Road Cycling - How many miles do you get out of your Pro Race tires?

I was eating lunch today with some guys from the local biking club. We were talking about my new bike and as soon as I told them I had Michelin Pro Race tires they said I should go back and have the LBS give me some Contis or Hutchison. I was suprised because I had heard they were good tires and from my initial rides I thought they had great grip. They said they griped fine but wore out fast and I probably wouldn't get more than 1500 miles out of them. I was wondering what experience other people have had? I'm inclined to keep them and see how it goes.

I was eating lunch today with some guys from the local biking club. We were talking about my new bike and as soon as I told them I had Michelin Pro Race tires they said I should go back and have the LBS give me some Contis or Hutchison. I was suprised because I had heard they were good tires and from my initial rides I thought they had great grip. They said they griped fine but wore out fast and I probably wouldn't get more than 1500 miles out of them. I was wondering what experience other people have had? I'm inclined to keep them and see how it goes.

hmm...............Hutchison or Michelin, I go with Michelin. I have no experience with Contis. I have only had my pro race tires for 100 miles, so I cannont comment on the longivity of them. I say keep em if you like em.

Mich Pro Race's are fine - I'd expect to get 3k out of them anyways ... lots of my friends use them - I have Vittoria's ... very similar tire and I expect a summer season (~3,000 miles) out of them too.

I bought the Pro Race (ironman) earlier in the year based on all the reviews. I found them to be very responsive and have a good grip. Unfortunately, I also found them to be too soft for my gravel laced commute and ended up destroying the rear.

I now ride Michelin Carbons exclusively. They're more durable yet grip very well. And they are cheaper. I'll probably get another set of Pro Race for the ultra light, special occasion wheels I hope to have someday.

55/Rad

I bought the Pro Race (ironman) earlier in the year based on all the reviews. I found them to be very responsive and have a good grip. Unfortunately, I also found them to be too soft for my gravel laced commute and ended up destroying the rear.

I now ride Michelin Carbons exclusively. They're more durable yet grip very well. And they are cheaper. I'll probably get another set of Pro Race for the ultra light, special occasion wheels I hope to have someday.

55/Rad

I think I'll keep these since they grip great and possibly switch to carbons when they wear out.

I usually get between 2,500 to 3,000 miles for the rear and 5,000 plus for the front.

Sorry for the newbie question, but how do you know when your tiers need to be replaced? I guess the penny trick used on car tires wouldn't work for road bikes. My new bike also came with Michelin, and I haven't had any trouble in the first few hundred miles.

Matt

Sorry for the newbie question, but how do you know when your tiers need to be replaced? I guess the penny trick used on car tires wouldn't work for road bikes.
When you see the tube, it's time to change them. :)

Seriously, tires thin with use. As they thin, they get prone to flats more often. It's a bit of personal preference - some people get 1000's of miles more on a set of tires simply because they are willing to ride on them longer. Check them often.

55/Rad

3k-5k is a lot of miles to put on a bike tire (for me, anyway).

i typically run conti GP3k or attack/force (23/25) tires in the winter/spring and then michelin pro race (23) in the summer and fall.

i like them both very much. the contis offer a bit more traction for the wetter roads, the pro race have less traction and are a bit faster feeling in the corners.

i ride around 4-5k a year, and don't like putting more than 2k on a set of contis and less on the pro race, maybe around 1800. they feel too thin after those miles and i get too many flats.

i'm also riding on the streets of nyc and encounter many little bits of sharp metal that i pick out of my tires now and then. when the tires thin out, they frequently cause flats.

i currently have the michelin megamium that i got a few months ago for like 17$ each. they are ok, i only got them because its red. never got a flat with these and will probably buy them again because its affordable.

I bought the Pro Race (ironman) earlier in the year based on all the reviews. I found them to be very responsive and have a good grip. Unfortunately, I also found them to be too soft for my gravel laced commute and ended up destroying the rear.

I now ride Michelin Carbons exclusively. They're more durable yet grip very well. And they are cheaper. I'll probably get another set of Pro Race for the ultra light, special occasion wheels I hope to have someday.

55/Rad

I have the same tire on my Trek 5200 and have to agree 100%. I put 1200 miles on them this summer and was just looking at them today wondering if maybe I should get another set. They have small cracks all through the tire and many cuts. But sure love the ride; I think it's a fair trade off (now they have red Pro Race). Get 'em at www.biketiresdirect.com, 35 bucks a pop. I have to buy more, they look sooo good with my bike, unless the Carbons come in red. I will check it out.

I got 5600 miles out of mine. Only changed them because I was doining a total overhaul and then going on a 2 week trip.

Cheers.

So does rotating tires on a bike make them last longer like it does on a car?

yes, as the rear wears faster

yes, as the rear wears faster

However, it would also be important to keep in mind that because the rear wears faster it may not be the best idea to switch it up to the front. However, front to rear would probably be okay.

