I've switched back to my 'old' tires for training purposes (some road riding between trail heads) and I'm amazed by the difference in rolling resistance. My current race tires are Kenda Karma's, which I've converted, via Stans, to tubeless. My old tires were Kenda Nevegal's. The Nevegal's are great tires, but after riding Karma's so much, I can definitely feel the difference. With the Nevegals, it's feels like a delayed response to the pedal stroke, where as the Karma's just accelerate. Obviously there is one key difference: Tubes vs. No Tubes.
Riding the Nevegals, I feel timid in high speed corners, when I use to feel so confident. That tells me just how much more confidence the Karma's have given me. Granted I can run the Karma's at 25-30 psi, which gives it the extra bite. I've never dropped below 38 psi on the Nevegals. I've been spoiled by going tubeless and riding Karma's.
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You are so right about that. Tubeless is way better, faster in every way.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a long time to switch to tubeless. Just seemed like a lot of work (which it was) for an unknown benefit. Now I wish I would have switched sooner. HUGE difference.
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