Tioga Tension Disk Drive/
Sugino Tension Disc Drive Guide
Ah the Tioga Tension Disk. The greatest aftermarket upgrade ever. Touted as being lighter, stronger, more aerodynamic, and staying true longer...the reality is they are the opposite of all of these things. They do posses some subtle suspension like qualities, but where they really shine...is how they sound and look. Lets face it, thats whats most important here. There are several variants as the wheel evolved over its short lifespan. Here's a quick guide. Know your Disk Drives.
Early Sugino Tension Disc
More commonly known as the Tioga Tension Disk, this wheel was produced by Sugino Japan. Below is an early Sugino Disc Drive with the white mesh variant. Its NOS in the box with wheelbag and instructions. Circa late 80's.
1st Gen Tioga Tension Disk
Next up is the US issue Tioga Tension Disk Drive. These early disk wheels had awful valve access and came with a special inflation hose. They are 36h wheels with the cross lacing pattern and a blue wire mesh between the lattice to 'protect' the Kevlar cords. Circa 90/91
Tioga Tension Disk Pro 36h
Version 1
Tioga then came out with the Tioga Tension Disk Pro. The same 36h cross laced pattern, but without the wire mesh. Hello weight savings! Bummer valve access carries over. Circa 1991.
Tioga Tension Disk Pro 36h Version 2
Best improvement to the disk is the revised access hole.
Tioga Tension Disk Pro 32h
At the end of its life span, Tioga came out with one final variant of the wheel. The Tioga Tension Disk Drive Pro 32h radial laced wheel. This was supposed to be the most reliable and lightest version of the wheel. With the new radial lacing pattern, valve access is no longer an issue.
Tioga Tension Disk Comp 36h
In addition to the Pro, Tioga offered a more affordable (still overpriced) Tension Disk Comp. The Comp was basically the original 36h cross laced mesh wheel, but with the improved valve access hole. Circa 93/94.
Front Tension Disc!
Only a few of these out there. They didn't catch on.
