Road Cycling - Tire Recommendations

Hi folks and thanks for reading my question.
I'm not pleased with the tires that came with my hybrid. I'm looking for a decent set of "slicks" or road tires since it's mostly a commuter/street bike. The object is flat resistance and wear resistance along with increased speed.
I'm new to hybrids/road biking and have had no experience with 700c tires, and the varieties of tires available in this size are too varied for me to make an educated choice with my limited experience. Some appear built for speed and wear quickly and others seem built to last forever and everyone has differing opinions. Help!
Also, I'm 6'2", 200 lbs. and will be carrying loads on the rear rack if that will make a difference in tire selection.
Thanks so much for any input you can offer!

For the rigours of commuting I would go for those classed as 'touring' tyres.

Richard

Hi Bikes
I'm a fairly heavy duty cyclist, I commute daily just over 38 miles round trip, loaded. I carry way too much stuff. Before I found the answer to a fast rolling heavy duty, durable tire, I was the flat tire king of the northeast. I have been riding on Continental ultra 2000, 700 X 28 C with folding kevlar bead. I have these installed on my road bike and my touring bike. I don't like true touring tires because of the increased rolling resistance they have. I ride quite fast for a commuter, my average speed is about 19 MPH. On my road bike I have 4253 miles on the a set of ultra 2000's and they still look great, on my touring bike I have just over 3000 miles and they look great. I weigh 175 pounds and my bike weighs 50 to 55 pounds, loaded when I commute, When I go off on my touring bike, it may weigh as much as 80 pounds. Since I have been riding these tires I have had a total of ONE flat tire and that was because I wasn't watching where I was going and ran over a truck part. I hope this helps, I also carry a spare tire because I tend to go where humans aren't and I must be self supported.
Keep Crankin

I guess most/all of my tyres (700Cx28 Armadillos and 700Cx23 Conti Ultra2000) fall into the high-resistance category, but I rarely have a puncture. I am sure someone has quantified rolling resistance (references, anyone?); I am equally sure it does not really matter that much for the nonracer.

As a commuter I'm far more concerned with puncture-resistance than I am with some tiny increment of speed gain. I ride touring bikes, but these take the same tires that hybrids take.

I currently have 4000 flat-free miles on a pair of Avocet CrossK and 3300 flat-free miles on a pair of Continental Top Touring 2000. Both are 700x32c.

I'd recommend either, although the Conti's are smoother and quieter.

I previously had very good luck with a pair of Specialized Nimbus EX, 700x35c (they come in smaller sizes too). I had almost 2000 miles on them when I sold the bike to my cell mate... I mean office mate... who's put many hundred if not thousands more trouble-free commuting miles on them.

In general, for commuting on a hybrid, I'd recommend a kevlar-belted road tire with little or no tread pattern, since traction on pavement is entirely a function of the size of the contact patch and the composition of the rubber, especially when wet. Personally I'd want a 28 or wider for urban commuting, just to protect my rims from pavement irregularities and trolley tracks and such. I find the 32 to be a great compromise, because they provide some cushion as well.

RichC

I once got 7000 flat-free miles from a pair of Invert 2K 700x38 tires.

Now I am running Rivendell Roly-Poly 700x28. I haven't had them long enough to comment on flat resistance (none so far) but I can tell you they are the best cornering and smoothest rolling tires I have ever ridden.

I bought Specialized Armadillo 28 this spring. I think they are bombproof and they roll well at 100psi, but they are very heavy. I think maybe I should have bought the Panaracer Paselas, which have a kevlar belt under the tread for puncture resistance, but have very light sidewalls so are much lighter than the Armadillos.

Get a tire that is slightly larger in diameter (cross section) than your rim, the larger size tends to give a "rounder" tire that will be more predictable and will have less trouble with "pinch flats" and rim damage.

As for brands I prefer Michelins, they tend to corner better and seem to be rounder than others I've tried. Continentals are good too, they don't seem to perform as well but seem to last a bit longer. Generally speaking the European tires tend to be better quality than the others.

Make sure the tires you chose are easy to get on and off the rims, there are several brands that are almost impossible to get on and off the rim especially on the road, ( ie. Specialized)

Ride good "skins"
Pat