I get about 2200-2400 off the rear, and I'm at 4100 with the original front and it's going strong.

...I have to buy more, they look sooo good with my bike, unless the Carbons come in red. I will check it out.
Carbons do come in red. I have them on my 5500 and the yellow on my Maillot Jaune. Pro SLX saddles on both too.

55/Rad

i will just add that i've had horrible experiences with the hutchinson carbon comp tire. it was on the expensive side, wore very fast, gave me very little flat protection, etc.

So does rotating tires on a bike make them last longer like it does on a car?

I wouldn't think so. Rotating car tires is a way of evening out the wear pattern across the broad surface of a car tire, so they don't go bald on one edge quickly. Bike tires are round and narrow, so I wouldn't expect them to need that.

As for the rear wearing faster, does it matter to you if your rear and front tires are different ages or make/model? I dunno. My front and rear don't match at all, but at $50 each I'm not going to toss an old tire until I absolutely have to. Kendas up front, Continentals in back, fine with me.

I wouldn't think so. Rotating car tires is a way of evening out the wear pattern across the broad surface of a car tire, so they don't go bald on one edge quickly. Bike tires are round and narrow, so I wouldn't expect them to need that.

As for the rear wearing faster, does it matter to you if your rear and front tires are different ages or make/model? I dunno. My front and rear don't match at all, but at $50 each I'm not going to toss an old tire until I absolutely have to. Kendas up front, Continentals in back, fine with me.

but the rear does wear faster then the front, if you switch them with about the rear tire about halfway through its life, you get a much longer wear on the tires. I think its probably alright for you to have mismatching tires...it looks a little fugly...but thats not a huge deal.

i currently have the michelin megamium that i got a few months ago for like 17$ each. they are ok, i only got them because its red. never got a flat with these and will probably buy them again because its affordable.

recently replaced Michelin Axial sports after 1500-2000 miles with megamiums. Axial sports held up well, replaced when i got flats on the rear three consecutive rides. Megamium seems like a durable tire, reasonable price.

I've had good luck with Specialized Turbos ($20) and Specialized Cipollini Pros (the $30 tire, new name this year).

Replace the tire when you see a thread.

Looks like Sheldon Brown recomends against rotating your tires.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_rotation.html

I have had 5 sets of Michelin Pro Race tires. The last set got 2694 miles on the rear and 4704 on the front - my all time best. The previous sets averaged 2100 on the rear and 3200 on the front. They are the best tires that I have ridden by far!

How do you guys get so many miles on your tires? I don't get it.1,000 miles and most tires I've had look like junk, and I do buy "good" ones. Guys in the club I ride with conclude that 800 to 1000 and it's time to think of getting new ones. Dusk says 5,600 miles on his? Come on! I find that hard to believe. Where are you guys ridding? on the street or not?

I think on my last rear Pro Race I got around 2000 miles. Had to get a new one ans I was almost looking through the tire. The front is still perfect with close to 3000 on it.

I bought mine (Michellin Pro Race) last January, I have log close to 5,500 km.so far no sign of wearing out

but the rear does wear faster then the front, if you switch them with about the rear tire about halfway through its life, you get a much longer wear on the tires.

How does swapping them change the wear rate? The rear should still wear at the normal rear wear rate, and the front should still wear at the normal front wear rate.

yea, but by putting the worn one on the front, it slows its wear, and distributes it to the front tire. its like having two glasses of water. you get a new glass of water when you finish one. you just drink out of one, and you're getting a new glass of water more often. however, if you drink evenly of the two glasses, then you'll get refills much less.

does that analogy work?

yea, but by putting the worn one on the front, it slows its wear, and distributes it to the front tire.

But by moving the front to the back you've increased its rate of wear by the same amount you've decreased the rate of wear of the other tire. The new rear still wears at the same rear rate, and the new front still wears at the same front rate, AFAIKT. (Don't want to miss out on some sort of unexpected tire maintenance secret here.)

I don't want to take my tires off any more frequently than I have to. I'll be replacing rears more frequently than fronts, but in the end it's still the same total number of replacement tires, so that's fine with me.

However I CAN see moving a "newer" tire to the rear if you want the more puncture-resistant tire on the more puncture-prone wheel. Also, if you had two wacko tires like studded tires you might have a special reason to want them to wear down at a similar rate.

I don't get the water thing either. You still get one new glass for every glass you finish, no more no less...

alright, maybe the water thing didn't work out. oh well. i've just reread it, and it confused me too. oh well.

anyway, by rotating the tires you even out the wear. so that in the end, you have two equally worn tires. I suppose it allows you to put off buying tires for a while.

on that note, anyone tried the attack/force combo? how many miles did ya'll get on them?

