Classic & Vintage - 700c Tires

Hey guys,

I almost done getting all the parts and wheels ready for my latest build. One item I seem a bit undecided on are tires. I want to get 700c 23-25 tires, which one would be concidered an "fast" low rolling resistance tire? I've been looking at so many .....:twitchy: Suggestions ??? Clinchers

Mike

Mike, I find Continental Gatorskins to be exceptionally fast--- but all the extra protection does not make them light. The Vittoria Open Corsa, (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_207560_-1_201545_10000_202471) with the high thread count are pricey at $65, but fast and light, like tubulars, but not so great on puncture protection, in my experience.

My nephew who raced for Univ. of GA, prefers Michelins.

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/VT-OCECX3-NCL-SIDE.jpg

Specialized actually makes a 23/25c..a kind of best of both worlds tire. It comes stock on their roubaix, my son likes them, good for varying pavement. (I like gp4000s, black chili)

You might check out this BQ article:

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/BQ64TireTest.pdf

Neal

You might check out this BQ article:

So they import Grand Bois, sell Challenger, and only could get one other maker's tires, a Vittoria? Michelin not making a particular tire (Pro3 Race) in 25mm.

Grain of salt.

+1 to the article Neal references. That was an eye opener for me.

That said if you need skinny tires the Vittoria Open Corsa that Pastor Bob ref'd is really nice. I had a lot of flats when I first started riding them but it was mostly pinch flats and once I started keeping them at 120psi the flats went away. I've heard the Grand Bois 25mm tire is nice.

Well, my personal experience is you want to go with as fat a tire as you can, as long as that tire has a supple sidewall (which also means it's the most expensive!). The Grand Bois tires are dreamy in my experience (riding the 30mm version). For many years, I rode as skinny tires I could find at as high a pressure as I could. Now I don't.

Neal

Panaracer Pasela Tourguard - excellent ride, available with skinwalls, not necessarily top flat protection. Haven't had problems with them in the same riding conditions as Mike. Unfortunately, only available in 28C.
Specialized Mondo, first-generation - blackwall, soft casing at full pressure, but very enjoyable, fast ride.
Gommitalia Targa (Italian, out of production) - skinwall, looks like a tubular, 22C, perfect for a vintage build, won't last too long, but best riding tire I've ever found - miles ahead of anything else.

-Kurt

Personally I can't stand Conti's. IME, they're harsh riding, fragile sidewalls, and not especially fast. Oh, and they run at least 10% under the nominal size. So what do I like? Michelins. Especially the Pro series, tho' the 700x25c Lithions on my road bike are pretty nice. The Pros are fast, smooth, quiet, tough, and corner like they're on rails. Oh and they're AT LEAST the nominal size. My 700x25 Pro2's measured 27mm. Wider than the "700x32" Conti Top Tourings I had, which measured 26mm.

SP
Bend, OR

Panaracer Pasela Tourguard - excellent ride, available with skinwalls, not necessarily top flat protection. Haven't had problems with them in the same riding conditions as Mike. Unfortunately, only available in 28C.

Kurt, you're mistaken. Pasela TG's are available in sizes 700x23-35.

Kurt, you're mistaken. Pasela TG's are available in sizes 700x23-35.

Thanks for the heads up - it took a specific Google search for the 700x23C's to get them to show up.

-Kurt

Are 700x20 to narrow? My latest ride came with that size and i had to repace them this week. I decided to stick with that size because my brakes do not have a quick release type opener on them and i need to always remove the front tire when i transport. Even a 700x23 would mean that i would have to open the breaks up wider to allow removal of the tire. Any comments would be appreciated!

Are 700x20 to narrow? My latest ride came with that size and i had to repace them this week. I decided to stick with that size because my brakes do not have a quick release type opener on them and i need to always remove the front tire when i transport. Even a 700x23 would mean that i would have to open the breaks up wider to allow removal of the tire. Any comments would be appreciated!

Too narrow in relation to what? Your frame? Mike's preferences?

What brand/model of tire?

-Kurt

Are 700x20 to narrow? My latest ride came with that size and i had to repace them this week. I decided to stick with that size because my brakes do not have a quick release type opener on them and i need to always remove the front tire when i transport. Even a 700x23 would mean that i would have to open the breaks up wider to allow removal of the tire. Any comments would be appreciated! It would depend on a myriad of variables.

I have a set of dark gumwall Conti Ultra's, old school, in 700x20. They're fine, but I like the same tire in 700x23, which I also have. They exhibit the least harsh ride, but I keep them at 110psi.

Both are beaded, and I sincerely have no idea where I got them. I had some 28's, too, gave them to drrobwave for a Trek 520, seemed right. He really likes them.

I've ridden the Panaracer Technova II 700x20's and they were hard as stone wheels. Not interested in them at all.

Picked up a set of Hutchinson Fusion Comp 700x20's cheap because the LBS got them back after one ride. Hard, but not that bad. At 105, they're a different tire than at 110-115psi.

Other than your QR needs, I see no need for 20's, as far as speed or comfort.

