Road Cycling - Longest life tires

I'm currently riding Axial Carbons on Open Pro rims. I've ridden the tires about 1500 miles and they're totally shot. It doesn't seem like they should be worn this far with only 1500 miles. What kind of experience has anyone else with them? Also, since I have to replace them, does anybody know of a longer lasting tire that I should use instead? I don't really care about weight, as these are just my training wheels and have a different set for when I race. I basically want a long lasting tire with good flat protection.

I love my Axial Carbons. On my last set I got 5,000 miles on the front tire and 2,900 miles on the first rear tire. The second tire was eaten by my trainer. What kind of riding do you do?

This is a goofy subject. I think tire wear is subject to how rough the road surface is you ride on in your area and how much you weigh. I use to live in Bakersfield CA up intill 2 months ago and those roads were like riding on sandpaper! I tried the Axials and they were destroyed by road debris before wearout but they did seem to be wearing faster than I had thought they would have. Eventually I switched to Specialize Armadillo tires because the flat issue was so severe (2-5 a week!) in that area I had to find something that worked and after about a dozen different brand tires the Armadillos worked. The Armadillos would last about 2400 miles on the rear and 3200 on the front ( I weigh 163-most of the time!). But I also used 700x28 on the rear and a 26 on the front which last longer due to the additional width not to mention stopping a bit faster. I used these wider widths because the roads in Bakersfield were so crappy narrower tires would follow the ruts and cracks in the road causing some hair raising experiences, so the wider tires virtually eliminated this problem.

Forgot one thing, the Armadillos are the most flat resistent tire you can buy and they work better than adding a liner or that crappy Slime tube that dosen't work above 60psi anyway. I also use the Specialize ultralight 65grm tubes in the Armadillos and only have had 2 flats in 3 years with that set up and one of the flats was due to a faulty tube.

Now that I live in Fort Wayne IN I will be switching away from the Armadillos because the LBS's all here say road debris is not that big of an issue. So once they wear out I may look into Conti Gran Prix 4 Seasons or Specialize makes a new tire that is suppose to be really good, I have to get the name of it later.

Basically, I'm wondering, all else being equal, what tire deals with wear and punctures the best. Thanks for the info so far.

Given the conditions stated above (different road quality, debris, etc.) I think you're going to find more in the personal experiences category and less in the objective tire wear/puncture resistance analysis. While the information you may get won't be useless it likely won't transfer exactly to your experience. My advice would be to ask the LBS what tires are the most common for your level of riding as they'd likely have a better idea of what works and what doesn't in your area.

I too thought the Axail carbon would last longer than the axial pro but they seem to be about the same.

I get about 2000-2500 miles off of these michelin tires (on the rear tire)... ANd about 2 to 3 times that for the front.

I think weight, tire-pressure, road surface makes quite a bit of difference... And also tire width... I run 700x20 not 23s and that probably wears a bit faster due to the smaller contact patch.

I got about 2k out of my last pair of Conti Ultra 2000, I replaced them because they were cut to hell, not because of wear.

I usually get around 2000+ miles on a set of Armadillos before they start to fall apart. Just ordered a new set of Conti Gran Prix's hopefully they will last as long or longer.

I'm currently riding Axial Carbons on Open Pro rims. I've ridden the tires about 1500 miles and they're totally shot. It doesn't seem like they should be worn this far with only 1500 miles. What kind of experience has anyone else with them? Also, since I have to replace them, does anybody know of a longer lasting tire that I should use instead? I don't really care about weight, as these are just my training wheels and have a different set for when I race. I basically want a long lasting tire with good flat protection.I got tired of constantly getting flats and bought Specialized Nimbus Armadillo. I have not had a flat in 1500 miles. I ride a lot of rough country roads (tar & chip) the tires are holding up very well. After 1500 miles the front tire looks great and the rear tire is starting to loose tread - I figure I'll get at least 2000 miles out of the rear. That's great mileage on our roads.

Your front should'nt wear as the back does so it should be like new still.

I'm using also the Armadillo tires for about 4 months (about 500 miles), no flats and counting... Considering the conditions of Puerto Rico roads, these tires really worth the $$$.

On my last bike I used Specialized All Condition Pros.

After 2,000 miles, the rear tire had just begun to show flattening: very long-wearing, puncture resistant tires at a reasonable price: about $30 each.

Just a quick question. Is there any reason not to rotate the tires to prolong their life? i.e. Switch the back and the front.

I rotate my tires and I believe it works out well. I can't believe you all get that kind of miles on your tires. I weigh 190lbs and use Continental Gator Skins 25's and I am lucky to get over 700 miles on them befor the tread is gone and they are lookin pretty scary. I guess to answer the post don't get these tires???

Well first,the tread means nothing.I think you think they are worn and i have a feeling they are not at all. Disreguard any designs on your tire.Its not the same rthinking as a car tire.

Is there any reason not to rotate the tires to prolong their life?

