The importance of the right tire

The importance of the right tire

Vittoria supplies Team LottoNL-Jumbo with all sorts of tires which suit the wishes and needs of the riders during all different kinds of races perfectly. During dry weather the tire pressure is about 8 bar (depending on, amongst other things, the rider’s weight). When it’s rainy during a stage or race, however, the riders cycle with a lower tire pressure for a better grip. During stages and races over cobble strokes, the riders cycle with a tire pressure that varies between 3,8 and 4,3 bar.

During Paris-Roubaix this weekend, Team LottoNL-Jumbo will not only be riding on softer tires, but also on  slightly wider ones, for extra grip and comfort. Vittoria has developed special tubes for these kinds of races which are wider, 28 millimeters instead of the usual 25 millimeters (which were used for the Tour of Flanders last weekend). Softer tires offer more grip, but if they are too soft, you’ll suffer a flat more easily. The riders have done a recon of Paris-Roubaix these past few days to find their perfect tire pressure for Sunday!

Lower pressure is disadvantageous on the tarmac, and even though the race will take the riders over approximately 120 kilometers of tarmac before they hit the cobbles, this does not outweigh the advantages of a lower tire pressure on the cobbles! Next to this, the tubes are glued onto the rim with glue made by Vittoria. The benefit of this is that you can continue cycling when you’ve got a flat, because the tube stays on the wheel, while an inner tube can come out in this situation. 

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