Which road tires do you use?

[Borg]

Am thinking of swapping out my road tires this summer. I currently have the stock tires (Bontragger) that came with my Trek...but, I am looking into these three:

1) Michelion - Krylion Carbon Road Tire
2) Continental - Ultra Gatorskin Folding Road Tire
3) Vittoria Diamonte Pro Road Tire

...what are your recommendations, comments, or good luck with tires you've used and why you like them.

Thanks in advance.

[mtnbiker]

No one else has chimed in, so I'll throw in my 2 bits.

I've usually used Continental Ultra 2000 kevlar tires (decent price and seemed to ride and wear well), but I haven't seen them available lately. I tried a Michelin or Vredestein or something once, but it was so tight on the rim that I always had a hard time getting it off to fix flats. I'm still using some Vittoria Rubinos that came with my bike, but the front tire has a bulge in the sidewall. My wife's front tire, a Hutchinson Top Speed, has an even worse bulge. I saw a rave review on Continental Grand Prix 4000s tires a few months ago, so I got some when ProBikeKit had a great sale on them. We need to put them on the bikes and see how they ride.

If you haven't seen the site yet, look at the user reviews at www.roadbikereview.com. Of the 3 tires you mentioned, the Michelin got the best overall review.

[Borg]

Thanks mtn..I am leaning to the Michelin as well. They seem to have the better overall ratings in the reviews I've read as well.

I'll check out your link...

[Coach McGuirk]

I use Bontrager Race X lite hard cases. They are training tires and have been pretty much bomb proof as far as flats. They are not the lightest tire at 260 grams, but that is pretty good for a hard case. I usually get a little heavier stuff so it can support my fat ass.

[bluegoose]

I've used a couple of different Michelins in the past and have really liked them. My new road bike last year came with Michelin Dynamics and they were great tires. Its got a great feel on tight corners and seem to wear really evenly.

I've also used the Continental 2000s and have really liked them as well.

The last few years when I've bought new tires I've gone with Specialized Mondo All Condition road tires. This is by far my favorite all-around road tread. Its not a racing tire by any means, but is great for all around riding. It lasts forever and is practically bullet-proof. I've ridden probably 7,000 miles without a flat, and have gotten probably 2,000-3,000 miles out of each pair. This includes lots of trainer miles, which are brutal on tires.

One of my buddies races on Vittoria Diamontes and he really likes them. I've never used them though.

[Borg]

Well, was convinced to buy the....

Vittoria Diamonte Pro II

It has a TPI (threads per inch) of 220, which is supposed to make your ride a lot more comfy...and has a decent rating for puncturability.

So...the trade off is, if you go with a higher TPI (Michelin and Gatorskins are a LOT tougher, lower TPI, and is supposed to last forever,...but they ride like bricks)...you get a better ride, but a bit less longevity.

I figure I can live with a new set of tires every 3rd year or so...so, I went with the comfy riding Vittorias.

Good timing too...my Bontragger tires upon inspection when I pulled them off...had two divots that actually went through the casing. Worse than I thought.

The Vittorias were tough to get over my wheel rim...and actually gave myself a pinch flat just trying to get the rear tire over the rim (gah!)...so, I had to toss a tube just installing the tire. But once I got them on....nice!

Just rode in to work, and the handling on corners seemed much more responsive etc.

[mtnbiker]

I thought I'd bump this thread back up and see if anyone had any new tire suggestions. I mentioned the Conti 4000s tires early in the thread, as they were highly recommended by Bicycling and by some local riders I talked to. They said they easily got 3000 miles on theirs.

Well, the sidewalls have now blown out on both of the tires. Those on the Nebo ride remember the dramatic rear blow-out. I rode up the South Fork yesterday, seemingly without a problem, but this morning the tube is blown and the tire casing is split. I had seen a little scuffing on the tire at that spot, and was cautious about it. I loved the feel of the tires - very light, quick to spin up, very supple, and good grip, but if they only last 700 miles or so, like mine did, they're not worth it.

Maybe I'm too fat for the 700c x 23? I haven't had this problem with other tires. Should I try a 25? What tire widths do you all use?

[creekster]

I thought I'd bump this thread back up and see if anyone had any new tire suggestions. I mentioned the Conti 4000s tires early in the thread, as they were highly recommended by Bicycling and by some local riders I talked to. They said they easily got 3000 miles on theirs.

Well, the sidewalls have now blown out on both of the tires. Those on the Nebo ride remember the dramatic rear blow-out. I rode up the South Fork yesterday, seemingly without a problem, but this morning the tube is blown and the tire casing is split. I had seen a little scuffing on the tire at that spot, and was cautious about it. I loved the feel of the tires - very light, quick to spin up, very supple, and good grip, but if they only last 700 miles or so, like mine did, they're not worth it.

