Bicycle Mechanics - Tire recommendations?

I have been doing homework on tires for about a week now and I am suffering from information overload.

I am rebuilding an early 80's steel frame and converting from 27" wheels to 700c. I found some sweet wheels on e-Bay, high profile Araya rims with Campy Record hubs, which came with some throwaway tires -- 700c x 25. First off, I am admittedly freaked out by the skinny tires. I'd been running 1.25" rubber on the 27's and the 25's look puny by comparison, but I am getting over that.

A few facts:

The rims measure 21mm outside width, 14 on the inside.

I'm a big guy, 6'1" and 240 pounds.

I ride just under 100 miles a week (on this bike), mostly in 35 - 50 mile chunks. I don't race (see height and weight above *g*) but will do one or two centuries and a couple of group rides a season. My main concerns are puncture-resistance and durability.

I'm inclined to avoid racing tires, anything with "lite" in the name and Continental products, which, as I learned on roadbikereview.com, apparently run under spec for width. Can anybody suggest a suitable tire for me? Oh, and I should I stick with 25's or go up to 28's? Thanks.

Specialized Armadillo All Condition tires are virtually bulletproof.

I am 6'7", 220 lbs, and run 700x23 Specialized Armadillo All Condition tires. They are tough tires. The Continental Gatorskins I had before them had good flat protection, but got their sidewalls ripped up on city streets.

For my next set I will probably get 700x25, and maybe take a look at 700x28.

Thanks. Do you know any other source for these tires besides buying direct from Specialized?

Thanks. Do you know any other source for these tires besides buying direct from Specialized?


Most any LBS that sells Specialized products.

well, for 26" (and i think theyre made for 700c too)
I ran a 1.5" specialized nimbus ex armadillo in the front on my tour from Seattle eventually to Santa Cruz... one flat in at least 2000 miles. And the tire is a nice, stable and round 1.5".
i wouldnt reccommend them in the back if you hit a little gravel in your ride because it is a slick
and i prefer a much grippier tire in the back. Ideal for me would be a cyclocross tire, but im running a Panaracer Fire-ex, which kicks nice.
i do not rememeber ever noticing price point or nashbar selling these Nimbus EX tires though.

anyway, i would buy this produckt again.
good luck

-=stevey

My favorite tire for riding long distance on tough roads (Ireland) is the Hutchison Pro Series 700x30. You can check out other Hutchison 700c road tires (with good prices) at http://www.totalbike.com/products/Tires/Manufacturer/Hutchinson/.

:roflmao: :roflmao:

Conntinental gatorskins in 28s, use them on my tandem combined riders wts 350. good ride no flats

I have had good luck with Armadillo 700Cx28s and with various Continentals. Note: although nominally the same size as the Specializeds, the Contis look alot thinner, more like 700Cx25s. I have also had Conti Ultra2000 700Cx23s on the Bianchi for a few years and have been very happy with them.

I third or fourth or whatever the Specialize Armadillos. These are the most puncture resistent tire on the market. I use to live in the Mojave desert area of California and literally tore up over a dozen different supposely tough tires trying to find one that could at least hold up against a goathead attack; I averaged 5 flats a week and tires lasted from a minimium of 60 miles to a max of 750! I even tried Mr Tuffys, which worked to some degree but still had goatheads penetrate through those and they offered no sidewall protection; the tried adding Slime tubes (crappy tubes, don't work at all above 60-65psi) to the Mr Tuffy's; with this combo my flats got down to 2-3 flats a week-still too many. So then an LBS told me about the Armadillos; after the switch I had 2 flats in about 18,000 miles (5 sets of tires) the first was due to a faulty tube, and the second due to the rear tire was bald and showing cord when a small pebble worked it's way through a corded spot. Also the Armadillo has the toughest sidewalls in industry; these things will take a hit from almost anything and not even flinch.

These tires are heavy though at around 375grms for a 700x23; but I use the Specialize Turbo ultralight racing tube that weighs only 65grms so the total weigh is about 430grms; compare that to an average tire of 220grms, plus a 90grm tube, plus 100grms for a Mr Tuffy and your at 400grms and still not be as well protected and be left with little sidewall protection.

Use these Armadillos as your commuter/trainer/urban assualt tire, then if you decide to go racing switch to a lighter tire. If your a larger guy, like you said, then I would consider going up one size to 700x25 so you would have a bit more rubber on the ground for safer road handling. The larger size had less of a tendancy to follow groves and cracks on roads, they stop a bit quicker and handle a tad better especially on rough pavement. Also with the larger tires you can air down a bit for a more comfortable ride due to the larger air volumn (about 110psi in the rear and 100 on the front; I run 95 on the rear and 85 up front but I weigh less).

FWIW, I get good mileage and handling out of Avocet FasGrip SL road tires, 700X25, the folding model without a Kevlar belt; I believe the same tire comes in a belted version, for added puncture resistance.

Hi,
Rivendell Ruffy Tuffy 700x27c. Great tire. If you don't get a lot of sidewall punctures in your area; I don't see getting a sidewall with a
kevlar belt, when you have a much sweeter ride with a traditional sidewall.

Continental Gator Skins - Best Value (IMO). They are now made in folding with Kevlar bead and weigh 230 grams instead of the 280 gram wire bead model. For around $30 ish each they are hard to beat.

Couldn't find a size of Conti Gatorskins that was like my OEM Michelin Dynamic. Couldn't find decent Armadillo tire in my size either. I'm trying Michelin Transworld City tires in 700x32 (400+ gms) right now. Pretty narrow, probably more like my 700x28 Dynamics. They are $20 at REI and have a puncture belt. The think I like about them, aside from price, is that they have a center ridge and very deep grooves (1/8 -3/16") for moving water out as well as preventing flats because the glass/goathead will never have enough push from the road to get into the tire.

My one concern about them is they get small pebbles stuck in the grooves. I'll make a final decision on them after I get about 1000 miles on them.