How do you guys get so many miles on your tires? I don't get it.1,000 miles and most tires I've had look like junk, and I do buy "good" ones. Guys in the club I ride with conclude that 800 to 1000 and it's time to think of getting new ones. Dusk says 5,600 miles on his? Come on! I find that hard to believe. Where are you guys ridding? on the street or not?

I thought I would get about 1500 on them when I bought them. I'm 143 lbs. spin at 90-110 rpms and ride street and bike paths. I pump them to 130 psi everytime I ride and I rotate them. The shop could believe it either.

I thought I would get about 1500 on them when I bought them. I'm 143 lbs. spin at 90-110 rpms and ride street and bike paths. I pump them to 130 psi everytime I ride and I rotate them. The shop could believe it either.
I don't know if I am doing something wrong or right but I am really very amaze at how you guys treat your tire, but as far as I know I am 165 lbs, and I have my Michellin Pro race for almost 9 months now and its running close to 6,000 Kilometers and it has to show that its about to retire.
This morning I check if I am missing something or reading it improperly but the tire is still good for another 6000 K, I think (I do the "Donut" here in Toronto and its not a pcinic ride)

My Michelin Pro Race tires average about 1900 miles on the rear, and 2300 miles on the front. I weigh 173, and suspect that rider weight plays a significant role in tire wear with these tires.

Also, it seems like I have to retire them more due to sidewall cuts than wear.

As for rotating tires - just say no. Sheldon Brown makes a very good case for not rotating tires (it's a safety issue) here: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire_rotation.html

How many miles: I replace one tire every year or so (2-3k miles). I’m 135lbs and spin ~100 rpms.

When to replace: When I start to see threads.

Tire rotation: Definitely! Throw away the rear tire when it’s worn out and move the front to the back. I do this for several reasons:

*As Sheldon Brown states in the noted article, you always have the most reliable, thickest rubber on the front. I don’t think I’ve had a flat on the front in the last 6 years doing this.

*One tire could take several years to wear on the front alone. Tires can degrade over time from UV exposure. Rotating reduces the total time a tire is on the bike vs. keeping the tire on the front.

*You’re more likely to skid the rear tire than the front. This could toast a brand new tire right after you put it on.

*I’m an anal engineer :D

-murray

3,000 miles on my PR's (light blue). I rotate every 1,000 miles. Still have plenty of miles left on them.

July I got a set of Performance Forte Pro Kevlars, (Re-badged Panracers?) The rear lasted 1500Mi before the cords started to show, no flats. I don't worry about rotation. When the rear wears out I replace it and when the front looks like it might be close to being worn out I replace it. I might try the Conti gp 3000's next.

I replaced my last set of Pro Races after about 1000 miles, not because they had thinned but because I got so many cuts in them. They corner so incredibly well, but jeebus are they soft! Made me nervous that after every ride I'd find another gouge.

Switched to Michelin Carbons and haven't had a nick all spring and summer. BTW, they come with a red side stripe that looks awfully sharp on my Trek 5200.

I replaced my last set of Pro Races after about 1000 miles, not because they had thinned but because I got so many cuts in them. They corner so incredibly well, but jeebus are they soft! Made me nervous that after every ride I'd find another gouge.

Switched to Michelin Carbons and haven't had a nick all spring and summer. BTW, they come with a red side stripe that looks awfully sharp on my Trek 5200.

The odd thing is, I had tons of cuts on my Vitooria Open Corsa's after 1000 miles. Thought about replacing them and didn't. At about 2300 miles now and figure they will last me till 3k anyways ...

I replaced my last set of Pro Races after about 1000 miles, not because they had thinned but because I got so many cuts in them. They corner so incredibly well, but jeebus are they soft! Made me nervous that after every ride I'd find another gouge.

Switched to Michelin Carbons and haven't had a nick all spring and summer. BTW, they come with a red side stripe that looks awfully sharp on my Trek 5200.

Are those carbons with red stripes 23's or 25's?

When I was using Conti's I was getting about 2000 mi on the rear. I just replaced a Bontrager with about 2000 mi that still had rubber on it only because it had been cut so many times by broken glass that I didn't feel safe on it anymore. Fronts will easily go 3 times that.

<most perplexing> 2000-4000 miles on any tire is pretty cheesy. Bike stuff just doesn't last.
Because most bikes are hauling under 250lbs, I'm thinking a thin bike tire oughta last at least 10-15K miles

Are those carbons with red stripes 23's or 25's?
They are 23's. Like on the bike below.

55/Rad

They are 23's. Like on the bike below.

55/Rad
Hmm I have 25's now. I think I might have to try 23's as the red stripes would look sharp on my red bike :D

Hmm I have 25's now. I think I might have to try 23's as the red stripes would look sharp on my red bike :D

Here's a shot of mine in action: