Question for you tire experts…Is any ol’ white tire a non-marking tire? We installed a new Sportcourt plastic tile floor in our new church gymnasium and the first time someone dragged a white soled tennis shoe shoe across the floor, it left a mark (removed easily of course). There are always white tires available at just about any store with a sporting good dept. but what makes a tire non-marking?
Thanks,
Bruce
RE: Non-marking tires vs. white tires
> Question for you tire experts…Is any ol’ white tire a non-marking
> tire? We installed a new Sportcourt plastic tile floor in our new
> church gymnasium and the first time someone dragged a white
> soled tennis
> shoe shoe across the floor, it left a mark (removed easily of
> course).
> There are always white tires available at just about any store with a
> sporting good dept. but what makes a tire non-marking?
I have only seen marks made on floor by white tires when the rider was
trying really hard to do so. Such as spinning the wheel as fast as possible,
then slamming it onto the floor. Since most tires are not made with floors
in mind, there is no labeling about their marking qualities. The “workable”
definition of non-marking would have to be that it doesn’t make marks, under
expected use, on the floor in question. In other words, your new tile floor
may be more susceptible to marks than a beat up old wood floor.
I have just gained access to a nice gym with a linoleum tile floor. These
types of floor seem to show tire marks most easily. We’ll have to watch
it…
The black tires that come with Miyata unicycles are non-marking. Again, you
can make a mark if you work at it, but it shouldn’t do anything under normal
use.
Stay on top,
John Foss, the Uni-Cyclone
jfoss@unicycling.com
“We were discussing Big Mac Meals. I think that has little if anything to do
with cow parts. There are probably more UNICYCLE parts in a Big Mac than cow
parts.” - Greg Harper on cuisine
So if the “workable” definition of non-marking is that it doesn’t make marks- why do they say we need a white tire for indoor unicycles at Unicon? Why does it not say a non-marking tire. White is not a workable definition of non marking. How much rubber will be left from a marking tire vs a non marking tire. A non marking tire will theoretically last forever because if no rubber is left when you spin then it must still all be in the tire. White is my least favourite colour for tires too- it will get all dirty then it will leave marks.
Probably because it’s easier to tell. Otherwise the rider has to prove it’s non-marking, which is scarcely workable in those situations.
Only if you never ride it on rough pavement, and if you keep it away from light. Sunlight is what eventually kills indoor-only tires (like being left in the car). Also a few spins on rough concrete will take the tread down nicely… 
Does any one know if a 24’’ 2.5’’ Hookworm marks indoors?
I don’t think it matters because Unicon has decided they want to sell a lot of white 20" tires, and to spend a few moments checking if a black tire will mark (especially common branded ones like Maxxis hookworm that could be given the all clear if they are non marking-ish) would be too much trouble- “scarcely workable”.
I have a Maxxis hookworm 24x2.5" which I will be taking off the unicycle because it is too big for 24" races. The 24x1.75" tire I will put on it has white sidewalls but I guess that means it is not white- and I don’t know of any 24" tires easily available in just white. So in hockey you can choose a 24" unicycle but you can’t choose a tire because one doesn’t exist. Maybe we could paint a black tire white and fool the judges. I’m surprised they allow hockey sticks in the gym if marking tires are not allowed.
I wonder will they be strictly enforcing white soled shoes in the gymnasium? What happens if someone wearing marking shoes falls off while playing hockey? The hall will be ruined!
The events center is the TSB Bank Arena where the hockey is being held, and the $10k a day does not cover cleaning the tire marks? That is enough to pay 64 people minimum wage for 12 hours each day it is hired- cleaners aren’t often paid top dollar. Where does all the money go? Can some of it be spent on white tires to give people who don’t have one? It would help save the work of cleaning the floor…
Thanks Rowan
I was hopping that the tyre would be under the measurement.
To be specific, the IUF rulebook states that the wheel (including tyre) must be no more than 618mm diameter.
I think I misread the email. It doesn’t say you need a white tire it just says non marking, and that white tires will be available. So I’m guessing that means hookworm will still be OK, although only the 20" will fit the size limit.
STANDARD UNICYCLE: Has only one wheel. Is driven by crank arms directly attached to the wheel’s axle/hub, with no gearing or additional drive system. Pedals and cranks rotate to power the wheel. Is balanced and controlled by the rider only, with no additional devices to support it. For purposes of this definition, brakes and extended handles/handlebars are permitted.
For some events, standard unicycles have additional restrictions such as maximum wheel size or minimum crank arm length. For most other events there are no size limitations.
700c Tire diameter must be larger than 618mm (24”) but no larger than 75cm.
Unicycles For Racing
Only standard unicycles may be used. There are different restrictions for track, road and offroad unicycles. Riders may use different unicycles for different racing events, as long as all comply with the rules for events in which they are entered.
Wheel Size
This is the maximum allowable tire diameter. Smaller sizes may be used. Some manufactured tires are marked with sizes
larger than they actually are, but may be within the allowable size limit and vice versa.
For 24" wheels, the outside diameter of the tire may not be larger than 618mm.
For 20" wheels, the outside diameter of the tire may not be larger than 518mm.
For 16" wheels, the outside diameter of the tire may not be larger than 418mm.
If a tire is in question, or has no size marked by its manufacturer, its outside diameter must be accurately measured.
Crank Arm Length
This is the minimum allowable length, measured from the center of the wheel axle to the center of the pedal axle. Longer
sizes may be used.
For 24" wheels, crank arms may be no shorter than 125mm.
For 20" wheels, crank arms may be no shorter than 100mm.
For 16" wheels, crank arms may be no shorter than 89mm.
With those wheel sizes in mm, you will find that they are about 5mm more than the inches which they are limiting. For a 24" race you can use a 26x1" tire and it fits within the 24" guidelines strangely enough the outer diameter is only 24". It sure is a pity the hookworm 24 is ruled out for hockey and basketball because it is definitely a nice 24" tire. I guess they have to draw the line somewhere.
Unfortunately for me, the Qu-ax dealer in NZ decided not enough racing unicycles would sell if he bought some, so he didn’t even get me one! I’ve got one of the heaviest racing unicycles ever!