is there anybody out there that has the balloon tires and just for normal riding will i really feel a difference?considering the townie balloon tires over regular tires..?thanks mike.....
I have an Electra Straight 8 with the 3 wide tires and they eliminate the vibrations that one would feel from road irregularities. However these are the only tires I have ever had on it. I switch from 2" balloons and 1" racing tires on my recumbent bike and I have noticed these differences. The 2" tires allow me to run a lower pressure without damaging rims (around 50psi). If I was to run this low a pressure on the narrower tires the rims would be damaged by any large bumps or rocks I might run over, therefore they must be run at 90psi. The lower air pressure is what gives you a smoother ride. The lower pressure may make your bike slower rolling but unless you actually racing you probably wont notice it. Many riders will ride 100 miles with their tires at 50psi just for the comfort and don't feel slowed at all, some even say they are faster. I really don't see any need to run a tire over 1.5" or 38mm wide if you are riding on the road. The 2"ers I have are nice and comfy, they make feel better when I ride in the winter and may encounter ice but I don't think I will buy tires this wide again. They feel a little squirrelly when I go into a turn at high speed but I have not lost control of the bike yet. I would recommend that if your tires are 1.5"(38mm) or larger you can probably ride safely at 50psi (check the sidewall to be sure). This will make your bike ride smoother and give you more traction.
