Road Cycling - Best Tire - Recomendations needed

What are the lists opinions for best tires..
I dont race so I dont necessarily need
the lightest and fastest out there. I am
more interested in flat resistance and good
traction...The bike I am about to purchase
has the Bontrager Race X Lite and I am wondering
if I should ask my LBS if I can swap for something else

Did you want tire or wheel recommendations?

Are these tires for the Bontrager Race X Lite wheels that you mention?

Did you want tire or wheel recommendations?

Are these tires for the Bontrager Race X Lite wheels that you mention?

There are race x lite tires as well. I honestly can't say much about tires, but I did enjoy the Conti GP 3000's when I had them on it.

Did you want tire or wheel recommendations?

Are these tires for the Bontrager Race X Lite wheels that you mention?

I think he is referring to these:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/Tires/Bontrager+Race+X-Lite/PRD_104398_2489crx.aspx

I've used Michelins for the last 3 years or so, and been pretty happy with them. I use their "Pro Race" tire (700x23). It is fairly light (220g), and corners like a dream. But, they are not a long-lasting tire. I've averaged around 2,000 miles on them...they usually succumb to sidewall cuts before the tread wears out.

Bike Tires Direct (http://www.biketiresdirect.com/) has the best prices, and good service too.

michelin's are pretty good. vredestein's are also quite sweet.

whatever you do do not get the irc redstorms if you want a tire to last more than 500 miles. most high end continental stuff i have used has sucked, too.

My son gave me a pair for my birthday last year. My Armadillos were due to be replaced. I immediately noticed a 10% increase in my cruising speed on the flat. They are half the weight of the Armadillos, so acceleration must be better, but I didn't notice it. I can't say anything about durability.

What are the lists opinions for best tires..
I dont race so I dont necessarily need
the lightest and fastest out there. I am
more interested in flat resistance and good
traction...The bike I am about to purchase
has the Bontrager Race X Lite and I am wondering
if I should ask my LBS if I can swap for something else


Maybe the manufacture chose those particular tires for that bike because it bike handles and rides well with them? They probably want you to chose their bike when bike when you go for the test ride. Mine came with the same tires also, light tires are cool ; don't let their treadless surface fool you, they grip very well. 50 miles on them is hardly anything, but so far but they still look like new; no cuts and all city street ridding. I don't like the name Bontrager being plastered on the side of them but oh well could be worse; they do sell for around 50 dollars making them rather high end tires compared to many others as far as cost. IMO. enjoy..... you can always downgrade to something else.
:)

don't let their treadless surface fool you, they grip very well. 50 miles on them is hardly anything, but so far but they still look like new; no cuts and all city street ridding. I don't like the name Bontrager being plastered on the side of them but oh well could be worse; they do sell for around 50 dollars making them rather high end tires compared to many others as far as cost. IMO. enjoy..... you can always downgrade to something else.
:)[/QUOTE]

Thanks...what you said makes a lot of sense. Funny you should mention the treadless surface as that is what caught my eye...smooth surface = slippery = poor traction...guess not!...what do I know. Guess I will stay with these..as you say they are a good tire and I can always go with something else if I dont like them

don't let their treadless surface fool you, they grip very well. 50 miles on them is hardly anything, but so far but they still look like new; no cuts and all city street ridding. I don't like the name Bontrager being plastered on the side of them but oh well could be worse; they do sell for around 50 dollars making them rather high end tires compared to many others as far as cost. IMO. enjoy..... you can always downgrade to something else.
:)

Thanks...what you said makes a lot of sense. Funny you should mention the treadless surface as that is what caught my eye...smooth surface = slippery = poor traction...guess not!...what do I know. Guess I will stay with these..as you say they are a good tire and I can always go with something else if I dont like them[/QUOTE]



Hey don't just take my word for it, I'm no expert, but if you go to www.roadbikereview.com and click on reviews, you can check them out there under Bontrager and get more opionions from people with more miles on them than myself. I can't imagine them being any good in the rain, but is there a tire that is? I'm not a commuter and I'm no good in the rain either!

I have the Bonty Race Lites and just moved them from the 5500 to the Lemond. Then I put Michelin Pro-Race (Ironman's) on the 5500. Both tires are really sweet - smooth, reasonably light and handle really well. So why the change? I liked the color of the Michelins and I wanted my Trek to be a tad different from the guy's next door, and the guy across the street, and the guy down the block and....

55/Rad

Veloflex Pave. Made in Italy, supple ride.

Read some reviews on RoadBikeReview and you're sure to agree.

Continental Grand Prix 3000.
I ride through glass, trash, and all kinds of "debris" on the streets of Atlanta and average a flat every 1500 miles.

http://www.pricepoint.com/images/styleImages/D_320%20VITTP3.jpg
Vittoria Tecno Pro Kevlar
saw this at pricepoint for $25..
220 TPI, 125psi, 210g(700x23)

If you ask me, its cheap for a tire w/ these specs.

Trek does not put Bontrager tires on because they are designed to be used with that bike/tire combo. They spec it because it is cost effective and allows them the economies of scale to produce tires. I notice that no one races on those tires.

