Recumbent - New Tires

Well, I've ordered some new 'skinny' tires for my 'bent (26/20). Hopefully they'll work well. A pair of Continental Grad Prix. Any one else use these?

new or old style?

new or old style?

new style? old style? I really don't know. Here's the link though:

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=16080

Ahhh. The only contis I find worth their salt are the gatorskins (heavy but sturdy) and the new gp4000 with the black chili compound. Never used these personally, though.

I used one on the front for a while, but got two flats with it. Now I'm trying a Schwalbe Marathon Plus 20X1.35. I really wish Specialized would make an Armadillo in 406 size for the road.

I've found the Conti GPs fast but harsh-riding and fragile. The cords in the sidewalls seem to pop on their own, and I have yet to wear the tread out on one out before it looks too ragged to dare using it on a long club ride. They're expensive, too. They're good for racing, but using them every day would be like using a Zipp disk wheel for every day.

I've found the Conti GPs fast but harsh-riding and fragile. The cords in the sidewalls seem to pop on their own, and I have yet to wear the tread out on one out before it looks too ragged to dare using it on a long club ride. They're expensive, too. They're good for racing, but using them every day would be like using a Zipp disk wheel for every day.

+1 on that! I've been running 26x1.1 Schwalbe Stelvios on my highracer for brevets and commuting. Fast, reasonably smooth ride, good cornering, quite durable (the rear is finally starting to show visible wear after 1500+ miles). And Biketiresdirect.com has 'em for $35, folding bead and all. (And they're available in 20x1.something too.)

SP
Bend, OR

I run the Schwalbe Marathon Racers on my V2 & Stratus. Got close to 4500 miles with one flat where a shard of glass worked its way in. To me they are fast, corner well, and smooth out the ride

I've had even worse trouble with Stelvios than I had with Conti GPs. In fairness, I've only had one 26x1 Stelvio, but it died prematurely with a bulge in the sidewall, apparently caused by nothing at all. I tried a succession of Stelvios in 406x28 - 6 in all - and all died before the tread was worn out. The last one came the closest, dying at about 2000 miles from a delamination in the cord. By comparison, I get about 3500 miles out of a cheap Comet.

While they last, they're fast, though. Here is a pic of the normal failure mode of a 20" Stelvio. The view is straight on toward the tire, and the rim is true. What you see is the tire being crooked. (The steering is turned on the bike.)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e135/blazingpedals/bike%20pics/stelvio.jpg

I've had even worse trouble with Stelvios than I had with Conti GPs. In fairness, I've only had one 26x1 Stelvio, but it died prematurely with a bulge in the sidewall, apparently caused by nothing at all. I tried a succession of Stelvios in 406x28 - 6 in all - and all died before the tread was worn out. The last one came the closest, dying at about 2000 miles from a delamination in the cord. By comparison, I get about 3500 miles out of a cheap Comet.

While they last, they're fast, though. Here is a pic of the normal failure mode of a 20" Stelvio. The view is straight on toward the tire, and the rim is true. What you see is the tire being crooked. (The steering is turned on the bike.)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e135/blazingpedals/bike%20pics/stelvio.jpg

Yep, that's a broken casing all right. I'll keep riding my Stelvios with my fingers crossed, 'cause I haven't found any other 559x28 tires, and that's the biggest my bike will take. 'Sides that, I like the way they work. So far.

SP
Bend, OR

... I'll keep riding my Stelvios with my fingers crossed, 'cause I haven't found any other 559x28 tires, and that's the biggest my bike will take. 'Sides that, I like the way they work. So far.



Right now I'm using a 25x559 Primo Racer on the rear of my Baron. There's also a 32x559 Racer, but I guess that won't work on your bike. It is still pretty fast and gives a better ride than the 25mm one.

Thanks for all the input. The tires came today and well...... the front 20 is perfect but the rear is the wrong size. Apparently I clicked on the wrong one when I ordered - yeah, I went back and checked. My fault. So I'll be returning it.... I may try a Stelvio on the rear and see which does better.