Which Road Bike Tyres?

[DanB7290]

It's about time the tyres on my Specialized Allez were replaced. 3000 odd miles done, the rear has a decent sized slit in it, front seems OK. They are the original "Espoir" tyres that were fitted from the factory. I'm looking at tyres left right and centre, but not sure which ones to go for.

Reviews all seem to point to either Continental GP5000 for outright performance, or Gatorskins for durability. While I am cycling a lot more these days, I don't think it's enough to warrant GP5000, and while Gatorskins will be very welcome for their durability, they seem a little on the pricey side.

Most of my riding is somewhere between 15-25 miles per ride, but I am eyeing up the Leicester-Skegness ride this summer which is near as damn it 100 miles. During the winter I don't tend to head out as much and have now discovered the amazing power of Zwift, for which I'll keep my knackered tyres; no need wrecking decent rubber on a turbo!

All in all, budget is £50 for both tyres. Would have loved the color edition Pirelli P Zero Velo but can almost replace 2 tyres on my Focus for the same money!

[nammynake]

You won’t find much for under £25 a tyre but I’ve just stumbled upon these and they look a bargain for £12 each:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-zaffiro-pro-fold...

[addey]

I've not tried these but they look great value for money

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Goodyear/Eagle-Sp...

I've been running Hutchison Fusion 5 Performance (albeit tubeless) which I've been very happy with - £10 over your budget for a pair though

Had GP5000 last year but wasn't impressed at all, sidewall failure which seems to be common with conti tyres....

[boyse7en]

I got a pair of conti GP5000 about a year ago and they have been great. Not had a puncture yet in about 1250 miles and they are way more supple.and comfy that the specialized originals that were on my bike from new.
They were about £55 for the pair

[2ono]

boyse7en said:

I got a pair of conti GP5000 about a year ago and they have been great. Not had a puncture yet in about 1250 miles and they are way more supple.and comfy that the specialized originals that were on my bike from new.
They were about £55 for the pair

Another vote for GP5000’s got them on both my bikes.

[Dnlm]

boyse7en said:

I got a pair of conti GP5000 about a year ago and they have been great. Not had a puncture yet in about 1250 miles and they are way more supple.and comfy that the specialized originals that were on my bike from new.
They were about £55 for the pair

Same here. I've have 1 puncture in a few thousand miles, had 4 in a few hundred on specialized tyres they replaced. Running them tubeless.

Gators are a bit slow when 5000s are pretty sturdy anyway.

addey said:

I've not tried these but they look great value for money

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Goodyear/Eagle-Sp...

Goodyear are pretty decent bang for buck as they are (re) entering the market

[Master Bean]

https://www.merlincycles.com/continental-grand-spo...

Bang in budget.

[numtumfutunch]

In true PH tradition I will rec GP5000's as thats what fitted to the bike I will be riding tomorrow

Previously Ive covered tens of thousands of km's on GP4000s in spring/summer and GP 4 Seasons in winter/autumn when Im happy to sacrifice a tiny bit of rolling resistance for better puncture protection

Cheers

[Stick Legs]

Still on GP4000S. Been riding them since 2014. I guess when my stock of spares runs out I'll go to GP5000.

No complaints, tried Vittoria Corsa, Pirelli Road P-Zero and Panaracer Race.

Continental are my favourites.

[Harpoon]

addey said:

I've not tried these but they look great value for money

https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Goodyear/Eagle-Sp...

I've been running Hutchison Fusion 5 Performance (albeit tubeless) which I've been very happy with - £10 over your budget for a pair though

Had GP5000 last year but wasn't impressed at all, sidewall failure which seems to be common with conti tyres....

I've also been very happy with Fusion 5 Performance 28mm (also tubeless). My goto on my old road bike (with tubes) was Conti GP 4 Season.

[Bathroom_Security]

Cant be arsed to look at cost but do the specialized turbo clinchers come in near budget? Not the cotton ones, the black turbo pro.

They are fairly decent. I've run those awful espioir or whatever they are called tires on my own allez and now have the turbo pro hand me down tires from my tarmac on the allez and they are a much better tire but can't comment on durability.

I'd sooner shell out for gp5000 if possible, brilliant tire. I'd run them but I need hookless for my rims so I use schwalbe pro one. Not quite a gp5000.

[defblade]

Another GP5000 vote.
I couldn't believe that just changing tyres (road-tyre-to-road-tyre, anyway) could improve a bike that much!
I have a new pair waiting to go straight on my new bike in about a month's time

[Shirt587]

I am not a Lycra clad legend.
More a weird hybrid of trackies and a backpack with Shimano clipless pedals... However I do have a very similar ride distance to you.
I bloody hate Gatorskins. Changing them always is a fight and I nearly lose the skin on my thumbs.
However, I’ve been averaging 2500 miles between punctures over the last six years and that includes commuting (pre-Covid) on potholed and rubbish strewn city streets. They’re incredibly long lasting for me. What usually does them in is cheap Halfords tubes and a big hole or seriously sized stone. Or in one case, I made a mess of setting new brake blocks and they ate through the sidewall as they wore...

ETA: I’m not chasing speed, just a nearly free commute. Purpose and outcome may not be appropriate for you!

[lufbramatt]

Schwalbe one pros are worth a go if you see any on offer. Much prefer them to the contis gp4000s they replaced. Much more confident cornering.

[MiseryStreak]

GP5000s are the best. They’re an improvement on GP4000Ss, which were previously the best.
Gatorskins are ste.

For an extra few quid for all those thousands of miles of cycling, there’s no point buying slightly cheaper, and heavier and lethal in the wet tyres.

[PeteinSQ]

It has been so long since I did nay serious cycling that they were GP3000s last time I looked and they were my go to tyres.

There used to be a tyre from Bontrager that was pretty much puncture proof. I remember the tread actually coming off part of it and it still going strong (if a little bumpy).

[oddball1313]

I’ve been a fan of Vittoria Control Corsas for years, bit out of the budget though.

[mikecassie]

GP5000's get my vote as well. I've got them on two bikes and running them tubeless, so far all ok. That's probably fked it though.
I'd GP4000's before and they were good as well. I prefer the tubeless 5000's for being able to run a lower pressure, I can't say they are better for grip over the 4000's.

[g7jhp]

I'm running GP4000S on my old bike, but my new Roubaix came with Turbo Pro tyres in 700 x 28mm and they've been great.

I did originally think I'd be swapping for GP5000s but will stick with the Turbo Pros on the next change.

[DanB7290]

Thanks for the suggestions, pretty unanimous so I have bought some GP5000s. Half the budget again (£75 for the pair from Wiggle) but this many recommendations can't be wrong! Now all I have to do is work out how to fit them...