Re: Speed, load & temp limits for bike tires

Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

On 3/15/2025 2:50 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Is anybody aware of testing results for the speed, load and
temperature limits of bicycle tires? Something like the DOT
specs for load range and speed rating for auto tires, but
applied to bicycle tires? It's obviously not relevant to
bikes apart from tandems engaged in downhill racing. Perhaps
not even that.
 
This is an admittedly obscure question, but maybe there's an
answer lurking somwehere I've not found. Probably manufactureres
do it as part of design and production quality control, but whether
results leak into the public sphere is unclear. I ask because I have
a very nice bike cargo trailer (cycletote) which I've pondered
attaching to a small motorcycle. It isn't something I'd do
under normal circumstances, of course. Merely wondering what
might be possible in a pinch.

 
I'm not aware of any such data. I very much doubt temperature is a
significant variable. In the past, this group has had extensive
discussions of maximum temperatures of rims and how they affect tire
integrity, but all that was in relation to rim brakes heating on
super-long descents. A trailer would see none of that.
 
Some tandem teams are quite heavy, but I'm not aware of any disasters
from using fairly normal tires. How much load are you envisioning
carrying, and at what speeds?

As a wild guess, fifty to one hundred pounds per tire, at maybe fifty
miles per hour. Ambient air temp might touch one hundred farenheit,
but pavement in full sun gets considerably hotter.

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska