Classic & Vintage - Name those budget road tires

I'm always looking for budget road tires to put on my bikes that I decide to sell. I'll start with these:

Vittoria Zaffiro- $16.99 each at the LBS. Thin and narrow, they look and ride great. The 25c is very thin, almost like a 23c. 28's are good for cross bikes or off roading.

Continental Ultra Sport- $17.99 each. The 23's are pretty wide (almost like a 26c tire) and roll like a tank. Good for bikes designed for riding through city streets.

Let's add to the list with your rec's. Thanks.

The Continental Ultra Sport is a very good tire. The sidewalls don't get cracks after a month or two, which is a common problem in the Texas heat and sun. They also resist flats well.

hutchinson flash - they're shiny black, which some people might like. I picked mine up for $8/two, but I think they retail for about $16/ea. I expected them to be complete crap, and they've actually held up pretty well - never had flat issues, they also seem to last in the heat (btw, I second ABH's assessment of both the sun and the ultra sport).

They roll like crap, though, and they're hard to put on.

I destroyed a Continental Ultra Sport in a week - the sidewalls are so flimsy.

Nashbar prima 2 and prima plus 2 are as cheap as you can get and I've got no complaints.

Wasn't impressed with the longevity of the Vittoria Zaffiros on my Gazelle. But I think I was as much to blame for that as the tire.

Been happy so far with my IRC Road Winner II Duros. Have a set on both the Cuda and the Schwinn. So far show much less wear than the Vittorias.

hi
are this the same as Continental Ultra SUPERSport (700*23C) ???

hutchinson flash - they're shiny black, which some people might like. I picked mine up for $8/two, but I think they retail for about $16/ea. I expected them to be complete crap, and they've actually held up pretty well - never had flat issues, they also seem to last in the heat (btw, I second ABH's assessment of both the sun and the ultra sport).

They roll like crap, though, and they're hard to put on.

I bought 2 Flash tires for $5 each on sale. After loaning to a friend who did not use them I tried them out. Very hard and painful to install. I got 3 pinch flats and broke 3 tire levers. I ended up cutting one off the rim, scratching it in the process. I did not want to risk flatting on the road when they were so hard to work with.

Peformance and Nashbar often has cheap 700c and 27" tires in the $10 sale range. Sometimes they are kevlar belted.

You cann those budget?
Dang.

Nashbar housebrand tires are *usually* mfgrd. by Panaracer (which I like the best) or IRC ( not as good, IMHO) but when they're really cheao, and you're pinching pennies, they do just fine. I've had varying results with Vittorias, Hutchinsons and Contis. I usually spent more $ on these brands to begin with, so expect more from them...and Vittorias have dissapointed me most, followed closely by Hutchinson (tho I am commuting on a mixed set of 28C Excels, which are shaping up to be pretty good for Hutches, not so hard to mount and decent performance, so far). Contis have usually rewarded me with good ride, mileage and no disasters...yet...but not 100% of their offerings. I'm a bit suspicious of how the cheaper Thailand-made Contis will prove out compared to the EU-made classics. As always, YRMV.

In October Nashbar had their Panaracer Pasela's on sale cheap and then had a 20% off sale on top of that. I stocked up on their 700x28 and 32 tires. It worked out to about $5.50 per tire not including shipping. Also about a year ago, they closed out some house branded 1 1/4 Kendas for like $2.50 each, so I bought a dozen. Cheaply manufactured, but they work well for CL bikes.

I would sure like some 27x1 gumwall tires. I like the look better than blackwall on my Paramounts and Raleigh Pro.

Any ideas?

[QUOTE=cuda2k]Wasn't impressed with the longevity of the Vittoria Zaffiros on my Gazelle. QUOTE]

Go on, admit it, you only bought them because the colour matched your bike (I guess we've all been there at some point!)

I have used Michelin Oruim on two diffrent bikes that I work on.They run about 16 bucks each at my local bike shop I've seen them online for about the same. Not as flat resistant as my old armadillos but those run about 30 bucks each and are a million times more difficult to put on to a bike.

I would sure like some 27x1 gumwall tires. I like the look better than blackwall on my Paramounts and Raleigh Pro.

Any ideas?

27" x 7/8" kevlar folding gumwalls - 165 grams. $11.95

http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=696

[QUOTE=cuda2k]Wasn't impressed with the longevity of the Vittoria Zaffiros on my Gazelle. QUOTE]

Go on, admit it, you only bought them because the colour matched your bike (I guess we've all been there at some point!)

Yup, I admit it was certainly a factor in the purchase. So was the price at the time as I was putting the build together on a pretty tight budget. Next set of tires will be Vittorias, though I will be stepping up to the Rubino Pros which I've heard good things about and I'll just have to remember to be light with that rear brake lever.

27" x 7/8" kevlar folding gumwalls - 165 grams. $11.95

http://harriscyclery.net/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=696

i ordered a bunch a couple a weeks ago. As other members have stated, the tires have very low rolling resistance, and i shaved almost a pound off my bike. but i have had 2 pinch flats (my fault) and 2 punctures (probably from tiny rocks) already. Still, they look great and they can hold at least 120 psi, i run them at 130 psi.

Vittoria Zaffiro- $16.99 each at the LBS. Thin and narrow, they look and ride great. The 25c is very thin, almost like a 23c. 28's are good for cross bikes or off roading.


If I'm gonna pop for $17 on a budget tire, I'd rather just bite the bullet and spend $30 for a top of the line road skin. I started using Michelin Pro Race 2's over a year ago, and will not use anything else. They are fast and comfortable, and last for a reasonable amount of time. At $30 ea delivered, I just grin and bear it for my main rides.

For budget, I buy the Nashbar Prima's.

I wonder if Nashbar is phasing out 27" tires. I bought a bunch of conti 1000 27x1-1/4 last summer for $6.99 each, but the no longer have them. I have them on several bikes and they seem to be very durable if not super light.

Well I got lucky and got a barely used Specialized turbo 27 1/4 tire, now I need another bald for the back.

I wonder if Nashbar is phasing out 27" tires. I bought a bunch of conti 1000 27x1-1/4 last summer for $6.99 each, but the no longer have them. I have them on several bikes and they seem to be very durable if not super light.

I bought a bunch of those Conti 1000 in 27 and 700c size last year, too, and have been pleased with them. What I've read about Nashbar is that they stock surplus, so supply will vary considerably. Another reasonably priced and often-discounted tire is Panaracer Pasela. The 700 x 32 tire is a cushy ride.

Neal

I wonder if Nashbar is phasing out 27" tires. I bought a bunch of conti 1000 27x1-1/4 last summer for $6.99 each, but the no longer have them. I have them on several bikes and they seem to be very durable if not super light.

I asked them this a couple weeks ago. They said they'll re-stock in February.

Continental no longer makes the 1000 series of tire. I ordered 4 27x1-1/4 from Nashbar when they were on sale and got one so I am assuming I got the last one. Roger