage. Ive get to try and get one out and only time will tell if they remain in place or gradually will get bent out of shape and fail.
 

RobF

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 22, 2012
4,732
2,312
Well at the risk of being ridiculed..
No ridicule from me, quite the reverse.

I admire anyone who can do stuff like you did, partly because I'm so rubbish at it.

With 300+ miles done, it doesn't look like the tyre is going to slip.

It would hardly be catastrophic if it did a slip a bit.

There's no valve to rip off, which is the problem if a pneumatic tyre slips.

The blow out from a ripped valve is usually spectacular, and often leads to a fall.
 
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bigbadal

Finding my (electric) wheels
Oct 16, 2014
23
5
59
Update - Bike is off the road ATM. No issues with the tyres, but my battery pack has given up. Turn it upside down and it works. Turn it up the right way and it doesn't output any volts. Sounds like something is loose inside. Have e-mailed cyclotricity to see if its repairable......