Hey guys,

I almost done getting all the parts and wheels ready for my latest build. One item I seem a bit undecided on are tires. I want to get 700c 23-25 tires, which one would be concidered an "fast" low rolling resistance tire? I've been looking at so many .....:twitchy: Suggestions ??? Clinchers

Mike
Well, new or used? What do you want them to do for you? Wheels, frames, psi makes a difference.

I've got a ton of tires here, have had them on/off lots of bikes.

Narrow:
see my post on the 700x20's.
Other than my Avocet K20 Criteriums in 700x20, I'm not a fan of 700x20.

700x23:
Specialized Mondo-nice high-mileage tire. Not a racer.
Specialized Armadillo-save the money and tow something to get the same feel. They feel slow, but they last.
Specialized All-Comp-Seems about the same as the Mondo.
Conti Ultra Gatorskins-seem wider than they are, but roll well and look cool.
Conti GP 3000 and 4000-I consider most of my tires vs. the 4000.
Conti Ultra/Super Sport/2000, all beaded. They feel exactly like Kenda Koncepts
Vittoria Rubino Pro Intrepid (Kevlar)-Equal to the 4000 but looks wider. Doesn't last like an Armadillo, but longer than a ProRace, for sure.
Hutchinson Equinox-cheapest I have, rolls as well as anything, lasts as long as a ProRace.
Hutchinson Fusion Comp-Good tire for the money, not as cheap as the Equinox, but harder and much better handling.
Michelin ProRace 2 and ProRace 3-Good performance, poor wear, 2's can be found cheap, 3's are high, race-oriented.
Tufo S 33 Pro tubular clincher-My favorite all-around tire for wear/price/comfort. The other drawbacks are a PITA.
Kenda Koncepts-I have two sets, both 650x23. They change a lot once they start to wear.
Panaracer Stradius Pro and Pro II-Look nice, don't last for beans. Rain grooves, though.

700x25's:
Vredestein Fortezza Tri-Comp 700x25's. If they didn't say 700x25, I'd have never thunk it.
After the Continental Attack/Force, the best tires I've ever had.

If you're buying new, I'd recommend the Continental GP 4000's or the Vredesteins, if you want to spend some money.
For value, the Hutchinson Equinox, but don't expect them to last as long as more expensive tires.

Used, I like the older beaded Continentals with the dark gumwalls. They are solid tires.

For fast clinchers I like Conti GP4000s too:

http://home.comcast.net/~khatfull/images/opusiv/opusivdone1.jpg

For C&V looking tires, Panaracer Paselas every time.

Thanks for all the suggestions, The wheel set is 700c Mavic MA40's laced to 36H record Hubs. The bike will have a 7speed freewheel, 12-21, Super Record cranks 172.5, 50-42. I can't wait to finish it.

Mike

Pasela 23C's, if they're anything like the 28's.

-Kurt

Pasela 23C's, if they're anything like the 28's.
I always found the Pasela to ride like veritable bricks compared to others. They seemed slow, too. They seem to be more a touring, all around beater tire. The Tourguard versions supposedly offer more protection.... Perhaps I've just had bad experience with them in that regard. I feel the same way about Contis compared to Michelins, which have always seemed more refined, rolling better, too. The Pro 2 Race was a great tire. Lasted about 1500 miles, all depending on your weight, riding style, and roads.

But if looking for one of the all-time best clinchers that come the closest to tubular performance and feel, I still think the Veloflex Pave, now the Master 22 (http://www.probikekit.com/us/tyres-tubes/clincher-bicycle-tyres/veloflex-master-22-road-tyre.html), heads above all mentioned. It lasts about 1200-1500 miles or so but it's 1200 amazing miles. They corner like a beast and feel supple and FAST. Very good on the roll, perhaps a notch below the Michelin, but pretty close. PBK runs a sale on them every month or so, dropping them into the mid 30s for the best deal for performance clinchers that look the part on a quality vintage ride.

http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/ciocc_corner2.jpg

http://i-vol.com/bikes/forum/veloflex.jpg

too bad they only come in 22mm...thats teeny!

Are Vittoria Zaffiros any good? They claim some puncture resistance. I was thinking of buying some because they are super cheap.

Thanks for all the suggestions, The wheel set is 700c Mavic MA40's laced to 36H record Hubs. The bike will have a 7speed freewheel, 12-21, Super Record cranks 172.5, 50-42. I can't wait to finish it.

Mike

Mike, you ride a 63cm ST frame or bigger, right? I'd suspect, then, that you're near 200lb. I'd recommend as big a tire as your frameset will allow. I've had good experiences with the Pasela 700x28mm in both standard and TourGuard. I also like the Ruffy Tuffy. I like the checkerboard tread pattern and it's a tough tire. I would also like to try the Grand Bois 700x26mm tire. The Paselas are available in 25mm if you can't fit (or don't want to fit) a 28mm.

I just put a set of Conti Ultra Gatorskins on one set of wheels (Ambrosio Elites on record hubs) and like them so far. I've got a set of the Vittoria Open Corsas on my other set of wheels (same as yours, MA40s/record hub 36h), but haven't tried them yet. Was riding Specialized Turbos last year in 23/25.

Just got the Conti GP 4000 700 25c They fit nice on the rim. But they are every bit as big as my Continental Sport 1000 700 28c. Front fit is no problem , but 25c is as big as that 753r frame allows.