Recommend some road tyres
Discussion
For a road bike I'm 'restoring'. It will be used for short/medium rides, it's my first road bike, I mainly MTB. Most important, puncture protection! I see too many roadies sitting on the verge fixing punctures! Will quite happily give up speed/performance for a more robust tyre, good grip would be nice!
Budget? £20 per tyre? Am I asking too much?
Budget? £20 per tyre? Am I asking too much?
I've been using Michelin Pro3 race all year and not had a puncture in just under 1800kms riding in all weathers and over fairly varied terrain, country roads etc. I think most punctures are caused by riding on low pressure and people riding in gutters, not the tyres.
I think the Service Course are slightly more durable than the Race and are only £21 from PBK I like Michelin tyres a lot and will replace like for like when the current pair wear out.
They also have Conti GP4000s for £25 too which I ran previously, great tyres but they do feel a bit slower. You cant go wrong with either.
I think the Service Course are slightly more durable than the Race and are only £21 from PBK I like Michelin tyres a lot and will replace like for like when the current pair wear out.
They also have Conti GP4000s for £25 too which I ran previously, great tyres but they do feel a bit slower. You cant go wrong with either.
pablo said:
as an aside, has anyone gone from 23mm to 25mm and noticed a difference?
I went the other way and did. I'll be going back to 25mm soon because it's a fair bit smoother.If you want continental, I recommend Grand Prix 4 seasons over gatorskins. They are the same in the tread but just don't have the hardened sidewalls which make them ride like hosepipes.
My overall recommendation, though, would be for Vredestein Fortezza TriComp folding tyres. They are bang on your budget at ribble, and are a great tyre for the money. My mum has sworn by them for many thousand miles of riding on crappy lanes with CTC groups, so they are resistant, and I've used them to go a little faster
they're a great all-round tyre.http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/t...
And stick with the 25mm black ones. I went for 23mm because I wanted them in red, and regretted it because 25mm are a much nicer ride.
McFsC said:
It's a subject that's brought huge debate, even the Pro teams can't decide. It's roughly 50/50 in the pelaton and 99% down to the riders own choice. If they can't find a difference and they are comfier, they're good enough for me.
Personally I found 25s faster, purely because they are more comfy and feel more surefooted on crap roads.Means I can push harder on sections where I'd back off on 23s.
There is a huge difference in comfort and grip, I took my summer bike out of a nice night a couple of weeks ago when my winter bike was in need of some work.
Going back to the 23s it was running made me realise that I don't want to change back!
Continental Grand Prix 4Seasons in 25mm flavour. All the tyre you need for reliable year-round riding. My 23mm Schwalbe Ultremos didn't get a look in this summer, as I didn't feel the need to switch. As someone else said earlier in the thread, they are just soooo much better than the Gatorskins when it comes to comfort and grip, and anyway - I had more frequent punctures with the Gatorskins on.
I had Mich pro4 service course in 25mm this year on my summer bike, but they are so big the front tyre had less than 1mm clearance from the fork crown, so there was always some bit of grit rubbing in there. I've just got some 23mm replacements from Santa...
At any rate, the pro4 were a decent improvement on pro3s.
At any rate, the pro4 were a decent improvement on pro3s.
I've put 35mm tyres (Marathon Plus) back on my wheels for winter. Huge weight difference to the 23c I was riding all last year, but you soon get use to it, and no puncture every week! Also had belt and braces protection with slime tubes.
Should really have got an interim size, as the mudguard clearance is minimal, but hey, it'll stop raining soon, won't it?
Should really have got an interim size, as the mudguard clearance is minimal, but hey, it'll stop raining soon, won't it?
TSCfree said:
I have some bargain Pro 4's courtesy of this thread, thanks 
Plus they seem to have gone up in price by £2! Just need to find the right wheels now....
Excellent, service course? I have the service course fitted to my new summer bike (yet to be used) I'm looking forward to seeing how they ride. Plus they seem to have gone up in price by £2! Just need to find the right wheels now....HOGEPH said:
I've put 35mm tyres (Marathon Plus) back on my wheels for winter. Huge weight difference to the 23c I was riding all last year, but you soon get use to it, and no puncture every week! Also had belt and braces protection with slime tubes.
Should really have got an interim size, as the mudguard clearance is minimal, but hey, it'll stop raining soon, won't it?
Is the huge difference about 5 mph? Marathon plus with slime tubes must be like riding rims made of lead!Should really have got an interim size, as the mudguard clearance is minimal, but hey, it'll stop raining soon, won't it?
I run 23mm as I'm planning on fitting mudguards in the new year and from what I've read on the net, 25mm can be a bit tight on clearance.
I've also run 25mm and not really noticed much difference. If the op wants ultimate puncture protection, then gatorskins are a good bet. Not very comfortable though. I'm currently running conti four seasons, but next set will be GP4000S, just because I fancy a change
I've also run 25mm and not really noticed much difference. If the op wants ultimate puncture protection, then gatorskins are a good bet. Not very comfortable though. I'm currently running conti four seasons, but next set will be GP4000S, just because I fancy a change
Disco You said:
Is the huge difference about 5 mph? Marathon plus with slime tubes must be like riding rims made of lead!
Well I'm already carrying about 3 stone of extra fat, it was more the puncture protection I was after. Don't fancy having to bugger about changing an inner tube in the rain/dark/snow/cold.Disco You said:
TSCfree said:
I have some bargain Pro 4's courtesy of this thread, thanks Plus they seem to have gone up in price by £2! Just need to find the right wheels now....
Excellent, service course? I have the service course fitted to my new summer bike (yet to be used) I'm looking forward to seeing how they ride. Plus they seem to have gone up in price by £2! Just need to find the right wheels now....Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff