Road tyres and tubes - what do you recommend.

[Manicminer]

I recently bought a Giant Rapid 1 for my training rides and commute after using an MTB with slicks for years, I could do with some recommendations on tyres and tubes.

It was brand new a month or so ago and already I've had 3 punctures and the tube looks to be splitting at the seams already. The tyres were pointed out as the only real weak point with this bike and to be honest I don't have much faith in them.

I'm looking for some good long lasting fairly puncture resistant tyres for use on urban roads and country roads. I'd like to pair them up with quality inner tubes that'll last and won't mind being repaired once or twice.

I've got a budget of £60 all in and am quite happy to use eBay or any other online retailer if anyone has a good source.

The tyres on the bike at the mo are Giant Flat Guard P-R3's in 700x23C size. (Not really living up to their name!)

I have my eye on these ones (maybe in a 25C size?)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-ultra-gatorski...

No idea on tubes though.

[MadDad]

Gatorskins have a great reputation, although I have to admit I have never used them.

I am running Michelin Krylion Carbon's on my road bike and highly rate them, 2,000 miles without a puncture so far! Currently fitted with schwalbe tubes which seem quite durable and have never given me an issue, you could go lighter but for me this combo has worked really well to date. If you decide to go with it you will have plenty of change from £60!

If you want something with more grip Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres get a good review, again I have never ridden them though!

[Manicminer]

Ta for that I'll have a read up on those, not too fussed about the weight either.

[Teebs]

Conti GP4000s.

Roll great, last for ages, pretty good puncture protection.
gatorskins are OK, nightmare to get on the rim when brand new.

[anonymous-user]

previously i used continental ultra sports but they didnt inspire much confidence in the wet so i use conti gp4000s now which are a bit better. i also use conti tubes, just the regular 5 for £15 ones from wiggle.

i also pray to the god of thorns, bits of glass, nails and sharp pieces of gravel each morning, sacrificing a large bowl of cornflakes in his honour....

[Manicminer]

Thanks all, does this praying thing work?

[giarc]

I've just fitted gp4000s onto my allez after the standard tyres, and the difference is honestly day and night. They roll so much quicker and the grip is a class above. They are also a fair bit lighter than what I was used to so that can't do any harm. They were £23 each from rose bikes I that helps you.

[TheInternet]

Teebs said:

gatorskins are OK, nightmare to get on the rim when brand new.

This is true if you find getting out of bed a nightmare due to the weight of the duvet, or prefer half-pints due to the nightmarish effort of lifting a full 562ml.

My recent round up had a few names pop up most frequently. GP4000s as the best all rounder, and most expensive. Gatorskins/Marathon Plus similarly priced, the former lighter/faster, the latter heavier/tougher. Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case seemed to pop up too, slightly cheaper still IIRC.

[AyBee]

Krylion Carbons here along with Airwave tubes from Chain Reaction. Not had them on long but they seem decent enough. The tubes were bought purely because they're £25 for 10 so I just swap them in without worrying about mending the holes - should probably get around to mending a few sometime

[JaseB]

Kryions here too, only a couple of months and a few hundred miles but no punctures and not too dear here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Michelin-Krylion-Carbon-...

[bikemonster]

Another vote for Conti GP4K's. Just great tyres! All the things that you read in tyre reviews that make you think "What a load of old cock"...things like 'rolls well', 'feels supple', 'spins up easily'.

The best thing about these tyres is that they are very light...and that makes more difference than you can imagine.

As for tubes, use butyl rubber tubes. There are lighter latex tubes out there, but air escapes from them and they prolly aren't worth the hassle.

One more thing: some people seem more puncture-prone than others. I think it's a combination of not watching what you ride over and not bunny-hopping/unweighting over obstacles.

[TheInternet]

Teebs said:

gatorskins are OK, nightmare to get on the rim when brand new.

Update: Definitely not difficult to take off and replace, even when they're only ~50 miles old (wire bead variant). Alas, it looks like puncture protection may prove totally inadequate for glass-ridden London roads.

