Touring - Good wheels/tires

I went to the bike shop yesterday and they didn't have any touring bikes. Chalk one up for Ken Kifer (http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/index.htm) for his bike shop musings. Despite not having any bikes, they gave me the quick and dirty on what a touring bike should have. Finding low gears and panniers I can handle, but I have no idea what to look for on wheels/tires. The gentleman at the shop said they just need to be stronger than average.

What are some brands known for strong wheels and tires. I searched the forum and found nothing, so here's your chance to shout out your favorite wheels.

-john

Just for the record: college student on a budget here.

The standard touring tyre would probably be Continental Top Touring in 32mm. You should be able to fit wider tyres for poor roads, maybe up to 40mm.
Touring wheels are usually handbuilt from rims/spokes/hubs.
Standard brands are Mavic, Sun, Alesa, Campagnolo for rims.
DT, Wheelspith, Sapim for spokes
Shimano, Campagnolo, Phill Woods for hubs.

For some good examples check out Bruce Gorden and Peter White websites.

Michael,

That's exactly what I was hoping to get. I'll check out the brands you mentioned.

-john

I can highly recommend my combo of Hope hubs, with DT spokes and Mavic T 520 rims and Conti Top Touring tyres (Though I have mine in 28 mm at the moment)

What do you guys think of MA3s? Performance has a 105/MA3 wheelset on sale fot $100 bucks for bothe wheels.

For loaded touring I think you might want as big as a 700x35 or 37 tire.
wheels youy want 36 spokes at least in the back and I would go for a sealed bearing hub,
shimano, tange or Phil Wood.
Check out the rivendell bicycle works site for some good touring wheels.

My 520 currently has Continental Top Touring tires: 700x32 front and 700x37 rear. On the rear wheel, the 37 is really more comfortable than the 32 over those nasty cracks and potholes, especially when the bike is loaded with stock and the trailercycle which adds maybe 30 lb on the rear wheel. I could fit a slightly wider rear tire (41-42 mm), but in front, 37 mm would be a very tight fit with fenders.

If you plan to cycle in mud or snow, it's very difficult to find cyclocross tires (knobbies) narrower than 700x37.

Sun rims, Wheelsmith spokes, Chris King hubs (if you can stand the "mad hornet" sound of the freewheel). Personally, I've had a 75% failure rate with Mavic rims and lots of popped DT spoke heads.

Second the sugestion of checking the Rivendell site. They claim 105 is as good as you need in a hub.

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