Road Cycling - Recommend me some tires!

I went biking around the city today with a friend. He came up with the great idea of having a 'skidding contest.' We went at it for about half an hour. Everything was ok, but as we were leaving, he says "wait up, i wanna go one more time." So he starts skidding, making a screeching sound, and suddenly POP! Hahahahah, he'd popped his tire, it had worn thru straight to the tube. He has michelin axial pros by the way.

Now, when we get back home, i look at my rear tire. It's like THIS close to wearing thru to the tube. I have yellow vittoria pro teams on, which i really like. But at one part of the back tire, i've worn the yellow tread completely off, straight to the fibers.

So, here I am. Recommend me some good tires, hopefully less than 50 bucks each, or so. My friend was talking about Goma Italias or something... how are they?

Are you looking for hi-performance skid tires or long lasting skid tires?

55/Rad

I like the Continentals IMO they are a decnt tire that gets the job done. A great place for good deals on tires is http://www.biketiresdirect.com/default.asp. Thats where I get mine.

I've had great luck with Conti's also...GP 3000s. But if you live for skid contests, I'd buy the cheapest, heavier tire I could find....about $10 ought to do it. No need to destroy a $50 tire in an afternoon!

I just replaced my rear conti 4-season which had 2050 miles on it.

Could try the Michelin Carbon , a bit dear but a long life ( and no grip at all )

I like Hutchinson Carbon Comps. You can generally find them on Performance for $18~$20 a spot if they are on sale. Ususally the red-striped ones are on sale.

Calypsos, from cbike.com, I think. They wore well. About $50 for a pair, so a great price.

Okie Dokie Mr. bahsturd. Here's my choice for a good quality, moderately priced tire: Vredestein Volante'. THey usually are in the $28-$30 dollar range from either Performance or Nashbar. That is with a foldable (Kevlar bead) tyre 700c x 23 rated with a operational PSI rating of 145. I also use the 700c x 25. I think these tyres come in at 244grams.
I have been using them on two road bikes for the last 3-4 years. In that period they've clocked about 9,000 miles. I have experienced two flat tyres in those miles. A caution about flat tyre tales: where we live and our chosen area to ride in has more to do with our flat tyre experiences than does the tyre itself. I know that in some parts of the country (New Mexico) there's these little things that sprout from tumble weeds called "goatheads". They're hard as steel and sharp as a tack, and they're all over the place: on and off road!
My riding is done in more semi-rural areas on two lane asphault roads.

I went biking around the city today with a friend. He came up with the great idea of having a 'skidding contest.' We went at it for about half an hour. Everything was ok, but as we were leaving, he says "wait up, i wanna go one more time." So he starts skidding, making a screeching sound, and suddenly POP! Hahahahah, he'd popped his tire, it had worn thru straight to the tube. He has michelin axial pros by the way.

Now, when we get back home, i look at my rear tire. It's like THIS close to wearing thru to the tube. I have yellow vittoria pro teams on, which i really like. But at one part of the back tire, i've worn the yellow tread completely off, straight to the fibers.

So, here I am. Recommend me some good tires, hopefully less than 50 bucks each, or so. My friend was talking about Goma Italias or something... how are they?

you and your friend are geniuses...why not just mail me $50 bucks the next time you decide that you are going to to that...:D

I have a pair of GP3000s on my bike. I like the way they ride, but I have 800 miles on them, and the back is starting to get bit worn, there is about an 8-10mm flat strip down the middle of them. I think I'll get another 800 at least on that tire...but you never know. the front is brand new looking, still has that extra rubber from the mold on it. I think I might buy a GP3000 4-season when the rear wears out, it sounds like a good tire for the money.

Okie Dokie Mr. bahsturd. Here's my choice for a good quality, moderately priced tire: Vredestein Volante'. THey usually are in the $28-$30 dollar range from either Performance or Nashbar. That is with a foldable (Kevlar bead) tyre 700c x 23 rated with a operational PSI rating of 145. I also use the 700c x 25. I think these tyres come in at 244grams.
I have been using them on two road bikes for the last 3-4 years. In that period they've clocked about 9,000 miles. I have experienced two flat tyres in those miles. A caution about flat tyre tales: where we live and our chosen area to ride in has more to do with our flat tyre experiences than does the tyre itself. I know that in some parts of the country (New Mexico) there's these little things that sprout from tumble weeds called "goatheads". They're hard as steel and sharp as a tack, and they're all over the place: on and off road!
My riding is done in more semi-rural areas on two lane asphault roads.
9000 miles on a single tire seems unbeliveable,imo.

I remember doing that with my fathers bike many years ago. My postierior is still sore. Skip the skidding contests or save it for the old balloon tire schwins with the coaster brakes. :rolleyes:

9000 miles on a single tire seems unbeliveable,imo.

Your right Shokhead, 9000 miles is totally unbelieveable. Conti Top Touring which is probably the longest lasting tire you can buy won't even last that long on a unloaded bike! I currently use the Specialize Armadillo which are also known for having extremily long wear last about 3,500 miles on the front and 2800 on the rear. Lighter racing tires I've used in the past lasted no more than 3000 on the front and 2400 on the rear.

BUT I just noticed one thing from Cook, he said 9,000 miles on 2 bikes, maybe he meant about 3000 miles for each set?

Your right Shokhead, 9000 miles is totally unbelieveable. Conti Top Touring which is probably the longest lasting tire you can buy won't even last that long on a unloaded bike! I currently use the Specialize Armadillo which are also known for having extremily long wear last about 3,500 miles on the front and 2800 on the rear. Lighter racing tires I've used in the past lasted no more than 3000 on the front and 2400 on the rear.

