Revisit Tire Failure Again...Specialized To The Rescue?

Specialized Pathfinder Pros...650x47

After a thousand miles on the 650b with a set of Panaracers 1.90 on, the rear developed a small glass cut and thus a similar "bump". I was riding away from home when the rear tire suddenly started to rub the chain-stay. Upon further investigation, it was small piece of glass that had entered the outer casing in the center tread. Same-oh stuff.

I limped home and put on the 700cc wheelset with the old stock Specialized Trigger Pros 38mm on. Those suckers wear like steel...in fact, I could see some cord showing on the rear! Hey, maybe Specialized is making a 650b version of those tires? After some online research, they do have a similar tread pattern in their Pathfinder Pro 47. 

I searched around and finally ordered a set of those Specialized Pathfinder Pro 47 for the 650 wheels.At the same time I found some 47mm for my 700c wheelset: Specialized Sawtooth 47! Ordered those too. Also ordered some Orange rim tape, it was cheap and stuck better than the Stans I had tried before ( Gorilla tape sticks super... but is thick and if you ever take off the tire, it will pull loose on the edges and requires lots of time to totally remove the "glue" left on the rim.)

Pathfinders installed on Diverge gravel bike

 650b - I took off all the old tape from the front wheel, cleaned alcohol and installed the 25mm wide Orange Rim Tape. At the same time, I replaced the stem with the nice Versa Valve stem. These were recommended by my buddy, John in Carlsbad, CA. These stems sealed much better do to the various grommets that come with each set to fit various rim cross-sections. The rear rim tape was good so I left all as was. Put in 4oz of Orange Endurance Sealant per. (I write the date/amount on each tire with white permanent ink.)

Pathfinder Pros 47went on nicely and inflation was efficient with the Booster. I'll ride them a while over various road/trail conditions and report back. Using 35/40psi for road work...30/35 for trails.

 

Old stock TriggerPro 38s

700c - Keeping with the tough stock Specialized tire mantra, I did install the new Sawtooth 42 on the stock Diverge rims. No problem with the stock tape or the older stems. (I'll replace them both next time around (for sure, stems with the nice fitting and solid Orange Seal Versa Valve Stem set (come in various colors for the show-time crew). Install was a breeze. 

After some online research on pricing and delivery, I did order all items mentioned above from Competitive Cyclists. I had ordered items in the past and their prices were in line with Amazon competitors. ( I am lacking, so far, any Texas connections for bikes or components and
still relying on past sources.

New Sawtooth 700x42

 

 

more lateron...
randorides