Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Tire recommendations

I'm looking to replace the Kendas that came on my bikesdirect bike. I'm thinking Vittoria Randonneurs, especially for the rear because I've heard that for the price ($30) they are the most durable and best for skidding. I'm wondering, will getting 700x28 (compared to 700x23) make the ride smoother and help prevent flats? I have enough clearance for them. And do you guys have any other recommendations for durable tires in that price range?

i ride 28 randonneurs in the rear. i encounter lots of broken glass, thorny brush, dirt, potholes, etc. on my regular rides and have yet to puncture them.
some people complain that they are "slow" but i don't really mind any sluggishness they're responsible for... especially in exchange for not having to worry about flats...

Depending on rider weight, 25mm and 28mm tires roll faster on real streets than do 23mm tires.

The 28's offer better flat and cut resistance because, with lower pressure and greater contact area, they do not press against sharps as much as do higher pressure, narrower tires.

If you weigh over 170 lbs, consider a 28mm tire.

Best 28mm tire going: Continental Top Contact with a wire bead.

You'll go faster for less effort, and with fewer flats (one year no-flat guarantee with the Top Contact).

And don't develop the skidding habit.

It only wastes tires.

Learn to back pedal and use a front brake.

If you like skidding, just find the cheapest tire you can.

armadillos offer just as good flat protection as randos without the slug built in. had a pair on my old langster back in the day, was a good ride.

armadillos offer just as good flat protection as randos without the slug built in. had a pair on my old langster back in the day, was a good ride.

I concur, love my "dills"

I have always been a sucker for continental, so I will recommend gatorskins. I run 25's and they are pretty smooth for city riding.

I have always been a sucker for continental, so I will recommend gatorskins. I run 25's and they are pretty smooth for city riding.

im behind the curve here having never had gatorskins, but continental is quality stuff (i use gp4000s) as well as michelins (no personal experience either im afraid. see vixtor and dr banzai, they can give you thorough review on them).

though somewhat pricey for nice tires, skimping out on tires is never a good move.

cheap skidding tire = vittoria rubino. no doubt.

im behind the curve here having never had gatorskins, but continental is quality stuff (i use gp4000s) as well as michelins (no personal experience either im afraid. see vixtor and dr banzai, they can give you thorough review on them).

though somewhat pricey for nice tires, skimping out on tires is never a good move.

cheap skidding tire = vittoria rubino. no doubt.

Gatorskins are no more spendy than armadillos.

Gatorskins are no more spendy than armadillos.

i never necissarily said armadillos were cheap either - they are a bit pricey too, or maybe im just cheap. but you get what you pay for.

Vittoria Randos; cheap and long lasting. Plus there's like a red indicator rubber beneath the black to signal to you that your tire is starting to wear thin from skidding in an area...

I've always loved gatorskins. However, i recently transferred them from the sweet fixie to the road bike, and was curious to try something else. I'd read good things about Rubino Pro's and they sell for cheap. Ordered a pair on ebay. Gonna try them out tomorrow.

get some freedom thickslicks sports if you're going to be busting a lot of skids, theyre thick as all hell, just dont ride in the rain

I gave up skidding for Continental GP4000S

it's sure worth giving up

get some freedom thickslicks sports if you're going to be busting a lot of skids, theyre thick as all hell, just dont ride in the rain

The rain doesn't really matter...someone needs to read some more sheldon brown http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html about halfway down he explains how you cant really hydroplane on a bike

schwalbe marathons for 25<
schwalbe durano for 23

The rain doesn't really matter...someone needs to read some more sheldon brown http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html about halfway down he explains how you cant really hydroplane on a bike
Hydroplaning happens when going forward into water. That's different that taking a turn on wet pavement and having the wheel slide out to the side because it has lost lateral grip.

Well then a treaded tire will do you even worse since it has less of a contact area with the pavement...bike tires are made in such a way that the contact patch formed will push out any water. Read the paragraph above the hydroplanning one called "Tread for on road use"

This is from that...
"People ask, "But don't slick tires get slippery on wet roads, or worse yet, wet metal features such as expansion joints, paint stripes, or railroad tracks?" The answer is, yes, they do. So do tires with tread. All tires are slippery in these conditions. Tread features make no improvement in this."

I never had a problem riding slicks in the rain.Pleasant side effect of having no thread was that they didn't pull any water off the road like a regular tire.Dry feet without fender:D