Road Cycling - Tires tires tires

I would like to get some (non sew up tires) to replace the aging stock contentals on my Cannondale.
Can you all give me your opinions, insight and recommendations on 700x23 tires? What have you used that wasn't so great, and what do you like? Also, places to get them..

Thanks!

Here are some thoughts from Tom Kellogg, founder and president of Spectrum Cycles.

Tires: First, Tubular v. Clincher. Good tubulars are better than the best clinchers, but unless you already use tubulars or are willing to go through a pretty steep learning curve in tubular use and lore, you should probably stick with clinchers. I use only tubulars because I always have and they are still better tires than clinchers, but keep in mind that I have been using them for over 25 years. The highest performance competition clinchers are the Vittoria Open CXs. Tough enough for racing, but too pricey for day to day use. The best general purpose competition clinchers are still the Michelin Axial Pros. Comfortable, excellent handling (by clincher standards), and fairly tough with a mediocre wear rate. The best general purpose high end clinchers are the Vredestein Tri-Comps and Fortezza. They wear well, are very comfortable and their handling is among the best. For slightly better durability but less comfort the old Conti Grand Prix is still the best. The fastest clincher out there is the Conti Supersonic but we don’t recommend it because it will be toast in a couple hundred miles.

I personally have been using Michelin Axial Carbon Tyres. I was able to get a little over 2000 mi. on them at the end of last year, and they still look like they have a lot of life left in them. (I've heard they are a little more prone to cuts, but I have not experienced any with them). My 2¢!
;)

I ride tubulars for the most part.
My wife rides clinchers and we have
had good luck with Vittoria Rubino pro's
they are a bit better at flat protection, wear etc.
than the open corsa's.
I've heard that the Veloflex tires
are excellent.
and we always here wonderful things about
Tufos.

Marty

Clinchers are getting there, if you're willing to pay for them. At any rate, what kind of riding are you gonna be doing? I've been on Conti Grand Prix Four Season tires for the last couple of years. Not a racing tire, but pretty durable. Same tread pattern as the GP3000 with a more durable casing and kevlar liner. Decent in wet and dry, not great in dry when compared to a racing tire, but it's not a racing tire. You can get them online. I bought mine from Performance, but it might be more of a seasonal thing. LIke I imply, though, it's really a matter of matching your riding to your tire.

Travler,

Do a search for lots more info... it's been discussed. ;)

That said, the Tom Kellogg clincher comments are almost exactly my opinion, although I have no experience with tubulars, and some of the other tires he mentions. I got a pair of Vred Fortezza Tri-comps a couple of weeks ago and like them a lot. A fast, well built tire with good grip. Can't comment as to life span yet. Axial Pros are still my favorite distance tire (not as hard as the 145 psi Fortezza).

Here is my recommendations in order

Vittoria
Michelin
Hutchinson
Conti

Inexpensive tires I reccomend all as they are pretty much identical.

Tubular users sniff too much glue! Clinchers have won Paris robaix, enough said. The michelin axial pros are a very good choice but check with your LBS and see what they have.

I rode on tubs for 12 years than switched to clinchs and have used clinchs now for 18 years and have not wanted to go back.

When I rode on tubs I had to carry 2 extra tubs with me just in case of flats and repairing tubs on the road instead of replacing the tire is a long process; tubs were more fragil than clinchs so they flated more and did not last as long; also tubs have a very limited variety and can be difficult to find tubs in a strange town not alone your favorite brand. With clinchers you have a much larger variety of size, toughness, tread design, weight and even looks (why that has to matter nowadays is beyond me). Also with clinchers you can patch a tube on the road OR replace the tube which ever you prefer. You also do not need to "prestretch" the tire for 48 hours before using it as you have to do with a tub.

So what is the best clincher tire? boils down to personal preference: do you want a flat free tire due to trashy streets (like where I live), or a light and fast tire or something inbetween, do you want a training tire or a racing tire or a touring tire or a time trial tire; do you prefer stiff or soft and on and on and on you can go. Just try the tires and see which ones you will like. Michelin, Continental, Vittoria and Verdestein all make very good tires, but none of those survived my trashy street problem so I had to get tough and go with Specialize turbo Armadillos-the only tire that would suit my commuting and long distance conditions-but would not be my choice if I was going to race.