[ratbane]

bikemonster said:

Another vote for Conti GP4K's. Just great tyres! All the things that you read in tyre reviews that make you think "What a load of old cock"...things like 'rolls well', 'feels supple', 'spins up easily'.

The best thing about these tyres is that they are very light...and that makes more difference than you can imagine.

As for tubes, use butyl rubber tubes. There are lighter latex tubes out there, but air escapes from them and they prolly aren't worth the hassle.

One more thing: some people seem more puncture-prone than others. I think it's a combination of not watching what you ride over and not bunny-hopping/unweighting over obstacles.

All of this.

[Manicminer]

Well, I finally got a pair of Krylions and spent a very painful afternoon persuading the bd fking things that they really are meant to fit on my rims.

If I do get a puncture I suspect you'll be able to hear me scream from Space as the fking things pinch punctured two good tubes before I managed to wrestle them on.

Tomorrow will be the first ride out on them so I'm going to pray at the above mentioned Church of the puncture gods tonight

[AyBee]

Manicminer said:

Well, I finally got a pair of Krylions and spent a very painful afternoon persuading the bd fking things that they really are meant to fit on my rims.

If I do get a puncture I suspect you'll be able to hear me scream from Space as the fking things pinch punctured two good tubes before I managed to wrestle them on.

Tomorrow will be the first ride out on them so I'm going to pray at the above mentioned Church of the puncture gods tonight

Surprised to hear this. Got mine on easily with a set of metal levers (about £2 from ebay), stick a bit of air in the tube and then wiggle the tyre to make sure the tube isn't pinched all the way around and then pump up to full pressure. Mine were a doddle

[Jimbo.]

Be aware that there's the Continental GP4000 (plural GP4000s) and the GP4000S (plural GP4000S'): there's a world of difference in the two The GP4000 is Conti's older - and now cheaper - clincher road tyre. The GP4000S has their "Black Chilli" tyre compound, is hand made in Germany, and is their top-end clincher tyre. It's also the mutts nuts, rolling fast and sticking like st to a blanket.

You can get them in 25mm width (the best width - roll faster and more comfort) from eBay, here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Continental-GP-4000-S-Ro...
.
..and at this price, I strongly recommend you do! Used that particular eBay shop with no problems

Edited by Jimbo. on Friday 18th May 19:09

[amnesia182]

Manicminer said:

Well, I finally got a pair of Krylions and spent a very painful afternoon persuading the bd fking things that they really are meant to fit on my rims.

If I do get a puncture I suspect you'll be able to hear me scream from Space as the fking things pinch punctured two good tubes before I managed to wrestle them on.

Tomorrow will be the first ride out on them so I'm going to pray at the above mentioned Church of the puncture gods tonight

They will be much easier to remove and refit now that you've stretched them over your rims.

I highly rate Krylions... I've done a couple of thousand puncture free miles on my current set. They really are very very good.

Top tip though - don't run them at max pressure - they seem to run much better at 95-100psi

[Mr Will]

Jimbo. said:

Be aware that there's the Continental GP4000 (plural GP4000s) and the GP4000S (plural GP4000S'): there's a world of difference in the two The GP4000 is Conti's older - and now cheaper - clincher road tyre. The GP4000S has their "Black Chilli" tyre compound, is hand made in Germany, and is their top-end clincher tyre. It's also the mutts nuts, rolling fast and sticking like st to a blanket.

You can get them in 25mm width (the best width - roll faster and more comfort) from eBay, here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Continental-GP-4000-S-Ro...
.
..and at this price, I strongly recommend you do! Used that particular eBay shop with no problems

Edited by Jimbo. on Friday 18th May 19:09

Have just bought a set and agree they are they dees bees, but wouldn't buy them off ebay when rosebikes have them cheaper - £23 iirc

[anonymous-user]

Gator skins and continental tubes...

Not had a flat.....

[anonymous-user]

Schwalbe Marathons do the job. Ok so you will be a few % slower due to the weight. But if it avoids 1 puncture a month you are quicker & the cycling is far more enjoyable IMHO!