Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Deep V's and best tires?

I was hoping someone could answer these questions regarding tires and Deep v's, as well as add any helpful info. I need some good urban tires as I am popping the current ones like there is no tomorrow. Further I have popped just as many tubes trying to get the tires on the rims. Can anyone suggest some good urban tires (I see the gatorskins get pretty good reviews) that..and here is the key..don't require a freakin' crowbar to get on the rim? Or is this just the way it is for 700c's nowadays?

Thanks.

"urban tires" heheh...sorry, i just imagined some all over print scarface design.

If only someone had, in the past, created a thread about either of these subjects..

Mmm *click *click. Nope don't think so. You are the first person to ever ask about these

I use Vredstein Fortezza Tricomps on my Deep Vs. I can change this type of tire bare handed.

gatorskins are good for me

got htem pretty cheap at probikekit too, i think, when they had a special. not sure of hte price now.

gatorskins and vittoria ranoneurs.

Sooooma everwears are good
http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.php?id=17315&category=585

My favorite tires are Vittoria search functions.

I use Vredstein Fortezza Tricomps on my Deep Vs. I can change this type of tire bare handed.

If you're patient you can do this with almost any tire. I can change my Michelin Carbon 20's barehanded.

If you're patient you can do this with almost any tire. I can change my Michelin Carbon 20's barehanded.

I dont have to be patient with the Vredstein

there IS no tomorrow.



you should lift weights.

gatorskins and vittoria ranoneurs.
+1.
same combo i've used for the past couple of months, still going strong.

Gatorskins.

Gatorskins. Randos skid nice but don't really last long if you live anywhere with hills. Plus they are pretty slow tires.

I'll say specialized armadillos.. not 1 flat in 1200+ miles

I'm going think outside the box here and recommend Continental Top Contacts.....
They look pretty badass on this deepV rim.
http://www.bicycletires.com/Images400x267/COCLJ-1.jpg

I just put a pair on my Rob Roy and they are really nice...thick tread, totally puncture proof, totally gnarly looking, but smoother and grippier on bare pavement than I expected. You'll easily get more miles per $ out of these things than any slick road tire, especially if you are a skidder. They are much narrower than claimed. My 700x32s are really about 27mm. I would imagine the 28s are probably closer to 25.

You can get them here for about the cost of a Gatorskin.

http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=COCLJ

^^ Those look pretty tight. Are you riding brakeless? Report back on how they hold up.

^^ Those look pretty tight. Are you riding brakeless? Report back on how they hold up.

I have brakes on this particular bike, so not much skidding. I've only put about 90 miles on them so far, but from what I've read about them people get double or more mileage out of these than I usually get out of a gatorskin. The great thing about them in comparison to a slick road tire, is that they handle patches of gravel, sand, dirt, like nothing, but like I said above, still roll smoothly on pavement. They make me want to ride on the sidewalk and weave in and out of people yards, driveways, flowergarderns, etc.

I'm going think outside the box here and recommend Continental Top Contacts.....
They look pretty badass on this deepV rim.
http://www.bicycletires.com/Images400x267/COCLJ-1.jpg

I just put a pair on my Rob Roy and they are really nice...thick tread, totally puncture proof, totally gnarly looking, but smoother and grippier on bare pavement than I expected. You'll easily get more miles per $ out of these things than any slick road tire, especially if you are a skidder. They are much narrower than claimed. My 700x32s are really about 27mm. I would imagine the 28s are probably closer to 25.

You can get them here for about the cost of a Gatorskin.

http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=COCLJ

I haven't tried the top contacts, but I have tried the contact sports, or something like that and i hated them. They lasted about as long as a gator under heavy skidding (I was all johnny skidsalot back then), but had a noticeably harsher ride. Maybe the top version is better, i dunno.

Further I have popped just as many tubes trying to get the tires on the rims.

That seems like an indicator that something is wrong. You have rim strips on the wheel right?