You didn't say what the roads are like where you ride. The roads around here are littered with all types of trash (glass, wire, pieces of metal, gravel, etc.).
I started riding on Conti Ultra 2000. Got pretty good service from them but also had lots of flats.
My road bike came with Michelin Axial Pro tires. Great tire but averaged a couple of flats a month because of all the trash in the roads.
Switched to Conti GP3000 last year. Excellent tire. :beer:
Put Vittoria Rubino Intrepid PRB Kevlar 3D Compound (that's what is on the tire ;) ) on my commuter. No problems. :thumbup:

I have had excellent luck with two tires. I buy them because they are relatively light, have Kevlar in the tread area so are quite resistant to punctures and are reasonably priced. They are the Specialzied Armadillo Light and the Performance Kevlar Pro. I rode the BTC (400 miles in the mountains of Colorado) last year and not only were there some rough roads (several construction areas) with lots of debris and rocks, but we had downhills where I went 45+ mph. Not a problem. I have had one flat in four years with these tires. And that was when I ran over a rock which sliced the sidewall of the tire. Put in a new tube and $5 bill (I didn't have a $1) and was off.

Unless you are racing, you will want to get a tire with a Kevlar belt in the tread area. They are reasonably light, puncture resistant and relatively inexpensive. The two I've listed and the rest listed are excellent. Just stick with a Kevlar model and any one of then will serve you well. Have Fun!

Originally posted by dws5b
Tubular users sniff too much glue! Clinchers have won Paris robaix, enough said. The michelin axial pros are a very good choice but check with your LBS and see what they have.
Lance Armstrong won 4 TdF on tubulars.
More than enough said.

BTW Axial Pro's are no longer in production,
haven't been for at least a year.

Marty

Oh, you guys are talking about tyres..I saw tire and thought, geez, this guy must tire easily or something...And I've never heard of putting tire on your
bike....Is it light?.....J/k...I had to play bike snob for a few minutes.

I have Specialized Turbos or wheter Cipo uses and I love them. They stick in corners really well. I haven't ridden them far enough to know how long they last though. They also have flack-jacket in them, which helps against flats.

I've also got some Specialized sports or something like that that actually have a little tread pattern on them that I use for rainy days and for general purpose riding and training, since I don't want to wear out my good Turbos. I have no complaints with either tyre.

The good thing about the sports is that they are reasonably priced.

Lance Armstrong won 4 TdF on tubulars

Heck, every TdF has been won on tubulars. Every single one.

How do you all feel about the new tubular clinchers?

My streets are littered with all sorts of man made to natural crud as well as rutted, potholed pavement. I tried the Vitt Rubinos, Conti 3000's, Mich Axial's, Advocet fasttrak?, Verd's Forts and others I forgot the names of; and they all were destoryed before 750 miles and some as early as 45 miles! I even tried Mr Tuffy combined with a Slime Tube to no avail.

Just before every stage of the TDF the road is swept of debris to protect the fragil tubular tires, and even then they still get flats.

The new tubular clincher tire is now a new idea. This idea first surfaced in 1968. These tires are not as light as you would think, in fact most clinchers are lighter than those TUFU tires.

I'm riding the Cipo Specialized Turbo, and those tires are smooth! I noticed an immediate difference after putting these on compared to the Vittoria and Conti I had on my bike. I haven't had them that long, but they corner well, and did I say they're smooth? They ride extremely well!

Hi,
about a million years ago, I had a Caanondale 3.0. The only tire I would put on it was the Hutchinson Profile U. The old Cannondales had a rough ride; and the Hutch took some of the sting out. Nashbar has them on closeout, very nice deal for the money.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=7135

The only reason the pros ride tubulars is they never have to change them. Without chase cars every rider would be on clinchers.

anybody used the Tufo tubular clinchers? I'm thining about trying them when my current tires wear out. They seem like a good idea.

Without chase cars every rider would be on clinchers.

I doubt it. It takes far less time to change a tubular on the road. Granted, they weigh more than a tube does, but I'd bet that wouldn't make enough of a difference to risk 2-4 extra minutes on a tyre swap.

I have had great luck with Michelins...pro race