Translucent tyres?

doctor-bond

Feature Bike
I'm looking for a pair of fattish amberwall touring tyres, and before I splash on folding Paselas or Grand Bois, I thought I'd try to find some cheapos to be sure I'm happy I've chosen the right size (width).

Cue the Michelin Dynamics which look to fit the bill. However, looking on CRC there are two types, standard and classic. I'm assuming classic is amberwall and standard is black, but both seem to be billed as 'Translucent'.


http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20416

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=61961

What the beejayseeus are translucent tyres?
 
It looks like "trans - black" means amberwall, "black" means all black.


I guess "translucent" means the rubber on the sidewall is not an opaque colour.


I hope they haven't added a "classic" to the name so they can charge more for the same tyre.
 
I mailed CRC and it looks like there are real people there as one of them quickly confirmed that trans/translucent means amberwall, so I've snagged a couple of 32mm chubbies for a few quid cheaper than the classics, which for some reason are less heavily discounted.

Smashing.
 
I've just fitted a pair of 'Michelin Dynamic Classic' tyres to a 1978 Claud Butler Competitor I've been restoring.
I went for the 25c 'translucent' option and they are, as I suspected, pale amberwall tyres.

They are also really rather nice looking as well. A very worthwhile finishing touch.
 
Be careful with Dynamics in slippery conditions - got some for my tourer a while back, but they're pretty treacherous where traction is compromised (as the wrist I broke in Nov '10 will testify).
 

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