Go out and get some Michelin Pro Race tires. They are fast, light and pncture resistant. Also, if you don't want flats pumb up your tires before every ride and use a pump with an accurate pressure guage not some frame pump.

Trek does not put Bontrager tires on because they are designed to be used with that bike/tire combo. They spec it because it is cost effective and allows them the economies of scale to produce tires. I notice that no one races on those tires.

Go out and get some Michelin Pro Race tires. They are fast, light and pncture resistant. Also, if you don't want flats pumb up your tires before every ride and use a pump with an accurate pressure guage not some frame pump.


Doesn't Trek own the Bontrager company?

Yes, Trek owns Bontrager. Hence their use of Bontrager parts. More stuff is being seen on the race bikes, but Bonty tires haven't made the cut yet as far as I know.

michelin Pro Race or Vittoria Open Corsa CX are my favourites
Both roll faster than other tyres but wear rather quickly. The Michelin is also marginally better in the wet than the Open Corsa so gets my nod most times but the Vittoria seems more puncture resistant

I echo the Michelin Pro Race supporters. Great tires! I have heard a lot of good things about Hutchison also.

Hutchison Carbon Comps are great, you just will not get the miles out of them, compared to something like michelin pro race
my bike came with the hutchison, and i loved them, but they only last for about 1500 miles, or at less mine did

I tried some Hutchinson Carbon Comps. These were very nice tires (light, supple, grip well) but I would not recommend them for an everyday tire. I got 700 miles out of them, which I thought was pretty good. Just my opinion.

well i guess i was just lucky with mine =-)

I've been using Michelin Axial Carbon tires--I think Michelin has dropped the Axial from the name in the current model. They ride a little rougher than the GP 3000s I had been using, but they last well.

Michelin Axial Carbons are great trainingtyres. Thats whats onmy training wheels

I've tried a number of expensive racing tires and once you see how quickly these lightweight racing tires wear out and how after a few punctures and gashes they become unusable, you realize it gets to be pretty expensive replacing them every few months at $40-$50 a pop.

So for the past few years, I've settled on using Michelin Hi-Lite Prestige tires from PeformanceBike (they're the only place I know that sells them). When discounted, the tires cost less than $20 each.

In my experience, the Hi-Lite Prestige is a great tire -- it has very good grip, is very springy, rides smoothly and corners well. It's also very durable even on city roads with a lot of glass and debris. In comparison, the Michelin Carbon/Axial Carbon has better grip but is thinner and therefore more prone to punctures (in fact, the last one I used on my rear wheel didn't last more than 1000 miles when I got a big carpet tack stuck in it and a gash on the side from some glass, which gave me 2 flats in one afternoon). The Carbon is a very good tire but expensive compared to the Hi-Lite Prestige.

-Kevin

I tried some Hutchinson Carbon Comps. These were very nice tires (light, supple, grip well) but I would not recommend them for an everyday tire. I got 700 miles out of them, which I thought was pretty good. Just my opinion.
700 miles? Well you get what you pay for because thats poor. I'm at 2000 on my 4-seasons and no flats and figure another 500-1000 before i get another.

I'm kind of new to the whole thing. I was going along on the Carbon Comps and had noticed some small cuts/gashes, but nothing all the way through the tire. A neighbor who has a lot more experience than me asked how many miles were on them and when he heard 700, he said I'd better change 'em. (He'd had a bad experience with some "airlights" or "superlights"?? some carbon Hutchinson model. (he'd put some on prior to a trip to France during the TDF no less and had some flat issues - Well I ordered some Specialized Pro Cipollini and when they arrived I was quite surprised at the difference. A LOT more tread was on the Specialized tire, so I went ahead and put them on. Something else I learned, they're a good bit heavier than the Carbon Comps and don't ride nearly as nicely. On the other hand, I've put over 700 miles on them and don't see any significant signs of wear. Once these are done, I think I'll try to find something in the middle of the spectrum. The ride of the Hutchinsons was really nice, but I don't want to replace the tires every 700 to 1,000 miles at this point. Also, no more colored tires for me. Black/grey will do me fine. Just my observations....

ya'll need to get some REAL tires.
Conti sprinters, or Competitions.
Veloflex or Vittoria tubulars.
Even Tufos (if you ride clinchers try the "tubular
clincher").

just a thought
Marty

Tread means nothing.

To clarify, I incorrectly referred to the tread. A more accurate term would be "material". The Specialized tires are a LOT thicker, there is actually quite a ridge where the sidewall meets the part of the tire contacting pavement. Hence, they're also heavier.

Rubber compound

I have the Race X Light 700x23 on my new Leond (upgrade from the Race X 700x25) That is what it came with (They both are owned/made by Trek).

Untill then I used the Armadillo 700x26 for training and durability (I now have two seasons on them and they are still fine). I have a set the Specialized "Flack Jacket" tires on my training bike now. Nice rolling tire, but not as supple as the Race X Light.

My two cents - if the tire is on the bike and it is a good tire (which it is - made by Conti by the way) leave it like you said. If you are riding in very rough areas you may want to put Armadillos on and use the others for more friendly surfaces, roup rides or racing.

Bill

Conti's hands down