Maybe I'm too fat for the 700c x 23? I haven't had this problem with other tires. Should I try a 25? What tire widths do you all use?

I generally love contis and their top tourers, which I used for commuting for years but which they no longer make, to my unhapiness, have lasted for EVER with me (menaing 1000s of miles easily). But I have heard bad things about those 4000s. Your experience is not atypical. It is the tire and not the rider, IMO.

I use 28s on my crit frame and 37s on my commuter.

[RC Vikings]

I've been using Hutchinsons for the past two years just because they seem to be on sale all the time. I had one flat last year and with over 4000 miles on them I can live with that. I bought some ugly silver ones on Bonktown (I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you Bez) that I can't wait to put on the bike this year. They retailed for $60 and I picked them up for $20. I rode on Michelin's for years they were great. One advantage of the Hutchinsons over the Michelin is they are not as tight on the rim so it's makes it easier to change. Not a big deal unless you are pinching tubes all the time.

[creekster]

Not a big deal unless you are pinching tubes all the time.

that is why i use bigger tires. I HATE pinch flats. in fact, I hate flats altogether. If I am going to shame may ancestors by wearing lycra in public, I want to do it while actually riding, as opposed to sitting by the side of the orad changing a tire.

[bluegoose]

Maybe I'm too fat for the 700c x 23? I haven't had this problem with other tires. Should I try a 25? What tire widths do you all use?

I am currently riding on 700 x 25, but that is an accident as I thought I was grabbing a 23 and didn't realize that I had grabbed the wrong size until I was beyond the point of no return (already on the rim).

I've ridden a 21 in the past, but I don't really see any reason to be doing that with the type of riding that I do.

The one problem that I have with the 25s is that with the compact frame that I use it is so tight at the point of the triangle near the rear brakes that unless I have them inflated just right I get some rubbing. As soon as I wear this one out I will go back to a 23.

I've also had some sidewall issues with Conti 2000s in the past. Same for the Michelins. Great feel for both of the tires, but I didn't get nearly enough mileage out of them to make it worth it to me.

[bluegoose]

I've been using Hutchinsons for the past two years just because they seem to be on sale all the time.

Which Hutchinson did you go with?

[PaloAltoCougar]

I've been using Hutchinsons for the past two years just because they seem to be on sale all the time. I had one flat last year and with over 4000 miles on them I can live with that. I bought some ugly silver ones on Bonktown (I'm not sure whether to thank you or curse you Bez) that I can't wait to put on the bike this year. They retailed for $60 and I picked them up for $20. I rode on Michelin's for years they were great. One advantage of the Hutchinsons over the Michelin is they are not as tight on the rim so it's makes it easier to change. Not a big deal unless you are pinching tubes all the time.

This stuns me. I have 23s (nothing great--Vittorio Zaffiros), always keep them inflated around 120, and yet I've had at least 7-8 flats on the rear tire in the past eight months riding close to 3,000 miles. They're almost always slow leaks, and I discover them before I start a ride. I always check the tire and the rim for any debris, cracks, holes, etc. My most recent disaster was Saturday, with a a rare blowout and then a second flat coming after 45 miles. Mrs. PAC finished the ride and came back and picked me up, as I was out of CO2. While I waited for her, I inspected everything very carefully and noticed a small hole in the tire so I tossed that and put another on when we got home.

If that doesn't help I may be buying some Hutchinsons soon. Any other suggestions for flat avoidance are appreciated.

[creekster]

Any other suggestions for flat avoidance are appreciated.

Fatter tires. On my commuter I ride 37s. It is a touring frame so the size is handled easily with the frame, fork and cantilevered brakes. I have had extacly two flats in 6 years, and this includes rides from SLC to St. George, down the Calif., coast, many daily commutes, off road, etc. Moreover, I am no light load. The flats just don't happen. I know the tires are not cool, but they always feel pretty cool when I relaize that I ma the one that always asks if someon needs help with a flat and I never have to answer that quesiton.

The only bike I regularly get flats on is on our triple, and that is explained, I think, just by the fact that you have three people on one set of tires. I use 28s on the triple, but we get a flat about every few hundred miles or so, on average.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Fatter tires....

Good counsel. I'll have to see how much fatter I can go with the frame. Obviously 37s, or anything north of 30, won't work, but I'll definitely look at somewhat fatter if that'll help. Since we typically cruise along in the 16-17 mph range, I don't think size matters, or so I've assured myself lo these many years.