[DirtEveryDay]

Heehee! Yeah, that's actually a serious question! I got accepted to run the Redbull Ride the Sky in two weeks(yikes) and the surface will consist of slippery tiled hallways, carpet and steps. Hopefully a little air in there as well, but I don't really want the tires to grab anything at that point.
The choices in my basement are
(1)2.5 Nevegal Stick-E, (1)2.5 Blue groove Stick-E, (1)2.3 Nevegal Stick-E,
2.5/2.3 Specialized Chunders w/Umma Gumma rubber
2.5/2.3 Michelin Comp 24s
2.4 Holy Rollers(pair)
2.2 Maxxis Wetscreams(pair), aka Pizza Cutters

NOT really considering the Holy Rollers at all, they wash out on concrete and I'll be on 90* corners on slippery tile.
I'm not digging the Michy's cuz they're brand new with nips and a fugging MUTHER to mount/dismount.
The Chunders roll like sh!t and I think you can actually see a gooey trail behind them. Super sticky, BUT I don't think it will matter on tile?
Soooo I'm leaning toward the Kenda 2.5 BG front and 2.3 Nevegal rear and POSSIBLY treating the outside lugs with a traction agent. And if the vote is on the Kendas, BG or another Nev in front?

 

[blue]

Waxed tile is like slightly less slippery ice (at least in my experience on it with some hard compound Maxxis CX tires)...High volume sticky compound would be my suggestion.

I'd go with the 2.5 Nevegals...don't you have some entryways or a mall you can try them out in?

 

[DirtEveryDay]

I've been screwing around in my basement on painted concrete, which is about as close as I can get, and NOTHING sticks! Not to mention 6' circles isn't quite the same as pinned and adrenalined...!

 

[bdamschen]

Hookworms maybe?

Or just duct tape up that inside foot....

 

[V-Dub GTI]

get real big tires and run low psi, thats about all i can recomend.

 

[blue]

Hookworms would be horrible. Definently want knobs.

Studs would do the trick.

Oh yeah, if that crap gets even the SLIGHTEST bit wet, expect to go down...

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Studs...hmmm....
I suppose that wouldn't be very nice of me, would it!?
Knowing Redbull, they'll prob have the floors waxed the hour before the race starts!
I've been thinking that maybe I can just overshoot the corners, slam the far wall and crank out of it...
Can't really run low PSI... sounds like a ton of stairs to bomb down. That's actually where I'm the most concerned. I haven't seen the course, but i've got this vision of a stairwell with the 180 degree turns that are all slippery tile. Wish I had those crazy street skills, just bust those sick wall-to-wall wallrides all the way down!

 

[elRey]

i dont think knobs are gonna help you at all. i would reccomend the closest thing you have to a street/ park tire.

 

[joelsman]

short knobs would be good or a semi slick?

 

[jrfor0]

check out the michelin DH 15 or a 24

 

[rigidhack]

Seems to me it is all about the contact patch on tile. Knobs cant bite in, neither could studded (ice) tires. Street tire might be the call.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

If you've ever swapped street/park tires for a semi slick or a fast rolling knobby, you'll love the lugs.
Ever tried riding on painted concrete? It's death.

 

[PatBranch]

Where is this race and can anyone sign up? It sounds really fun.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Lugs fold and hold. And you can't really get a super tacky slick. And I don't really want to run a slick while I'm turning on stairs, either. it'll be nice to have some lugs on there. The stairs sound tight, and I'll lose time trying to run down them straight, and turning on the tiles, which it doiesn't sound like there's room for anyway.

 

[Pip3r]

rock some arrow launch tires, they roll super fast, have a round profile for cornering, and you can get them in a soft durometer. i'm always riding in dusty skateparks with them and they hold up

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Where is this race and can anyone sign up? It sounds really fun.

It's in the Skyway system above the streets of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Entry is already filled and they stopped taking apps on Tuesday. Only 50 riders were selected.

I thought about the arrows, but I'm not going to buy any new tires for the race, and those still don't have the side lugs I'd prefer to run. Prob doesn't matter anyway, slippery is slippery!

 

[HRDTLBRO]

So you aren't buying new tires for the race, but you want a recommendation between your selection of tires, none of which work? Holy Rollers at low pressure with holy hell heavy DH tubes...that'd be my guess. The time you may or may not lose in the corners with slicks you can probably make up with lower rolling reistance.

 

[gemini2k]

I thought about the arrows, but I'm not going to buy any new tires for the race,

WTFBBQ?!?! You're gonna be on local news dood!!! Spring for whatever tires u need, don't wanna be on the news sliding out yo!

 

[muddy beast]

The time you may or may not lose in the corners with slicks you can probably make up with lower rolling reistance.

Amen.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Never said they don't work, said I don't KNOW which ones will work. Sounds like everyone else is just running whatever is on their bike at the moment. Just looking for some input.
I DO know that I'm gonna be sliding out no matter what. The one place I don't want that is on the stairs!
So, I need a tacky, fastrolling tire that can take sharp edged hits and stick to ice. Wait...not ice... WAX!
Haha! This is gonna be fun! Sounds like the finish line is a big ol stairgap...in a lobby!

 

[HRDTLBRO]

Never said they don't work, said I don't KNOW which ones will work. Sounds like everyone else is just running whatever is on their bike at the moment. Just looking for some input.
I DO know that I'm gonna be sliding out no matter what. The one place I don't want that is on the stairs!
So, I need a tacky, fastrolling tire that can take sharp edged hits and stick to ice. Wait...not ice... WAX!
Haha! This is gonna be fun! Sounds like the finish line is a big ol stairgap...in a lobby!

Will this be in conjunction with Frostbike this year? It sounds like loads of fun...but i'm not going to Frostbike this year.

edit: Saw that it was in two weeks. Good luck anyway dude.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Amen.

The entire course is on a slight downhill grade. Carrying speed will be an easy task. Managing it will be a difficult one. Did I mention that it's not ONLY tiles, but carpet too? Not sure how Holy Rollers grab carpet.... and I have hardwood floors...

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Will this be in conjunction with Frostbike this year? It sounds like loads of fun...but i'm not going to Frostbike this year.

No, never even heard of it. This a Redbull sanctioned deal...

 

[HRDTLBRO]

Frostbike is a QBP tradeshow (QBP is a major bike shop distributor), kinda like interbike, held in Minneapolis every year. Anything sanctioned by Red Bull will be loads of fun.

 

[kona-ryder]

Id say 2.5 Nevegal on back, 2.5 Specalized on front. If the Specialized are a sticky as I have heard, then it would be better to have it one front, to prevent nose-washouts. The Nevegal will still hook up, but if you want style points you can always do a little drifting.
Ohh yeah, go poach a mall. Most mall cops are to fat to run for more than 30seconds, so you should be good.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Ha! We don't have mall cops, but I'm 34 years old, I live in a town of 13,000 people and there's 3(literally THREE) mtn bikers. Let's just say we're known... Hell, I'm sure if I checked a pedigree I'm related to all the malls employees! That's sad...
And yeah, I was kinda spacing off the Chunders... I yanked them off the bike because they were IMPOSSIBLE to ride any urban with. Geez, even the ride to the truck on the road from the end of a local trail is a chore...DOWNHILL!
Might mount them up and give 'em a spin...

Could also just run both of the Chunders, maybe just 20psi in the front and like 40-50 in the rear...

 

[gonefirefightin]

naw bro, I was just talking about this exact same race with a buddy of mine. we both run the intense Zero fros in the urban races. they stick like mad and keep you rolling fast on course since there is no tread in the middle to slow you down. and when you brake man they stop you quick. perfect tire for the ride the sky, wish i could go, i am hung up with a race in oregon.

 

[elRey]

naw bro, I was just talking about this exact same race with a buddy of mine. we both run the intense Zero fros in the urban races. they stick like mad and keep you rolling fast on course since there is no tread in the middle to slow you down. and when you brake man they stop you quick. perfect tire for the ride the sky, wish i could go, i am hung up with a race in oregon.

a race in oregon???

what is this "race" u speak of.

 

[kidwoo]

Run some low grit sandpaper over your holy rollers to rough them up and give them some conformity on smooth surfaces.

They will roll fast and still grip where you need them to.

 

[hungryleprican]

Run some low grit sandpaper over your holy rollers to rough them up and give them some conformity on smooth surfaces.

They will roll fast and still grip where you need them to.

I like that idea

 

[gonefirefightin]

a race in oregon???

what is this "race" u speak of.

shhhh. just dont tell anyone I wear girl pants on the timed rides, it might hurt my image as i get out of my grand vitara. gotta stay in shape somehow

http://www.bbcbike.com/bbc.cfm/fa/bbc.showpage/pid/15

 

[mshred]

instead of studs put little suction cups on your tires

 

[TenaciousT]

Kenda 2.3 Small Block 8's

 

[DirtEveryDay]

I've been wondering how those Small Blaocks would do... But I can't buy tires. Hell, not even sure how I'm getting there yet! It's 6 hours away, I'm broke, and I've got a deal in a town 5 hours away in the opposite direction this weekend, and another event in the same town 2 weeks after the Redbull race! And that's not including the 6-7 motel rooms needed for all of them...
That's why I'm gonna have to run wut I brung...

 

[gonefirefightin]

whew.......for a minute there I thought this post was a waste of time.

 

[BKQuill]

Which ever tire you actually do decide to run with, here is a tip. About 30/45 minutes before your run, run your tires in Coke several times. As in Coca-Cola, it will help with traction on slippery surfaces. We use to this back in the early 80's on our BMX bikes for those indoor races that had wooden jumps, flat turns, and were on gym floors or concrete or other slippery surfaces.

 

[CKxx]

Which ever tire you actually do decide to run with, here is a tip. About 30/45 minutes before your run, run your tires in Coke several times. As in Coca-Cola, it will help with traction on slippery surfaces. We use to this back in the early 80's on our BMX bikes for those indoor races that had wooden jumps, flat turns, and were on gym floors or concrete or other slippery surfaces.

I went to see some indoor motocross stunt show, or whatever you wnt to call it, and they were out about 50min before showtime mopping the floor with cola. They were able to pop power wheelies on smooth concrete with the sticky soda residue, so I would bet it works pretty well.

 

[urbaindk]

I'm not sure if this would work or not but might be worth a try at home first. Depending on the tire compound you might be able to degrade the rubber and make it more sticky using alcohol or some other solvent. You'd probably just end up ruining a perfectly good set of tires though... Just a thought. I've never actually tried it.

 

[skatetokil]

just do some cutting like back in the day

take all the center knobs off one of your old 2.5 sticky tires and you're good to go.

 

[kidwoo]

I like that idea

I don't understand all these reccomendations for tires with knobs. They'll slow you down, even slick tires grip carpet, and are your only contact points for traction on a hard surface. They're made for dirt. You're not riding dirt.