I'm going think outside the box here and recommend Continental Top Contacts.....
They look pretty badass on this deepV rim.
http://www.bicycletires.com/Images400x267/COCLJ-1.jpg

I just put a pair on my Rob Roy and they are really nice...thick tread, totally puncture proof, totally gnarly looking, but smoother and grippier on bare pavement than I expected. You'll easily get more miles per $ out of these things than any slick road tire, especially if you are a skidder. They are much narrower than claimed. My 700x32s are really about 27mm. I would imagine the 28s are probably closer to 25.

You can get them here for about the cost of a Gatorskin.

http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=COCLJ

dude i want to see a pic of your bike w/ those tires and deep v's. looks like your bike would be badass. i might do that with my surly

ugh dude they're also $45 each..

Haven't tried the gatorskins or everwears, but I have had good luck with basically anything that says "hard-case" or "thorn-resistant." They're heavier, and are a bit of a pain to get on the rim, but they last. Just go to LBS and feel the thickness/durometer of the tire with your fingers.

Also, going to a wider tire will improve tire life--i.e. 25c or even 27c instead of 23c.

Of course, your best option would be to get DH rims and run 3" wide Nokian Gazzalodis....

That seems like an indicator that something is wrong. You have rim strips on the wheel right?

my first thought was that he was pinching them. i'm willing to bet it's one of the two.

oh, and to the op: even if you do have rim strips, there might be something on it or the rim surface. wipe down the inside of the rim.

I haven't tried the top contacts, but I have tried the contact sports, or something like that and i hated them. They lasted about as long as a gator under heavy skidding (I was all johnny skidsalot back then), but had a noticeably harsher ride. Maybe the top version is better, i dunno.

Not surprising...the contact sport is a slick.

Yup, got the rim tape. Currently running Panaracer Stradius Sports (23's). Maybe that's my problem. :) I was thinking maybe to go down a tube size and see how that goes. I think I am indeed guilty of pinching the tube due to how difficult it is to get the tire on the rim. Else, the current tires are just wimpy. Just wondering if someone had the magic combo, of easy to mount on Deep v's/good durability for city riding.

Thanks for those with valid suggestions, very helpful.

those top contacts look good. i just recently put a 28mm vittoria ranodoneur on the back wheel (see pic below) and a conti ultra race 25mm up front. I really like it. Almost enough to try the bigger tire up front, too. I need to skid and abuse the rear tire more. those top contacts weigh 415 grams and my randoneurs are 505 grams, so they are lighter. you say they roll faster too? they look meaner - which is cool. I think I'll give them a try when my current tire wears out. Maybe try them both in back and up front since they are reasonably light.

http://velospace.org/files/1cruiserFSA2.jpg

Not surprising...the contact sport is a slick.

no, it had some tread. I can't remember which model contact it was- they have a bunch of types.

those top contacts look good. i just recently put a 28mm vittoria ranodoneur on the back wheel (see pic below) and a conti ultra race 25mm up front. I really like it. Almost enough to try the bigger tire up front, too. I need to skid and abuse the rear tire more. those top contacts weigh 415 grams and my randoneurs are 505 grams, so they are lighter. you say they roll faster too? they look meaner - which is cool. I think I'll give them a try when my current tire wears out. Maybe try them both in back and up front since they are reasonably light.

Those VRs looke pretty damn mean too. I said the top contacts roll faster than I expected them to, not faster than VRs. I've never tried a VR so I can't compare. They are fast enough for FG tomfoolery. My top contacts are way narrower than spec, so that may explain the weight difference. At any rate, any of these thicker, more heavily treaded, touring-type tires ought to outlast typical road slicks and therefore are a good choice for all-purpose applications (commutting, messengering, skidding, and other basic FG fooling around). However, I would stay away from the ultra-super-puncture proof models, like the Security Contact or Ultra Marathon...those things are thick, stiff, heavy, and (i've heard) don't roll worth a damn.

Yes that security contact is heavy...like 1000 grams! Forget that. The Vittoria Randos are also narrow. These 28s on my rear really look like 25 or 26. I'm tempted to put one of these up front now so that I can roll over glass and anything else without any concern. 28s is the widest i will go. Your top contact is my next tire.