Road Cycling - Good Fast reasonably cheap road tires?

Anyone have good experiences, i was looking at the Continental Grand Prix 3000's or the Hutchinson USPS tires. They will be used for training and racing as well as some general riding.

Very cheap: Continental Grand Prix wire bead (non-foldable).

Scroll down the Vredestein page -- even the cheaper ones are rated to 145psi:
http://www.vredesteinusa.com/roadtyres/index.html

Anyone have good experiences, i was looking at the Continental Grand Prix 3000's or the Hutchinson USPS tires. They will be used for training and racing as well as some general riding.

I swear by my GP3000s. I wouldn't necessarily describe them as inexpensive though. They have fairly decent life (~3000-3500 miles) and are pretty resistant to flats. They roll extremely nice. I pump to 130PSI. One of my friends has the Hutchinson USPS and loves them too but I don't have any first hand experience with them.

They are both on sale for 29.99 each at performmancebike.com

They are both on sale for 29.99 each at performmancebike.com

GP3000 is for $14.98, but @ 310g for 25. that's pretty heavy. go with the Hutchinson USPS Road Tire.. it looks good, plus only 205g for 23. ;)

I have heard bad things about the durability of the hutchinson tires.

personally, my favorite training tire right now is the michelin carbon. I just passed the 1000 mile mark with out much wear at all, and no flats. Aw jeez, I'm jinxed. 1000 miles was a good run though.

I had the gp3000s before them, and I was flatting just about every 100 miles. they made me so freakin mad, I almost screamed when I got a flat on a morning ride before work. they were replaced at 1800 miles, because I was getting a flat on the back about every other ride. it was a gamble every time I went ride as to whether or not the back tire would be flat. they did ride nicely though, and were fairly light. but I will never buy them again for training.

I am using carbon Axials now, they are pretty good i guess. But they seem to have bad rolling resistance.

I've started using Performance's Forte Pro Kevlar tires. They seem pretty good so far...plus, they are on sale now!!!

I ride Specialized Armidillos...not exactly cheap, but the flat protection is awesome. Especially if you live in an area like Texas where stickers are everywhere! They are a titch on the heavy side, but it doesn't bother me!!

I had the gp3000s before them, and I was flatting just about every 100 miles. they made me so freakin mad, I almost screamed when I got a flat on a morning ride before work. they were replaced at 1800 miles, because I was getting a flat on the back about every other ride. it was a gamble every time I went ride as to whether or not the back tire would be flat. they did ride nicely though, and were fairly light. but I will never buy them again for training.

Interesting because I've had the exact opposite experience. The only flats I've ever gotten on my GP3000s was when I ran them out well past 4000 miles and they were paper-thin. I initially picked the GP3000s after reading many reviews of flats on the original Michelin Axials. I know the Carbons are an entirely different tyre design so I might give them a try in the future. However, I've ridden right through fields of glass shards that caused my riding partners to flat but my GP3000s came out unscathed. They've survived encounters with stuff that punctured Conti Gatorskins.

i'm not a fan of the conti gp 3000's...i had a pair and the rubber seems too soft and ended up getting alot of cuts after only 200 or so miles...plus the sidewall is super thin..not very reassuring...i've had great luck with the vittorria rubinos (wire bead)....my last pair lasted atleast 2k miles. some folks say they ride slow but as long as the tire pressure is kept around 100 psi, then i don't think there should be any problem....me thinks they run around 25 bucks a pop...depends on which shop you go to though.

So everyone wants a superlight tire that lasts forever and gets no flats but not so thin on the sidewalls and not to soft of rubber so it doesnt get cuts. Is that about right?

yep. Don't forget, easy to mount, minimal rolling resistance and good looks, too.

well, vredestein fortezzas come pretty close ;)

Continental Grand Prix 3000 Folding Road Tire
Price: $56.99 $19.98 (65% off)

This is on supergo.com
http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?lProd_id=25351

Interesting because I've had the exact opposite experience. The only flats I've ever gotten on my GP3000s was when I ran them out well past 4000 miles and they were paper-thin. I initially picked the GP3000s after reading many reviews of flats on the original Michelin Axials. I know the Carbons are an entirely different tyre design so I might give them a try in the future. However, I've ridden right through fields of glass shards that caused my riding partners to flat but my GP3000s came out unscathed. They've survived encounters with stuff that punctured Conti Gatorskins.

you are one lucky guy...perhaps you got the good ones...heh.

I'm trying these for the first time too. Pleased with them so far. Nice smooth ride @ 125 psi.

Continental Grand Prix 3000 Folding Road Tire
Price: $56.99 $19.98 (65% off)

This is on supergo.com
http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?lProd_id=25351

that is one weird looking color!

well, vredestein fortezzas come pretty close ;)

I ordered a pair of Michelin Hi-Lite Prestige when I first got my bike 'cause they were on sale. At 800 Miles on the bike it's time to mount them and see how they last.

Performance just opened a store in Fort Collins, so I was in there, they have the Vredestein Fortezza's Tricomps on sale for $25.00 Per and was told by the service guy I had to buy a pair of them because of the price. He has had good luck with them, good milage, no flats. I am tempted to mount them first to see how I like them before the sale ends (sept 8th). Maybe pick up two more if I like 'em.

that is one weird looking color!

When I blew out my rear tyre once (split the casing) and went into the LBS for a replacement, they told me they didn't have any in stock and were ordering some. They offered me an orange GP3000 as a loaner until they got their order in. For the next week, I got the oddest stares from people.

Continental Grand Prix 3000 Folding Road Tire
Price: $56.99 $19.98 (65% off)

This is on supergo.com
http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?lProd_id=25351

makes for a great spare

I just got a pair of the GP3000s and I like them so far. They replaced a pair of Continental 2000s which had about 2000 miles on them and were completely worn out (that includes a season of trainer use as well, so not bad).

The GP3000s I see on sale on the 'net are yellow and all are narrow like 700X20s. I ride 700X23.

How can you tell how narrow (or wide) you can go with a tire on a particular wheel?

And the Ricorso's arent half bad either......at 12.95ea. Hey, it's a training tire...rides good. Rolls good. No flats yet.

Oh and choose your color.



Olds

When I blew out my rear tyre once (split the casing) and went into the LBS for a replacement, they told me they didn't have any in stock and were ordering some. They offered me an orange GP3000 as a loaner until they got their order in. For the next week, I got the oddest stares from people.

yeah.. i'd bet you'll draw some attention with those.. cuz those colors really stand out oddly!

My riding partner swears by the GP3000s....gets long miles and hardly ever flats out. Me on the other hand, Panaracer, $10 and get 2K miles for a soft rubber ride.

yep. Don't forget, easy to mount, minimal rolling resistance and good looks, too. And while we're at it, cheap, reflectorized, never mis-seats, quiet, easy to dismount, smells like bubble-gum...