Road Cycling - Best training tire?

I have been riding the Conti Grand Prix 3000's; I weigh 180 lbs., have 2000 miles on them and they are pretty much well worn. What can you all recommend in a good training tire in terms of light weight, good durability, and for good flat protection. The Conti's have served well, just wondering if there is anything out there felt to be better especially for the money. A last question relative to tires. I was talking to a mechanic the other day about tires with color and he said to stear away from them because they seem (in his experience) to be a little weaker in the sidewalls. Thanks for any thoughts relative to the above.

I was in the exact same boat as you. I'm 180, had 2000 miles on my GP3000s, and they were shot. I took a risk in ride quality, and bought a pair of michelin carbons, and I'm really liking them so far. I have about 250 miles on them, and they roll almost as nice as the GP3000s, and I'm hoping that they last longer and are more flat resistant considering that I flatted on my first ride with the GP3000s, they're alread better.

I have been riding the Conti Grand Prix 3000's; I weigh 180 lbs., have 2000 miles on them and they are pretty much well worn. What can you all recommend in a good training tire in terms of light weight, good durability, and for good flat protection. The Conti's have served well, just wondering if there is anything out there felt to be better especially for the money. A last question relative to tires. I was talking to a mechanic the other day about tires with color and he said to stear away from them because they seem (in his experience) to be a little weaker in the sidewalls. Thanks for any thoughts relative to the above.

I actually think you are asking a little too much wanting all three: light weight, durability and flat protection. For a training tire, I would definitely give up light weight. For training though, I usually go for something a little cheaper....and would typically buy whatever tires I can find that are on sale. I don't buy cheap tires, but I go for something in the mid range...like $20-$30 per tire.

yeah, the carbons wear pretty well, I had a cut in one sidewall but thats not the tires fault, the other one has been very very durable, Lately I've been riding Kysriums SL tubulars, and I am getting really spoiled, I don't want to go back to clinchers.........

I looked at weight and then went to http://www.roadbikereview.com and read what people had to say about the tires I picked.

Based on that I bought Vredstein Fortezzas and they are very nice.

Try a set of Conti Ultra 2000s. Good road feel, VERY good durability and flat protection, light weight, $20 a piece w/ kevlar bead. If you get 2k miles from GP3000s you'll get 5-6k out of these, I'm serious. Don't corner as well as race tires (especially in wet conditions - be careful of road stripes) but in the dry they are fine for anything but criteriums or really aggressive descending. I've got them on all my bikes and have been extremely happy with them.

I've had great experience with Verdestein Volante, not very expensive and has been very good wear, great road feel and good handeling. Good prices for them and others on www.biketiresdirect.com just in case you never heard of them. Good luck !

Try a set of Conti Ultra 2000s.
They're not worth the money. When I first started riding I had them and averaged 1 or 2 flats a month.
I've been riding Conti GP3000s for a couple of years and average ~1500 miles between flats. Stick with the GP3000s.
My other bike has Vittoria Rubino Pros. Just under 1000 miles and no flats.
CC (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2_v2.cfm?PRRFNBR=16105&CGRFNBR=780&CRPCGNBR=780&CI=1,263,780&TextMode=0) has a good deal on them now - $27.99.

hey. flats happen. i've tried them all, and i get 1 or 2 flats a year (4000 miles)... some years no flats at all. but it is largely a function of weather. when it is stormy in the springtime, it kicks up more stones/pebbles for instance.

i use hutchison carbon pro's. performance has them for $24.99/per. i rotate them after 1500 miles and have them on both sets of wheels currently, so out of the 4000 miles i do a year, 3500 is on one wheelset and 500 on the other rain set. and they last.
but that's my weight (180lbs), my ksyrium's, my routes.

They're not worth the money. When I first started riding I had them and averaged 1 or 2 flats a month.
I've been riding Conti GP3000s for a couple of years and average ~1500 miles between flats. Stick with the GP3000s.
My other bike has Vittoria Rubino Pros. Just under 1000 miles and no flats.
CC (http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2_v2.cfm?PRRFNBR=16105&CGRFNBR=780&CRPCGNBR=780&CI=1,263,780&TextMode=0) has a good deal on them now - $27.99.

yuck, I was getting flats like every week (riding 4-5x per week) with the GP3000s, and around 1800 miles on the rear, I was getting flats like every other ride. I had them inflated to 115 psi, and they rode like god, but they kept freakin' flatting on me. I had to let them go.