Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - fat, stupid, but useful; favorite 28c tire?

i ride a track frame and for a long time i refused to go above 23c for tire width. the sight of anything larger on a track/road frame made me sick. cyclocross setups were the bane of my existence. however, i gave up the MTB at the end of last winter season and have been riding in new and rougher cities and need to get a 28c tire. it's the widest my frame will allow and i want to hear what all you gnarly, seasoned riders have to say about it.

i've had my eye on the specialized armadillo tires. i know they're heavy, but i hear strong. plus they have that nice redwall. i hear they're bad on the rear, for skid and skip stops though. that's my one concern. lets hear what your choice city-fixed tire is.

everybody loves pictures:
http://specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/popups/tiretech06_6.gif

If by "bad on skid and skip stops" you mean "so plastic-y that they don't slow you down and you can skid forever."

I don't like armadillos. IMO they feel like you are riding on plastic. They don't feel very grippy.

I second the "plastic" feel. I used to run slick armadillos on my MTB. Heavy, too.

Try Conitinental ultra sports

Panaracer Tserv.

armadillo's are hard as a rock. i swear by panaracer pasela tg's

armadillo's feel like crayons.
i like conti gatorskins pretty well.

armadillo's are hard as a rock. i swear by panaracer pasela tg's

the pasela tourguard's look pretty knobby... that doesn't bother/slow you down?
they dont look like the best tires for skidding either. i'm non-drilled over here.

for others, here is the pasela tg:
http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/panaracer_pasela_tourguard_.jpg

the panaracer tserv looks better than the pasela (in my opinion). wish i could find something with a little more flare though. i'm in infatuated with that damn redwall.

here's the tserv tire "for messengers"
http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/panaracer_t-serv_tire_1.25.jpg

Specialized All Condition 28's have treated me well. Relatively inexpensive too.

If by "bad on skid and skip stops" you mean "so plastic-y that they don't slow you down and you can skid forever."

i heard from one guy that a chunk came out when he did a skid stop and that was the end of armadillo placement on rear wheel. im used to the rubino pro slick in the back and it has done me right in all conditions. i have to skip on the gnarliest of downhills when it's raining, but i like less resistance.

it seems like a lot of nyc track/messenger shops retail the armadillo and i've seen them around.

anyone from nyc got an opinion?

Vittoria Randonneurs are ok for cheap.

Rivendell ruffy-tuffy/rolly-polly's are really really stinkin nice and durable. I do'nt really know for the hardcore skidder as I really don't skid.

Most of the schwalbes come pretty big, I know a 30+ year bike freak who runs their marathon tires and nothing else.

the pasela tourguard's look pretty knobby... that doesn't bother/slow you down?
they dont look like the best tires for skidding either. i'm non-drilled over here.

for others, here is the pasela tg:
http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/panaracer_pasela_tourguard_.jpg

the panaracer tserv looks better than the pasela (in my opinion). wish i could find something with a little more flare though. i'm in infatuated with that damn redwall.

here's the tserv tire "for messengers"
http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/panaracer_t-serv_tire_1.25.jpg

the tread is less pronounced than it looks in that picture. it certainly doesn't ride like a race tire, but is quite ccomfortable, and has great traction in inclement weather. the tread wears super slow, they're bombproof and cheap.

28c is fat like a supermodel

Conti Gatorskins

Gatorskins. Good grip (especially in rain), no flats, and I've heard that they're good for skidding.

Oh, and the sidewalls are kind of brownish, though it's not very noticeable.

i like the 23c dillo in the back and 25c rubino up front.
the crayon feel is kinda nice you just gotta to tailwhip it a bit more
-G

The tread on the Armadillo seriously does come off like crayon if you skid. >_>''

The Soma Everwear 700x26 (made by Panaracer) are nice so far but I haven't been riding the bike they're on too much lately. Good skidding properties and pretty supple for such a thick tire.

i have speedblends that i bought from target which are like the rivendell version but with a wire bead (and when i got them only costed 15$ each) on my roady for the winter and like em alot.

The tread on the Armadillo seriously does come off like crayon if you skid. >_>''

get outta here. you actually paid for armadillo's? i am shocked and appaled.

come to nyc already.

What makes you think I did something so absurd? roflcaekes

Panaracer Tserv.

seconded. i had a panaracer pasela club on my bike for over two years, when i went to get a new one it had transformed into the Tserv. lasted forever in wisconsin, in s.f. it's about time for a new one after 4 months.

looks like the Tserv takes it. i'll consult some gnar-gnar nyc riders in person and see what they think. if i hear of something that can take on the cobblestone streets, skid stops, and foul weather better than the tserv i'll post again.

I commuted a couple thousand miles this year on a pair of Schwalbe Marathons, in 28. No flats, plenty of life yet. But that's on a geared bike.

what the hell makes me a "senior member"? i've only been on here 6month