Road Cycling - New Tires

Needed new tires and the local shop owner suggested Vredestein Volante. $50.00 installed. Have since read some bad reviews of these tires. However,did my first ride today(my usual)18.5 miles and my average speed was 18.6. My previous best on my Specialized Turbo was 18.02. All conditions were the same. These tires can be inflated to 145 psi vs 115 on the others. Comments!

Ive got those too. I was running a pair but just recently the back one got a puncture and I think tore the sidewall or I overinflated the tube. Other than that they are indestructible. I had some light weight hutchinson on the bike and I was going through a tube everyother week. I just had to replace my first tube after probably 500 miles on the back wheel. The front one is still going strong. Ive ridden through a lot of crap that would probably puncture other tires but not the volantes. I say you made a good choice!

Human psychology is such an amazing thing! Do you really attribute your very slightly higher speed to the tires? Maybe having new tires just made you feel better.

BTW, almost any road tire can be inflated to 145 psi, even if the max says 120 psi. You won't actually get any statistically relevant performance increase with tires at 145, but human psychology is an amazing thing!

I'm not sure what to attribute it to. That is the reason for the post. Do old,thinning tires not have reduced performace? What ever the reason,I'm glad.

Maybe it was spending the $50.
A guy told me that you can put 140psi in any tire and that the psi ratings are more for the rim????
Last week I took of the 23 Race X-Lites and put on 25 Gator Skins and can't tell a bit of difference???? Only that I got them for $29.

I was having a ton of puncture flats. I purchased a pair of Serfas Seca with their FPS (flat protection system). They are Kevlar weaved or something. I got the pair for under $40.00. These tires have been awesome. I havent had a flat in 300 miles. There are tons of rocks on the road where I ride. That is what was causing the problems with my Redstones. Id buy another pair.

There was a thread a month or so back to the effect that tire pressure in a tire
18 to 25mm wide did not alter the rolling resistance once the pressure was above 90-95 psi. Different tires will have small variances in rolling resistance.
All you accomplish at 145 psi is excessive stress on tire, possibly rim and certainly on you because of the jolting. I tried 120 psi once and felt it was way to hard a tire, noticeable more jolting than 110 psi which is where I ride.
I would advise a significant reduction in psi and less reliance on single day results. Steve

Without getting all technical, I think tire pressure depends a lot on several factors; your weight, width of the tire and your comfort zone (besides road surface conditions). I weight 155 lbs and love riding 700x20s but rarely ever inflated them above 110 PSI just because they give a really hard ride higher than that. I stick with Michellins BTW.

For road tyres I always use Michelin. Best compound around. My mates are saying the New conti sport 2000's (you know the ones with f/r specific treads and compounds) are very good.
Have'nt used them myself but have them ear marked for the training wheels which are being rebuilt as we speak.

I haven't put 145 psi in these tires,about 130. The ride feels ok to me. I had one flat on the Specialized Turbos that were stock on my bike in about 1200 miles. Hell, I probably should have stuck with those.

I(and just about every one in our shop) run Vredestein Fortezas. They are tough, sticky and wear well. I have some 25's on my fixed and skip them stopping and bounce them over stuff all the time with no troubles.
I have been playing with lower pressures and the chamious senses better ride with no noticeable decrease in speed.

After three flats I am just about ready to proclaim these tires pieces of crap. I will give them one final try and if it happens again will get something better. Any suggestions would be appreciated since I have the feeling I will need them(suggestions).

You hace had three flats on the new tires? Do you know what caused the flats? Thorns? Pinch?

I hit a small rock the last time. Before that I am not aware of running over any object at all.

the vred's and hutchisons that only weigh 200gm's will be lighter (duh) in the sidewall and tread. i just switched from heavier michelins (235gm's each) and i can notice that 70gm's lighter is great for handling and cornering. am using 125psi vs. 110psi with the michelins. one week and 150 miles....no flats yet.