Dave Lehnen <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> Thomas Reynolds wrote:
>
> > I love armadillos. I've used them for years. They last forever and (almost) never flat.
> >
> > These same properties also make them difficult to mount and dismount. I can recommend that when
> > you get to the last 8 inches that you completely deflate the tube, use tire levers (being
> > careful not to pinch the tube), and go to the opposite end of the rim and pinch the tire so the
> > beads are together and push them to the center of the rim. This last is difficult to do by
> > yourself with an Armadillo because they are so stiff. I usually have my wife do that while I
> > push the tire on.
> >
> > The good thing is that once you get them on you can go 7000 miles before removing them.
> >
> > Tom
>
> I don't love Armadillos. I tried one pair, and their only good quality seemed to be fairly good
> flat resistance. They are very hard to get on or off the rim, even mounting is pretty much
> impossible without using levers. If you can mount these without levers, you can probably do the
> same with your car tires. Stretching the bead manually isn't really an option with these wire bead
> tires. They are heavy. They give a very harsh ride. They probably have high rolling resistance,
> although I haven't seen it measured. When they do go flat, it's hard to tell from the difference
> in ride, the tires are so stiff. Wires from steel-belted car and truck tires, and shards of glass
> can and do still penetrate them. Tread life was OK, but nowhere near 7000 miles for me, and I'm
> not very heavy. There are too many other tire options to put up with these things.
>
> Dave Lehnen
I can only speak from my own experience.
They came out with the red sidewall Armadillos in 99 (I think). Since then I have used five sets,
three of which are still on the bikes (two commuters and a tandem). I ride between 7K-10K miles per
year. I have had exactly one puncture flat during that entire time.
I do ultra-marathon events. My best bike still has Michelin tires because I have a stash of them.
When they are used up I will put Armadillos on that one also.
The only problem I had was the sidewall ripping out on one of the earlier ones.
I have heard about the ride being so harsh. Frankly I don't feel it myself. And that is with me
commuting on Armadillos and doing long Saturday rides on Michelins. Again, only speaking from my own
experience.
Tom