Road Cycling - The Best Clincher

Forgive me but I've been out of the loop for a few years. I need to get some new rubber for my Rolf Wheels and am at a loss for which tire to get. Several years ago I used continentals tubies and clinchers. My new bike came with some slick Michelins. I've been told that the Vittoria tire is a good one. I'd appreciate your opinions.
Also, I would be using then for fast training/club racing on good roads.

Thanks

Michelin Axial Pros (probably what your bike came with!). Not a high mileage tire (say 1500-2500 miles), but they're light, sticky, and ride sweet. I think Michelin has dropped that line and have something new (read "more expensive") now, but there are still plenty of APs around in the shops.

I like COntinental Grand Prix 3000s. Good tire, excellent grip, reasonable life... and light. And they don't have those annoying blue pinstripes... :D

Originally posted by velocipedio
I like COntinental Grand Prix 3000s. Good tire, excellent grip, reasonable life... and light. And they don't have those annoying blue pinstripes... :D

Strangely enough, the V is totally right!!!

I just replaced my Michelin Axial Pros for Michelin Pro Race's. The AP's where great tires, but i only got ~2000 miles out of them (Major cut from glass in rear tire). I was able to pick up the PR's off ebay for under $55 shipped. The PR's are amazing, and the price was right.

BTW, my PR's are black / black. I couldnt stand the green color in my AP's.

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
Strangely enough, the V is totally right!!!

I agree! Conti Grand Prix 3000's all the way! :)

one more vote for the gp3000.

im for the gp3000

Nope, Your all wrong.
The best Clincher is (drumroll please)

VELOFLEX PAVE.

Made in the old Vittoria Factory (so are Gommitalia by
the way) by the ex Vittoria workers who were replaced
by taiwanese factory workers with absolutely
no cycling perspective or history when Vittoria moved
production to Taiwan.

Sorry bout the rant I'll explain it all someday.. .

Marty

Originally posted by 1oldRoadie
Strangely enough, the V is totally right!!!
Why so strange?

...maybe he meant the mint-green choice for the tires...

Originally posted by velocipedio

Why so strange?

Just looking for buttons. NO OFFENSE MEANT, HONEST:beer:

Continental...make a great tire at any price point. The GP 3000's rock! I like Conti's so much I put 'em on my car.

all i know is I like how the roll compared to my irc triatholon. also turning is cleaner.

I ride Continentals. But, I also pay about half what ya'all in the U.S. pay.

When I first saw the prices in Germany, I assumed that the shop had already converted the pricing to Euros (this was yr. 2000)--$1 = 1 Eur = 1.95 DM. But, when I saw that nice little DM next to the price, and it simultaneously dawned on me that Continental is a German brand, well, I knew that I had a deal.

And, by the way, I have not found that Continentals are nearly as finicky as they are sometimes made out to be.

Cheers,
Jamie

Conti GP 3000 folders.

Very puncture resistant. Good choice of colours. Good price (if you look around)

Stew

Vredestein Fortezzas of course!
:)

I had a set of Vredestein Fortezza Tri-Comps. Good tire. Good grip, comfortable, felt fast. But Threads keptb fraying out of the sidewall. It drove me nuts. I called the distributor and they said "oh, that's normal." Personally, I expect more from a C$60 tire...

Originally posted by velocipedio
I had a set of Vredestein Fortezza Tri-Comps. Good tire. Good grip, comfortable, felt fast. But Threads keptb fraying out of the sidewall. It drove me nuts. I called the distributor and they said "oh, that's normal." Personally, I expect more from a C$60 tire...

Bummer. I use the plain ol' Fortezzas(i think they are just "Fortezza").... they are the cheaper Vredestein. They only come in black, no fancy colors. The seem to last longer. I agree about the ride and the grip. Old skool tubular people can usually be converted to these particular clinchers because of that "ride quality" thing.

Sorta OT...have you ever tried any Vredestein 'cross tires?

Thanks for the response. We should really do a full poll I guess. Some people take their tires very seriously. I'm off to buy some rubber this morning, I'll try the 3000's and the Vittoria's next.

Ciao

i'll be alone then in liking the entire Axial Pro line very much. I just had to change my front Axial Pro tire after 10,000 miles. which can start another thread..... do you have matching tires on your bike?! My rears wear out much faster than the fronts do.

A few months ago I bought Rivendell's RolyPoly 700x28 tires for my hybrid. WOW - these are the roundest, best cornering clinchers I have ever ridden.