Road Cycling - New Wheels - What Tire?

Hi everybody. I just ordered a set of Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels for my bike. Cant wait till they get here. (Time to get rid of those Cruddy Alex 32 spoke junkers that came on the bike.)

I currently run Michelin Axial Carbon on the bike, but was wondering if anybody has any opinions on a tire that will be a bit better performing. Or do I already have that tire?

Some things I am looking for -
Dont Break the bank compared to the Axial Carbon.
Dont Attract flats like a bad disease.
Wear well - dont become threadbare too quick.

Thanks,

Matt

Michelin Pro Race
The Pro Race is the successor to the Michelin Axial Pro. The Pro Race is lighter than the Axial Pro, but its weight savings comes with no concessions to tread or sidewall durability


Vittoria Open Corsa EVO CX
The classic CX herringbone tread pattern leads to an ideal combination of traction and rolling resistance. Without a doubt, this is Vittoria's timeless tread design on their timeless tire. The Vittoria Open Corsa series of tires is the best loved and most technologically advanced clincher on the market today. Features Twin Tread Technology where harder tread is placed in the center of the tire where the wear occurs, and a softer compound is used on the shoulder for better grip. A thin, lightweight PRB puncture resistant belt is placed immediately beneath the tread to achieve maximum puncture protection while maintaining low rolling resistance.

Tufo S-33 Special tubular clincher(or Pro). Will cost more than anything mentioned but you don't need tubes, plus you can fill the tire with Tufo sealant (like Slime) that makes it able to eat thorns like nothing. Oh yeah its a 175 (or 220) psi tire but you can run it low and not worry about pinch flats because its a tubular.

Veloflex Pave Clincher or Record Clincher.
Thought to be the best manufacturer for Tubular
and clincher tires.
Reported to be the remains of the original Italian Vittoria
workers (who didn't go to Taiwan, Thailand whereever
they make Vittoria now).
Marty

I'm happy with my Axial Carbons. I've also used Conti GP 3000, which ride much better, even at higher pressures, but a GP 3000 on the rear wheel doesn't last more than 800 to 1000 miles for me. The Axial Carbons I'm on are not showing such quick wear, but their harsher ride quickly had me playing around with lower pressures. I ride them at 104 psi, and they are almost as comfortable as the Contis.

A good place to buy tires, which someone on the forums once posted is

World Class Cycles (http://www.worldclasscycles.com/)

I've bought tires from this place once, and I will definitely buy my next set there.

I second that, pinky. Tufo have been on the bike for about 5 months. Love them, I have used most of the other brands listed. If you have ever ridden a tubular you will love the Tufo

I'm happy with my Axial Carbons. I've also used Conti GP 3000, which ride much better, even at higher pressures, but a GP 3000 on the rear wheel doesn't last more than 800 to 1000 miles for me. The Axial Carbons I'm on are not showing such quick wear, but their harsher ride quickly had me playing around with lower pressures. I ride them at 104 psi, and they are almost as comfortable as the Contis.

A good place to buy tires, which someone on the forums once posted is

World Class Cycles (http://www.worldclasscycles.com/)

I've bought tires from this place once, and I will definitely buy my next set there.
I have the 4-seasons which is pretty close to the gp's and at 1800 on both,front is still looking just used and the rear is wearing but by no means ready to be replaced. I'm thinking by listening to riders that they replace tires to soon. The tread patterns that do nothing but they put them on tires to make us feel better means nothing when its gone.

the pro race is a great tire. i've been riding one on the back of my fixie for what seems like forever, skidding all over the place, riding in the rain, etc.

i just popped into the other room to inspect the tire, and it still looks great, even after a long time on the road (i don't log miles on that bike, but at least 6 months of quite regular "around town" riding.)

the tires i've been riding on my road bike are the continental attack/force matched set. let me just say that *i love these tires*. i recall my first ride on these tires - i had never felt such a difference in the bike just from changing tires. they felt fast, solid, like they were really gripping the road, and corner very nicely.

the set goes for $100 or so at LBS, but i ordered them from some website that dealt only in tires (the name of which i can't remember, for the life of me) for about $65-70, i think.

the only downside i can forsee is longevity. they're showing some minor wear, a tiny bit of cracking, etc after about 1000 miles. i'm sure they'll last a while longer, though.

i'm anxious to try those tufos.

I've been having great luck with Tufo Hi-Comp Carbon tubular-clincher. So far, the best feeling tire that I've used.

I've worn through a set of Michelin Axial Pros, and while I never had bad luck with them (no undue punctures, loss of traction, etc.), I never really liked them. They just didn't give me the feedback that I need. Like I said, no bad experiences with them, but they never 'said' "Go harder, we'll keep gripping..." Vagueness is not very confidence inspiring. Not too harsh riding, but not soft, either.

I had nothing but bad luck with punctures and inexplicable deflations with Vittoria Open Corsa CX's. But from what I gather, my luck with these tires seems a little more isolated, so take that with a grain of salt. I stopped riding them because I was spending too much on tire patches, so I can't comment on their milage. But they seemed much grippier and communicative than the Michelins. Much softer, nicer ride too. But noticably more rolling resistance... They didn't climb nearly as well as the Michelins.

I've also tried Specialized Pro Comp (a few years ago; they were one step below their top of the line tire at the time.) All around nice rolling, nice cornering tire. But at the time quality control was an issue. Haven't gone back to them, but I hear that this has been addressed since.

Tufo. All I can say is WOW! The low rolling resistance of the Michelins, comfort of the Vittorias, and they lock into a fast downhill corner like my racing motorcycle (a 125 GP bike). Even in the wet.

Can't yet vouch for their milage, as I've only been on them since November, but yes, the Tufo sealant works!

Weight? According to manufacturers weight specs, I've gained about 10 grams per wheel. (Vittorias + Velox rim tape + Vittoria latex tube vs. Tufo tire only. Not enough difference to worry about.)

-Erik

I've grown to like Schwalbe (http://www.schwalbe.com)'s Stelvio Evolution (http://www.schwalbe.com/index.pl?bereich=produkte&einsatzbereich=2&produktgruppe=21&produkt=119) set.

Veloflex Pave Clincher or Record Clincher.
Thought to be the best manufacturer for Tubular
and clincher tires.
Reported to be the remains of the original Italian Vittoria
workers (who didn't go to Taiwan, Thailand whereever
they make Vittoria now).
Marty

itd be funny if you rode your velo in a velodrome with velomax wheels and veloflex tires on them...

My 2 cents on the actual topic: I ride w/ GP3000s and I like their ride a lot, I like how I can ride them at 110-115 psi and not feel like i am riding in molassas. Also, they make for a pretty light tire. I have been getting a lot of flats though. The first was a pinch flat (my bad, ran the pressure too low) but the others were just straight up punctures.

Veloflex Pave is the way to go. You can get them on ebay for around $60.00.... The Italian workers mentioned in the other post were for some time out of work, now they make the only hand made Italian tires. Support your Italians!!

Run Conti GP3000 for commuting/winter.
Run Mich Pro Race for in season

Conti's for some reason love me, the least flats on ANY tire and that's with commuting too.

Thanks everybody...

I decided to try the Michelin Pro Race - Got a pretty goo deal on them at $30 each.

M