Just make sure that your front tire has got enough grip (which is less of a--safety--issue at the back). Usually back tires wear faster; don't put them up front when it's too late (i.e. when they are almost gone).

Just a quick question. Is there any reason not to rotate the tires to prolong their life? i.e. Switch the back and the front.I don't think that rotating your tires DOES prolong their life - It just evens out the life of the two. The front tire lasts longer than the back. If you rotate half way through the life of the rear, then they will both last about the same time. That time frame will be longer for a back-only tire and shorter for a front-only tire, which comes out the same over all.

I used to rotate, just to even out their life. But I read an opinion about why you should not do this. It said that for safety sake you should always have your best tire on the front. Now, I let the back tire wear out. I then put the front tire on the back and put a new tire on the front. Sometimes I buy 3 tires right away in preparation of this move.

Really? I would have thought that the back tire should be the better one. But I guess that makes sense since there is more weight on the back you have more traction there so you could get away with the worse tire.

Shockhead. I'll have to consider that esp after seeing folks get 15k or more on there tires. I may be paranoid too for that one ride many years ago that as soon as I got out of the saddle to sprint I blew a tire and whent rite over the bars. Still have the scar...

Really? I would have thought that the back tire should be the better one. But I guess that makes sense since there is more weight on the back you have more traction there so you could get away with the worse tire.I think that the author’s concern was with tire failure and traction. A blowout of the front tire at high speed could be more dangerous because of the steering. Same thing with a tire slipping on a curve.

Really? I would have thought that the back tire should be the better one. But I guess that makes sense since there is more weight on the back you have more traction there so you could get away with the worse tire.

Shockhead. I'll have to consider that esp after seeing folks get 15k or more on there tires. I may be paranoid too for that one ride many years ago that as soon as I got out of the saddle to sprint I blew a tire and whent rite over the bars. Still have the scar...

I lock up the back tire on the mountain bike with the brakes all the time. It is fun fishtailing around and I can make quick 90 degree turns into the bike rack or whatever. Basically, losing traction with the back tire is usually controllable and rarely ends of bad. Lose traction with the front at any decent speed and you are likely done for.

Basically, I'm wondering, all else being equal, what tire deals with wear and punctures the best. Thanks for the info so far.

If you read my post right above yours you would have had your answer-at least my opinion what lasts the longest with the best puncture resistence on the market today. My Armadillos last about 3400 miles on the front and 2800 on the rear. I do however use wider than normal for roadies and use a 28 on the rear and a 26 on the front for more stability on rough roads. These larger size tires also last a longer than a 23 would.

About a pound each?

Really? I would have thought that the back tire should be the better one. But I guess that makes sense since there is more weight on the back you have more traction there so you could get away with the worse tire.


Since I have started riding bikes seriously over 35 years ago I have always put my best tire on the rear. HOWEVER that does go against what most people in the biking industry suggest. Their thing is that if you have a flat in the front you stand a greater chance of having a serious accident. I have had some blowouts over the years (most flats are slow thus giving you plenty of warning something ain't right). Blowouts present the greatest degree of problems and I have had them on the rear and front even while cornering, and it was a rear tire blowout going around a corner that caused me to go down due to the backend washing right around and under me. I once experienced a front blow around a corner and things did get dicy but I was able to keep it from going down. BUT this is only my experience and it could be just luck of the draw!!!!!!!!!!

But the other reason I put the best tire on rear is so that I don't have to repair as many flats back there!!!! I'm lazy what can I say! When on the road I prefer to deal with front flats if I have to deal with a flat.

If you read my post right above yours you would have had your answer-at least my opinion what lasts the longest with the best puncture resistence on the market today. My Armadillos last about 3400 miles on the front and 2800 on the rear. I do however use wider than normal for roadies and use a 28 on the rear and a 26 on the front for more stability on rough roads. These larger size tires also last a longer than a 23 would.

I did read your post. In fact, my post said "Thanks for the info so far." However, you also said that wear can depend on a variety of factors, so I was clarifying what exactly I wanted to know. I appreciated your response, but also wanted the opinions of others.

Not usually a good idea to put the rear on the front. I don't do it because the rear tends to get pretty beat up. If I'm going downhill at 60 mph + I want to know there is more rubber on the front than the rear. Really just a personal thing. I throw the rears away when they are shot and replace both tires on the bike. The old fronts are then just backups for the rear or I use them on the trainer in the winter. No point in destroying a good tire in the basement. :D

I did read your post. In fact, my post said "Thanks for the info so far." However, you also said that wear can depend on a variety of factors, so I was clarifying what exactly I wanted to know. I appreciated your response, but also wanted the opinions of others.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come off in a negative manner. And it was actually my fault because I DIDN'T READ YOUR FOLLOW UP POST!!! I don't read all the posts because it would take forever and this reading and writing posts thing would become the hobby and not the bike! So I just scan and skip along.