Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Front Tire recommendations for Urban Fixie

so i've decided on a Conti Ultra Gatorskin to replace the balding Specialized Pro All Condition (Armadillo Elite) i have on the rear, due to many recommendations on durability against both skidding and punctures.

was wondering tho, if y'all could recommend an affordable front tire to replace the other Spec Pro that i currently have on the front.

for what it's worth, i'm riding SF streets, and don't bomb (ie. skid) big hills much, if i can avoid it.

Is there some reason you don't want a gatorskin on the front as well?

Is there some reason you don't want a gatorskin on the front as well?

looking for something a little cheaper if possible.


_j

probikekit has gatorskins for 26 each no shipping

you could probably save by shooting for something based on puncture resistance. i don't know a specific tire, but look for something with a lower TPI and in your price range. the fabric will be thicker and less flexible, so it's better resistant to punctures. at least i think that's how it works.

just run a gatorskin in the back and a zaffiro or something up front.

check out the sports basement on 15th, they have gatorskins pretty cheap. Might as well spend a little more on a front tire, it will last you longer.

you could probably save by shooting for something based on puncture resistance. i don't know a specific tire, but look for something with a lower TPI and in your price range. the fabric will be thicker and less flexible, so it's better resistant to punctures. at least i think that's how it works.

Don't do this. If you're worried about flats, get a tire with actual flat protection. If a tire doesn't have flat protection then run higher TPI for lower rolling resistance.

probikekit has gatorskins for 26 each no shipping

Seriously, at $26 per tire, there's really no excuse NOT to get them.

I understand money matters.

That said, I ride an Armadillo in back and a Conti 4 Season in front.

The 4 Seasons has superb traction in all conditions, and flat protection as good as anything short of the Gatorskin and the Armadillo.

I finally replaced my front 4 Season because, after 5,000 or miles, it went flat overnight.
I found the leak, and after looking at the tire closely, I hung it up as an emergency spare, and put on a new tire.

Yes, tires cost money, but I hate flats.

One flat on the way to an important appointment kinda undoes whatever a person might have saved by going with a less expensive tire.

Seriously, at $26 per tire, there's really no excuse NOT to get them.
tehy no have da stock

I'm a big proponent of the "**** all flatproof tire on the back, grippier and possibly cheaper tire on the front" setup. Front flats are much more rare, less weight on the tire and as Jobst Brandt points out the front tire often sets pieces of glass up for the back tire to catch them. Any $20 tire with a little kevlar will work on the front, I have a serfas seca than has been rocking up there for a few thousand miles on one bike.

you could probably save by shooting for something based on puncture resistance. i don't know a specific tire, but look for something with a lower TPI and in your price range. the fabric will be thicker and less flexible, so it's better resistant to punctures. at least i think that's how it works.

I don't remember all the whys and wherefores of TPI besides rolling resistance and "suppleness", but my one pair of cheap low TPI tires both brought me lots more punctures and a crappier ride. I will still say that Conti Ultrasports are a great deal if ducats are your prime concern (12 bucks cdn for a ~300 gram tire; cue baxtefer and mcatano ranting about them :D), and now that I ride "nice" tires I do notice the odd emergency skid doesn't stop me nearly as much as these tires with a greater rolling resistance.

High tpi I believe will = greater puncture resistance by itself. High tpi + puncture resistance will be better.

I got nowhere near the volume of flats on Vittoria Tecnos or Hutchison Fusion Comps until I lived in a glass-strewn city, and even then, they flatted less in worse conditions. I've only had about 3-4 flats on a rear Gatorskin in about 1500 or so miles so far

I I will still say that Conti Ultrasports are a great deal if ducats are your prime concern (12 bucks cdn for a ~300 gram tire; cue baxtefer and mcatano ranting about them :D),

WORST TIRES EVER!

you called? :D
where is mcatano these days?/

Get the gatorskin for the front. Even though they are much more rare, it is far worse to have a front flat or blowout, especially if you prefer to use a front brake to slow on those big downhills (vs. not skidding much as you say)

Al

I heard Performance is going to have another sale on Thurs

ok, went with gatorskins for front and back since they're only $27 a pop at modernbike.com

but also decided to move up to 25c's from previously riding 23c's to see how that affects my ride on my pot-hole-pocked-glass-ridden routes in this city.

i know this is another topic altogether, but anyone have any opinion on widths for urban fixies? especially for riding SF and doing a fair amount (read fair - not a ton) of skidding/skipping?

I like 23's on every surface except gravel, where they tend to sink and plow.

I have wondered about going up to 25's the next dual tire purchase, for whatever extra flotation it might give me.

I don't think one suffer's much, if any penalty in rolling resistance or inertia by going from 23 to 25.

I've just gone from 23 to 25 front and rear actually. It's really tough to notice much difference at all. Maybe it's just psychological but 25's do seem marginally plusher, and 23's marginally zippier. I was actually curious as to whether 25's (or wider tires in general) would be more durable on the rear, with skidding and all, than 23's would be.

I think skinny rear, fatter front is a good compromise though as you will notice the plushness and better cornering grip more at the front and the lower rolling resistance more at the rear.

I went from 28c gatorskin several years ago to 25c. Hardly noted a difference. I tried 23c Hutchinson half a year ago and didn't notice any benefit, they actually felt squishier. I am pretty set on 25c gatorskin.

Al

I've just gone from 23 to 25 front and rear actually. It's really tough to notice much difference at all. Maybe it's just psychological but 25's do seem marginally plusher, and 23's marginally zippier. I was actually curious as to whether 25's (or wider tires in general) would be more durable on the rear, with skidding and all, than 23's would be.

I think skinny rear, fatter front is a good compromise though as you will notice the plushness and better cornering grip more at the front and the lower rolling resistance more at the rear.

the guy at my LBS recommended that combo actually: 25 front and 23 rear for similar reasons. anyone else diggin that setup?