Extended Tire Review: Anlas Capra X "50/50" Tires
I don't really have enough experience with different tires to make much of an assessment, but here's my initial thoughts of the Anlas Capra X tires I had installed today, replacing my Metzeler Roadtec 01s. Yes, these are two very different tires! The tech at Ottawa Goodtime called me back to the service desk to confirm I really did want to make this change. Haha.
I went down a few mostly straight dirt / gravel country roads. Did a few basic rear wheel brake slides. I don't have the off road experience or confidence yet to really say much here. I was certainly more comfortable on these vs. the Roadtecs (I had previously been down the same roads with them), but that is stating the obvious I suppose.
Highways and controlled access freeways: I was surprised by how smooth these tires are at speed on pavement. I would have no trouble doing long distance freeway stuff on these. Again, there's an obvious difference going from the Roadtecs to these, but there's nothing bad to say. Maybe a wee bit of noise but not so much that you don't forget about it after a a few minutes / it is drowned out by all the other noises. Some rumble at very slow speeds.
Leaned over: I am not a very aggressive rider. I don't drag knees or bike parts. Being leaned over on these tires was definitely an experience. The motion involved in leaning in and then straightening back up is wildly different compared to the Roadtecs. I have to admit I was a little weirded out by it, but I am guessing that is life with a block / knobby-ish tire with a flatter cross sectional profile vs. road tires.
Besides the foreign feeling while leaning over and straightening back up, it felt like I was doing a lot more work to get leaned over, to stayed leaned over / keep the line, and to straighten back up. In particular my offside hand (left hand when leaning right) seemed to be doing a lot more work.
Also they look pretty good on the bike which is what really counts. Caramel Machiattos anyone?
Looking forward to getting more gravel & dirt experience.
I don't really have enough experience with different tires to make much of an assessment, but here's my initial thoughts of the Anlas Capra X tires I had installed today, replacing my Metzeler Roadtec 01s. Yes, these are two very different tires! The tech at Ottawa Goodtime called me back to the service desk to confirm I really did want to make this change. Haha.
I went down a few mostly straight dirt / gravel country roads. Did a few basic rear wheel brake slides. I don't have the off road experience or confidence yet to really say much here. I was certainly more comfortable on these vs. the Roadtecs (I had previously been down the same roads with them), but that is stating the obvious I suppose.
Highways and controlled access freeways: I was surprised by how smooth these tires are at speed on pavement. I would have no trouble doing long distance freeway stuff on these. Again, there's an obvious difference going from the Roadtecs to these, but there's nothing bad to say. Maybe a wee bit of noise but not so much that you don't forget about it after a a few minutes / it is drowned out by all the other noises. Some rumble at very slow speeds.
Leaned over: I am not a very aggressive rider. I don't drag knees or bike parts. Being leaned over on these tires was definitely an experience. The motion involved in leaning in and then straightening back up is wildly different compared to the Roadtecs. I have to admit I was a little weirded out by it, but I am guessing that is life with a block / knobby-ish tire with a flatter cross sectional profile vs. road tires.
Besides the foreign feeling while leaning over and straightening back up, it felt like I was doing a lot more work to get leaned over, to stayed leaned over / keep the line, and to straighten back up. In particular my offside hand (left hand when leaning right) seemed to be doing a lot more work.
Also they look pretty good on the bike which is what really counts. Caramel Machiattos anyone?
Looking forward to getting more gravel & dirt experience.