Reinforced vs. non-reinforced sidewalls

[Prof Prolapse]

Alright chaps...

I'm looking at changing the tyres for the Z4 and probably doing all at once and moving away from the runflats.

Goodyear A1 Assymetric 2s (and some others) appear to come in two flavours. Reinforced sidewalls and non-refinforced which are more considerably more expensive.

Now overly rigid sidewalls have led to some traits I'm not really happy with the runflats. Are these "reinforced" ones as bad?

Anybody have any experience?

[Monty Python]

AFAIK the reinforcement isn't arranged in the same way as a RFT (so it won't affect the ride) - it's there to keep the shoulder of the tyre on the road during cornering. It's made from carbon fibre (hence the cost).

[LongLiveTazio]

Is it not linked to the load index or whatever it's called, sometimes marked as XL?

[Monty Python]

LongLiveTazio said:

Is it not linked to the load index or whatever it's called, sometimes marked as XL?

No - it's separate from the load index

[LongLiveTazio]

Monty Python said:

No - it's separate from the load index

I thought that if it's a 'normal' tyre you usually find that the XL marked tyre has a reinforced sidewall? Is this not the case then?

[Prof Prolapse]

Monty Python said:

AFAIK the reinforcement isn't arranged in the same way as a RFT (so it won't affect the ride) - it's there to keep the shoulder of the tyre on the road during cornering. It's made from carbon fibre (hence the cost).

Its more expensive for my size tyres!

[Prof Prolapse]

Monty Python said:

LongLiveTazio said:

Is it not linked to the load index or whatever it's called, sometimes marked as XL?

No - it's separate from the load index

Seems to state "for increased loads" on the blackcircles website?

[Monty Python]

Prof Prolapse said:

Seems to state "for increased loads" on the blackcircles website?

In the specific case of the Eagle Assymetric, this is what Goodyear say:

"•Carbon fiber reinforced sidewalls help keep the shoulders on the road for enhanced maneuverability"

It may be different for other manufacturers...who knows...

[Frances The Mute]

Monty Python said:

LongLiveTazio said:

Is it not linked to the load index or whatever it's called, sometimes marked as XL?

No - it's separate from the load index

XL or reinforced tyres are linked to the load index by definition. They have a higher load rating due to increased material (typically polyester and/or rayon) in the sidewall structure.

Noticing the difference between the two will be something that professional testers will find very difficult to do an are incomparable with run flat tyres in terms of feel and feedback.

[jon-]

Frances The Mute said:

Noticing the difference between the two will be something that professional testers will find very difficult to do

Untrue.

Frances The Mute said:

they are incomparable with run flat tyres in terms of feel and feedback.

Very true.

[Frances The Mute]

jon- said:

Frances The Mute said:

Noticing the difference between the two will be something that professional testers will find very difficult to do

Untrue.

I'm talking between XL and standard load tyres, not pneumatic vs run flats.

[jon-]

Frances The Mute said:

jon- said:

Frances The Mute said:

Noticing the difference between the two will be something that professional testers will find very difficult to do

Untrue.

I'm talking between XL and standard load tyres, not pneumatic vs run flats.

I understood that

If a pro tyre tester couldn't tell the difference between a 91 and 94XL version of the same tyre they wouldn't stay employed for very long!

[Frances The Mute]

I did say they'd find it difficult as opposed to not being able to.

As I work with quite a few of them, it tends to be discussed from time to time.

[cuprabob]

In my experience the XL tyre is not really that much more expensive.

[crosseyedlion]

cuprabob said:

In my experience the XL tyre is not really that much more expensive.

But is it better? thats the question. I like the suppleness of non-xl tyres, but am unfortunately tied to XL ones due to 2.1 tons.

[cuprabob]

Better is down to subjecture.

[Prof Prolapse]

So general concensus, save £100 and buy XL tyres as they're not going to be as bad as runflats?

[Monty Python]

Prof Prolapse said:

So general concensus, save £100 and buy XL tyres as they're not going to be as bad as runflats?

Correct :-)

[Prof Prolapse]

Cheers mate!