Do Shaft Drives Eat Tires Faster?

[Bungie]

Logically <snort>,

A shaft drive should be easier on tires because of the extra rotational mass involved. Think heavier flywheel affect. Transitions should be less abrupt than a chain simply because it has more mass to move.

(trolling mode off)

 

[Dutch]

The unsprung weight of a shaft drive bike is quite a bit more than a chain drive bike. That requires more spring/damping to compensate for.

Also the pinion gear wanting to climb the ring gear affects the tire different than chain drive bikes.

I can't say any of these issues make any difference with tire wear - if they do it's not much in my experience.

 

[wheatonFJR]

The unsprung weight of a shaft drive bike is quite a bit more than a chain drive bike. That requires more spring/damping to compensate for.Also the pinion gear wanting to climb the ring gear affects the tire different than chain drive bikes.

I can't say any of these issues make any difference with tire wear - if they do it's not much in my experience.

The pinion climbing thingy is a lot less pronounced now than when the XS11 was first new, I can tell you that.
With that being said, for a touring bike, it is very nice to have an enclosed shaft drive that you just check oil levels rarely instead of checking chain adjustment and lubing, etc.

 

[ionbeam]

Captured! A picture of a drive shaft eating a tire. I was expecting teeth but I guess this is how it happens.

 

[Spud]

Shaft drive bikes do eat tires faster. Adjusting and lubricating chains takes time, and the less time on the road, the longer the tires will last.

 

[Intech]

Spoons make people fat.

No. McDonalds does.

 

[Fred W]

Spoons make people fat.

No. McDonalds does.

I beg to differ. I have evidence that they are all fat before they go in to McDonalds.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Like everything else, tire wear and fatness (if you're right handed) has everything to do with the right wrist.