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CushCore Tire Inserts

CushCore Tire Inserts
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Details

CushCore is based on a new concept: Tire Suspension. Any suspension system has a spring and a damper, and with CushCore, pressurized air in the tire is the spring and the CushCore tire insert is the damper.

Also like traditional suspension, a constant damping force wouldn’t work. It has to be dynamic. Suspension should be supple on small bumps but firm on big hits.

CushCore responds differently depending on the tire loading scenario. The more the tire flexes, the more damping it provides. We break it down into small, medium, and large tire deflections.

Models:
CushCore Pro: The original full-performance version. CushCore PRO allows you to push the limits of your tires and suspension to new levels. The best choice for the majority of wheels, terrain, and riders.

Specs:
Tire Widths: 2.1-2.6
Inner Rim Width: 22mm-35mm

Wheel /Weight:
26 / 245g
27.5 / 250g
29 / 260g

CushCore XC: Light weight version designed for cross-country racing, light trail riding, and/or less aggressive riders.

Specs:
Tire Widths: 1.8-2.4
Inner Rim Width: 22mm-32mm

Wheel/Weight:
27.5 / 140g
29 / 150g

CushCore Plus: All the performance benefits of the PRO, but optimized for plus sized tires and wider rims.

Specs:
Tire Widths: 2.6-3.0
Inner Rim Width: 32mm-45mm

Wheel/Weight:
27.5 / 290g
29?/ 330g

CushCore Gravel.CX: An ultra-lightweight insert that reduces fatigue, improves cornering, and helps prevent flats

Specs:
Tire Widths: 33mm-46mm
Inner Rim Width: 19mm-26mm

Wheel/Weight:
700c/ 120g

ALL INSERTS COME WITH CUSHCORE BRANDED VALVES. Please be aware that these valves are essential for proper installation and set-up.

PLUSH

12% Reduction in Shock and Vibration

Benefits

  • Smooth ride
  • More control
  • Less rider fatigue

 

 

Testing

Motion Instruments, a data acquisition testing specialist, mounted accelerometers (“G-force” sensors) to two test bikes and ran a course with CushCore and without CushCore. The accelerometer is mounted to the head tube, which can accurately measure bump forces as they are experienced by the rider. 

The table shows cumulative G-forces (“shock & vibration”) — all the bumps added together during 4 hours of testing. Riders with CushCore experienced 11-12% reduction in shock and vibration.

 

  RIDER 1 RIDER 2
Shock/Vibration without CushCore 8,258 6,079
Shock/Vibration with CushCore 7,263 5,435
% REDUCTION 12% 11%

SUPERIOR CORNERING

CushCore increases sidewall stiffness 35% / CushCore reduces tire roll by 25%

BENEFITS

  • Faster cornering
  • More traction
  • Consistent feel
  • No tire roll

Cornering Performance Tests

In addition to Motion Instruments’ testing, CushCore conducted tests to evaluate cornering performance using an MTS Roehrig EMA-2K suspension dyno.

Lateral Stiffness Test: The tire sidewalls are compressed equally from both sides. This measures sidewall stiffness.

Tire Roll Test: The rim is fixed in position while the actuator presses against one side of the tire and deflects it horizontally (see photo right). This mimics the forces exerted on the tire in aggressive cornering.

Testing tire roll with a specially configured suspension dynomometer.

Cornering at the limit with CushCore.

Lateral stiffness of CushCore (red) vs tubeless (blue). The ovalized shape of the CushCore trace shows CushCore is creating rebound damping.

CushCore adds lateral stability by exerting a constant outward pressure against the tire sidewalls.

BETTER SUSPENSION

Suspension works 16% more efficiently with CushCore

BENEFITS

  • Suspension requires less travel to absorb bumps
  • A 150mm travel bike feels like it has 173mm of travel
  • Plush ride
  • More travel available for big hits
  • More momentum on rough ground
  • Better suspension without the negative side-effects of a longer travel bike

 

Testing

Motion Instruments, a data acquisition testing specialist, used sensors to measure suspension travel usage with and without CushCore. More about testing methodology.