BUT I just noticed one thing from Cook, he said 9,000 miles on 2 bikes, maybe he meant about 3000 miles for each set?
Had the armadillo's on a hybrid with no flats and 3000 mile and maybe another 1000 or so but you can tell why they last my the way they ride,like a fricken rock. lol

Ok. Do you guys have any opinions on Vittoria Open Corsa CXs, the GOmmitalia Calypsos, the Michelin Pro Races, the COntinental Attack/Force combo, or the Continental 3000s?

Thanks.

I've heard nice things about the Conti attach forch but for everyday riding,go with the GP3000 or the 4-seasons. The pro's flat a bit easier and wear a bit faster then the Conti's.

I would go with anything Michelin. I too once had it wear right through, but it was from riding long distances and NOT skidding. ;)

Hi,
tires like the Calypso or Fortezza are handmade tires with a great ride,and medium longevity. Want to try the Calypso, haven't gotten around to it. Love the Fortezza. The Attack is more a race tire, and prob has a short lifepsan. The 3000 is a nice sport tire with medium longevity. Haven't tried it, but you see them around. Perhaps if you told us what was important to you....ride, performance,or longevity we would have a better idea what to suggest.

You're having skidding contests with Michelin and Vittoria tires?! :eek:
How old are you?10?

I just put a set of Specialized Pro tires on my my Ksyrium wheels for my flatland riding. I was riding a pair of their TurboLite tires and have ~5K miles on them with plenty of tread left (they now move to my trainer wheels). The Specialized Pro's weigh in at 268g on my scale. Unless you are racing and need lighter tires, these are bullet-proof and I did not have a single flat in the ~5K miles I put on them. I use Performance's Forte Pro Kevlar on my climbing wheels. Considerably lighter at 220g. Both are 700x23. The Forte's I have on have about 1K miles and are showing some wear on the rear. Not too surprising considering their weight. Should get about 2K miles out of them, which is fine for such a light tire. Like the Specialized, I have had no flats on the Forte Pro Kevlar. Both of these tires sell for about $30 apiece.

I like the Continentals IMO they are a decnt tire that gets the job done. A great place for good deals on tires is http://www.biketiresdirect.com/default.asp. Thats where I get mine.

Hey wait a minute here. I just ordered a set of Pro Race from biketiresdirect this Friday. The LBS wants $60 for them, Bikesdirect wants $40 for them, but I forgot all about Chiagoland Bikes (www.cbike.com) they want only $35. I ordered a Deda road bar from them last year, they have lots of high end stuff there, good site. Had a set of Continetals GP 3000, sorry, not a fan of them of them.

9000 miles on a single tire seems unbeliveable,imo.

I agree 100%..........!

Haha. Let me clarify something, we don't usually go skidding around town, but our tires were on their last legs anyways, so why not?


I'm looking for a tire that'll last a while. I don't really race, but would definitely appreciate a lighter, faster tire. I ride about 75 miles a week btw. I'm leaning towards the Gommitalias or Michelin Pro Races, or maybe the Continental Attack/force.

9000 miles on a single tire seems unbeliveable,imo.

Where on earth did you read any statement in my post that claimed 9,000 on a single tyre? The statement was clear that I had been using Volante's for about 9,000 miles on two different road bikes. If you read it that I had been using a single set of tyres on two different road bikes for 9,000 miles, there's been a serious miscommunication.

Yep!!

If you just gotta have skidding contests, maybe this (http://www.greentyre.com/) tire is for you. ;)

Haha, those green tires look awesome! Too bad i'm looking for something a little lighter and faster. Anyway, i think i'm goign to go with the michelin pro races. They're only like 35 bucks from biketiresdirect. The continentals dont' look like they'll last very long, and the open corsas are just too expensive.

I think i'm going to get a mini pump too, so that i'll never be stranded again.

Yeh the Mich` pro race are fine tyres , I have over 3 thusand miles on the rear with very little sign of wear.

I would replace the front with the the other Pro race I purchased at the same time, but the orignal Axial Pro is still going strong at 8,000+ miles.

You must be very small and lite. I have them and after 800 miles i can see slight rear wear. I have conti's 4-seasons on my other and had to replace at 2050 on rear.I would'nt the pro's again for everyday riding.

You must be very small and lite. I have them and after 800 miles i can see slight rear wear. I have conti's 4-seasons on my other and had to replace at 2050 on rear.I would'nt the pro's again for everyday riding.


Yeh! I`m relatively light weight averaging ...141lbs, but quite tall.... 6ft,

Also a steady rec rider, so I`m quite non abusive to my cycle components. getting maximum usage from everything. At least that seems to be. Maybe my LBS will tell me different when I take it in for Spring service tomorrow :)

I too have been looking for some DURABLE tires.
through my research I've learned this....
LOOK for TPI (threads per inch).
Also the SPECIALIZED ARMADILLO's are Super Burly...and pretty CHEAP!!!
Check 'em out!

Personally, I like the Vredestein Ricorsos from nashbar. Only about $13 and would be GREAT skidding tires (and they work pretty well for normal riding too ;) ). They're wire bead, so easy on/easy off. Also, Perfornance has Vredestein Fortezza SEs on sale for $18...

I use Michelin Pro Race. My last set had 6,200 miles on the front and 3,000 on the second rear tire and 3,200 on the first rear tire.