Road Cycling - What Tyres Are The Best

I use PRO RACE 23C tyres and find them good, but cut up easily. I was wondering is there a better product out there? What tyres do you race & train on?

I don't race but I have had pretty good experiences with Continental GP3000s which I believe are actually considered race tyres as far as clinchers go. I get pretty decent mileage from them and they handle reasonably well in most weather. I don't find them to be particularly flat-prone either.

I just switched for the Continental to the Tufo. I have limited miles on the Tufo, just put them on Tuesday. I will have to say that they are very to a tubulars.

Originally posted by khuon
I don't race but I have had pretty good experiences with Continental GP3000s which I believe are actually considered race tyres as far as clinchers go. I get pretty decent mileage from them and they handle reasonably well in most weather. I don't find them to be particularly flat-prone either.
I have Conti GP3000s and recently had my first flat in over 2000 miles. :beer:

I have heard that Trek Matrix rims + conti tires make for a real b*tch to get on and off. any comment on this?

Also, anyone tried the vittoria Open Corsa CX? I think its on sale right now...it looks decent? what about vredestien? I have heard bad things about manufacturing defects...and testimonials here?

Originally posted by RonH
I have Conti GP3000s and recently had my first flat in over 2000 miles. :beer:

My last set of GP3000s didn't see a flat until 4000 miles (I was trying to be cheap by attempting to stretch out the life of the tyres) but they were pretty thin by that time and I flatted twice that day. The first one cut the casing enough for the second one to occur. I think the inner tube got exposed or maybe there was still bits of glass from the first puncture hiding. Anyways, it blew on a fast downhill. There was a nice long split in the casing. Luckily it was a rear tyre and luckily I was going straight and luckily I was already scrubbing speed because I was coming up to a light. No rim damage but I did have to hoof it home in cycling shoes. Luckily I was only a mile from home.

I got GP 3000's on the bike when I bought it. Over 1,300 miles without a flat, but I have some cracks where the tread meets the sidewall. I've heard rumors about Conti problems with sidewalls. I just got some Hutchinson Carbon Comps at the shop to try out. I won't make any comments about flats, not that I believe in jinxes.:eek:

Recently switched from Michelin Axial Carbons to Vredestein Fortezza Road. The Michelins wore like iron, but had a somewhat harsh ride. They were also exceedingly difficult to get on and off my semi-aero rims. The Vreds ride much smoother, although I am running them at about 110psi, not anywhere near the 145 max they claim. I can put them on the rim by hand, but after having one pop off my front rim 7 miles into a ride, I am very careful to make sure the bead is seated well when I mount them. Durability is still a question, since I only have about 500 miles on them. I hope they last because I really like the way they ride.

Here's a second vote for the Fortezza. My dealer says they are not a high mileage tire, but with a ride like that, who cares. What they are, is a handmade
tire designed to give a sweet ride, with good handling, and middling durabitity.

Vittoria Open Corsa Evo-CX When I got them out of the box and saw the difference in material and construction in contrast to the Conti GP300's and my Hutchinsons I had been ridding on I was shocked! I would NEVER ride on any other type of tire. There is just no compairson, plus I can lay the bike over with confidence. Spend the bucks, and get real tires, they are worth it.

Originally posted by Phatman
I have heard that Trek Matrix rims + conti tires make for a real b*tch to get on and off. any comment on this?

Also, anyone tried the vittoria Open Corsa CX? I think its on sale right now...it looks decent? what about vredestien? I have heard bad things about manufacturing defects...and testimonials here?

Matrix + Conti = Frustration. True

Vittoria Open Corsa CX is excellent. True

Vredestein are good. True. I've had no problems, however, many friends have had bad luck with uneven tread and poor beads. I hope those problems are solved.

The 2003 Cannondale R1000 came with Continental GP 3000's as standard equipment. The 2004 R1000 comes with Hutchison Reflex foldables.

Is this an upgrade or a step down?

I've got ~2.5K miles on a set of Vred Fortezza Tri-comps. It's a fairly light, tough tire with a good ride. It's sturdy (has to be to handle 145psi, I suppose), and easy to mount. My back tire is getting fairly squared off, and I don't know how many miles I've got left, but no sign of getting near the threads yet. Good tough sidewalls, too. No loose threads, etc. I run about 120 psi for normal rides, 145 psi when it matters. You feel everything on the road when they're pumped up to 145, but what really bugs me is that it causes my right Ultegra shifter to rattle ceaselessly.

Anything Michelin.

Another vote for the Conti GP3000. I've got about 2500 km on a set ridden on roads with a lot of stones and crap. So far I think I've got one tiny cut and no flats.

I am using the Michelin Megamiums and have not had any problems with them at all. They stick well on the corners and have a nice smooth ride.

Captain Crunch, you're a brave soul. Those are exactly what I flatted on thirty miles from home. They had less than 200 miles on them. I've also switched to Continental and have had much better luck so far.

I like the Michelin Race Pros!

just started using "Gommitalia" tires...what an upgrade from the Michelin Axial Carbons, that I really liked, but wow, on the Gommitalias.

hope I spelled it right.

I don't know about for actual racing but for every day all round use Turbo Armadillo's have served me the best so far !

I enjoyed riding on my Michis but they were horribly tight to get on and off, so when they wore out I put on a set of Vred Fortezza Tri-Comps. I've got about 500 miles on them and so far they are excellent. No flats, very nice ride. Obviously I don't know how they are going to wear yet but I have no complaints at this point.

A follow-up to my earlier post. As of the evening, I retired my rear Vred Fortezza Tri-comp. It was starting to show patches of threads on the rolling surface. I put it them on in mid-March, and I'm too lazy to go back and figure out my mileage at that point, but I estimate I got about 2800 miles on it. It's been a cool, wet year for the most part, which I think has increased the mileage over what I would expect if it had been the usual summer heat.