The table shows the total suspension travel used during the test.  Adding up all the compression strokes during 4-hours of testing, test bikes with CushCore used 15-16% less suspension travel. 

This shows that CushCore absorbed some of the bump forces before they affected the rest of the bike.

“It’s like taking fewer punches in a fight.”
– Rob Przykucki of Motion Instruments

 

Cummulative compression stroke travel (mm)*

RIDER 1

RIDER 2

Travel Without CushCore (mm)

107,907

81,745

Travel With CushCore (mm)

91,281

69,111

% REDUCTION

15%

16%

CushCore dissipates impact energy before it reaches the suspension.

FASTER ROLLING

3.2% less rolling resistance than tubeless

INDEPENDENT TESTING

Wheel Energy, an independent tire and wheel testing contractor based in Finland, performed rolling resistance tests for CushCore. They apply a fixed load to simulate the rider’s weight and roll the wheel on a drum. The test compares a Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.35 tubeless tire with and without CushCore at 25 psi. 

CushCore reduced rolling resistance by 3.2% compared to standard tubeless tires.

Standard tubeless tire: 37.1 watts
CushCore equipped tire: 35.9 watts
Energy savings: 1.2 watts (3.2%)


BENEFITS

  • Less rolling resistance / fast rolling
  • Suspension benefits help preserve forward momentum through rough terrain
  • Freedom to run lightweight tires with supple, fast-rolling casings without compromising lateral stability or impact protection
  • Tires can be run at low pressure for improved flotation in sand

 

INTERPRETATION

  • On small deflections under normal load (“just riding along”), a tire with CushCore maintains the resilient, elastic qualities of a normal tubeless tire.
  • Like a good suspension fork or shock, CushCore helps preserve forward momentum on rough ground.

 

Rolling resistance measuring machine with simulated off-road terrain.

Test Procedure

  • The tire is mounted on the wheel and inflated
  • Warm-up for 15 minutes before the test
  • Wait 2 hours
  • Rolling Energy measurement of drum only
  • Tire pressure is adjusted
  • Rolling Energy measurement of drum with wheel+tire
  • Rolling Energy measurement of drum only
  • Rolling Energy measurement of drum with wheel+tire

PROTECTION

50% More Protection on Big Hits

BENEFITS

  • Rim protection
  • Prevents flat tires
  • Less rider fatigue
  • More control

Testing

CushCore built a drop test tower to measure impact force. The test simulates a rock impact at speed. An accelerometer mounted on the carriage measures the deceleration rate when it impacts the tire (“G-force”). A violent impact delivers a sharp jolt to the rider and increases the danger of rim damage or a flat tire. CushCore reduced impact force by 50% compared to standard tubeless tire.

The Drop Test Tower simulates a high-energy rock impact.

Rim damage without CushCore.

 

No rim damage with CushCore.

Part Numbers

Option UPC MPN Store SKU
Gravel.CX Set / 700c 659424991533 70023
Gravel.CX Single / 700c 701822997706 70022-V
PRO Set / 29" 649862952098 29003 12730
XC Set / 29" 701822997577 70027
Plus Set / 29" 653829499748 29203
PRO Single / 29" 701822997683 29002-V 13300
XC Single / 29" 701822997690 70026-V 12025
Plus Single / 29" 701822997676 29202-V
PRO Set / 27.5" 649862952104 27503 12522
XC Set / 27.5" 701822997553 70025 12289
Plus Set / 27.5" 653829499724 27523 12348
PRO Single / 27.5" 701822997652 27502-V
XC Single / 27.5" 701822997669 70024-V 12100
Plus Single / 27.5" 701822997645 27522-V
PRO Set / 26" 653829499700 26003