Classic & Vintage - "light" 700X35/38 tires?

Hey guys...I'm getting my commuter back out of the dust bin, and am going with a complete overhaul, including V brakes and Tektro V-brake levers. Right now, I'm rolling on 700X38 Kendas, that are dog slow. I mean, compared to the 700X32's that I sometimes run on it, I increase my 30 mile time by 10 minutes simply by switching tires. I'd like to leave the fatties on it, because I like using this bike on dirt and gravel paths, and for winter riding, but I just can't STAND these tires.

I'm thinking that a large part of it has to do with the weight. Rolling resistance is fairly negligible, as I'm running them at the maximum - 80 psi. Further, they don't have any knobbies, so I know it's not the tread that's doing it...

Being that this is a "modern" bike (pearl colored with blue UNIVEGA on the down tube), I'd like to stick with blackwalls, as gums would be kinda odd, so the Panaracer Paselas are out, though they'd be my first choice.

So, does anyone have any suggestions for good rolling tires that are $30 each or less?

Right now, I've been looking at the Continental City Ride and the Schwalbe Marathon (a bit out of my price range, but eh...) as the top choices...any others?

I have ritchey speedmasters on my winter/cross bike and they're pretty decent. They are actually pretty capable offroad too.

You can get Paselas in blackwall, actually. I have a set of 700 x 32mm on a bike I've been using regularly.

Neal

When I was looking for cross tires pbk had some in those sizes at good weights. Closer to $35-$40 each at the time, but no tax and free shipping. They often have 10-15% off coupons around as well.

Vittoria Hyper Randonneur 700x35 (or 700x38 available)...folding, kevlar bead, reasonably light...roll REAL nice.

continental contact. (more road oriented, but better than pasela offroad)
tioga city slicker. (not as offroad capable, but just as good as a pasela on road)

do you want light weight or low rolling resistance?
because the two are not directly related.

low rolling resistance is more of a function of how smooth the tread is and how flexible the sidewall is. Kevlar bead will make the tire lighter compared to steel beads. You can have a heavy tire that still rolls quite well.

check out crc, they have a pretty good selection of tires at good prices compared to pbk.

Panaracer Paselas are what you are looking for. They are lighter than most tires of the same size from different companies. I have multiple bikes running 700x28, 32, and 650bx38(soma's pasela). The non tg version comes in black wall. The tg version are tan walled and both (I think) are available in wire and folding bead.

Panaracer Ribmos, folding bead, come in 700X35 and are fairly light compared to other tires that size,

schwalbe kojak

http://smtp.schwalbetires.com/kojak

A lighter tire may not drop your commute time. For example, my average cruising speed with 23C or 32C is around 18 mph (paved bike trail). Novice tends to jack up tire pressure on a larger tire hoping to increase speed. Excessive pressure on 32C or larger tire will cause the bike to bounce up and down, thereby reducing traction and average speed. If I pump up my 32C Michelin City to the maximum rated pressure of 87 psi, then the ride is much more harsh. The average speed will also drop by about 1 to 1.5 mph. Sweet spot is 71 front, and 74 rear.

That said, going from 38C to 32C can result in measurable speed drop because 38C tires tend to have semi-knobby footprint. Look for semi-slick city tire. The Michelin City may work for you. Michelin City Pilot is a tad heavier than Michelin City. However, it's a faster tire due to better design. It is also very resistant to road debris.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TI299D01-Michelin+City+Reflective+Strip+Tire.aspx

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/TI299D02-Michelin+Pilot+City+Tire.aspx

..... going from 38C to 32C can result in measurable speed drop because 38C tires tend to have semi-knobby footprint. ]

???

schwalbe kojak

http://smtp.schwalbetires.com/kojak


Wow! Somebody else has heard of Kojaks?!? One of the best "unknown" tires out there. 35mm, fast, smooth, folding, and only $40 (+-) at sjscycles.co.uk.

SP
Bend, OR

???

Should be 32c to 38c.

Schwalbe Kojaks - I LOVE THESE TIRES!

http://www.schwalbe.com/gbl/en/produkte/specials/produkt/?ID_Einsatzbereich=10&ID_Produktgruppe=52&ID_Produkt=221&ID_Artikel=487&info=1

178831

They are light weight, roll fast, roll quietly, handling is excellent and they're are puncture resistant (I haven't yet had a flat tire in years). You can tailor the pressure to your desires - from 55 to 90 psi in this size.

Schwalbe Kojaks - I LOVE THESE TIRES!

http://www.schwalbe.com/gbl/en/produkte/specials/produkt/?ID_Einsatzbereich=10&ID_Produktgruppe=52&ID_Produkt=221&ID_Artikel=487&info=1

178831

They are light weight, roll fast, roll quietly, handling is excellent and they're are puncture resistant (I haven't yet had a flat tire in years). You can tialor the pressure to your desires - from 55 to 90 psi in this size.

...and rumor has it they last FOREVER! (well, almost...) When I bought my 'bent, it had Kojaks on it with 5000mi on 'em. I put another couple thou' on em and only replaced 'em because I broke the front casing hitting a rock on a gravel road. Tried some other tires as replacements, and now I'm back on a new set of Kojaks after the others wore out in ~2000 mi. Thinkin' seriously about replacing the Paselas on my Kogswell w/ Kojaks when the time comes.

SP
Bend, OR

I have the 26" version of the Panaracer Urban Max (http://www.panaracer.com/urban.php) on a bike and I've been quite pleased with them. Tread is very much like the Pasela but they seem to be a slightly beefier version. They come in a variety of sizes.

Schwalbe Delta Cruisers 700C x 35
love them

how do kojaks compare to pasela tourguards?

Right now, I've been looking at the Continental City Ride and the Schwalbe Marathon (a bit out of my price range, but eh...) as the top choices...any others?

Gotta say, I've got Continental City Rides on two of my bikes and I think they are a great, fast ride. Panaracer Pacela's on most of my other bikes - not quite as smooth, IMHO, but just as fast - maybe faster. One set is the Tourguard version though, and I think the ride is kind of "dead"... maybe because they're a little heavier. Maxxis Re-fuse on my non-C&V bike, btw, and I love how resistant those suckers are to road debris, but they don't seem to be as fast.

Hey Mickey if your interested I haev some low milage x32 Pasela TGs I am interested in swapping for same but x28s (or most any tan skinwall x28) they are low mileage one set was just test tidden the other maybe has 100mi

Nashbar has another "72" sale + 10% off going on right now. There are a few tires that caught my eye, and they were about $6 or $7 (heavily discounted).

how do kojaks compare to pasela tourguards?

Dunno 'bout the TGs, but they're a lot lighter and a bit faster than non-TGs. (So they should be even more faster than TGs)

SP
Bend, OR

...looks like the kojak 700c line has been discontinued. would be comparable to them?

there are still kojaks listed as available online, in 700c. The schwalbe site has the 700c, in folding bead only, listed among their products, but the North america site has them listed as "out". This has been a popular tire for schwalbe, so i'd be surprised if they don't bring another run out sometime soon.

But, to echo what everyone else said: kojaks are the first thing that comes to mind for fat, fast 700c tires.

-rob

anyone use Vittoria Randonneur Hyper?

http://www.benscycle.net/bmz_cache/9/9b5706929ac83d7336a418a341dcda48.image.900x319.jpg

anyone use Vittoria Randonneur Hyper?

http://www.benscycle.net/bmz_cache/9/9b5706929ac83d7336a418a341dcda48.image.900x319.jpg

no, but i want to try em.

-rob