Bespoke 700c White Tires - the Twin Spires
When designing our single-speed bike Speed ONE we decided it should roll on white rubber. Existing tires on the market where not grippy enough and not as high performing as we prefered. A joyful collaboration with Panaracer was kicked off to design this new white tire. In the end we have a fast rolling, grippy and well protected 700c white tire - we named them the Twin Spires.
Panaracer Collaboration
The Twin Spires tire by Skiens Cykkelfabrik is the result of an extensive, detailed and nit-picking collaborative process between ourselves and the renowned Japanese tire producer, Panaracer.Early on in the Speed ONE design process, we decided the bike could roll on nothing other than white rubber. We envisioned a timelessclassic bike. This decision, as it turns out, was a lot more tricky to realise than we first imagined. The market for white tires isn’t exactly overflowing with choice.We got hold of the few tires we could, popped them onto a wheelset and took to the streets.What we found was somewhat underwhelming. Too heavy, not grippy enough and we certainly didn’t want a wire bead. We just couldn’t find suitable rubber for the Speed ONE.That’s when we thought of Panaracer.
Tire Design & Engineering
We had tried out one of their tires and really liked the tread pattern but we thought it was a bit on the heavy side. We wanted a softer sidewall but to still maintain a good amount of puncture protection and we didn’t want to pay a big weight penalty for this.
When we started our process with Panaracer we soon realized it would be a very painless and enjoyable experience. They were a delight to collaborate with from the start and welcomed working with us. Samples were sent through and discussions flowed and before long we had narrowed in on what was to become the Twin Spires Tire.We decided on a tread pattern that was very similar to the tire we liked right back when this project first began. Enough thread to handle some unkempt city roads but you also won't lose any speed should you be running late. This 700 x 28c tire gets even wider when fitted to the H PLUS SON Archetype rims and you really benefit from this extra comfort.
Puncture Resistant Light Commuter Tire
To make it commuter friendly we added Panaracer’s ProTite puncture protection system, with its bead to bead coverage and opted for a 60 tpi casing for added durability. Pairing this to a relatively thin and supple sidewall, we produced a fast rolling, grippy and well protected tire.
The 700c white tires weigh in at only 320g per tire. With our new design we saved in total 360g per bike with these tires compared to what we found on the market. The bike feels quicker and accelerates noticeably better with the Twin Spires.
The Twin Spires is the ultimate city and commuter tire that isn’t afraid to tackle some gravel should your ride take you away from the beaten path. We here at Skiens Cykkelfabrik sincerely hope that it does.
