jc650

I just ordered a Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5 that comes with Schwalbe Lugano tires which I will replace because these are at the low end of their lineup. My current road bike has Schwalbe Durano Plus 25 tires. The puncture protection is excellent on those but they are kind of harsh. Wondering what everyone else has on their road bikes as far as puncture resistant tires?

StephenH

I use Gatorskins and know of several other people that do, but don't have a lot of experience with different tires to compare.

TJClay

GP4000s, pricey but good combination of flat resistance, durability and ride.

look566 rider

Agreed, Ultra Gatorskins are my usual choice.

bbeasley

Another vote for the Continental GP4000s

TrojanHorse

Michelin Pro4 service course. They also made a more endurancy model.

I used to use GP4000s (in fact I still have one on the rear) but I don't find them to be puncture or cut resistant at all. YMMV. They do ride nicely though.

FrenchFit 

Gatorskins for bad roads/flat resistance/heavy load, GP4000 (black) as all-around great tires, Schwalbe Ultremo ZXs for speed.

jsigone

the Schwalbe Lugano aren't that bad.....just don't corner hard in them...I don't trust them as I can feel the front push.

If you want more plush for that bike, I'd get gatorskin hardshell 28c front n rear and call it a day.

iTrek

Continental GP4000s

jc650

Ive been lookin hard at the gatorskin hardshells, I might try those and if they don't work out I at least know the Durano plus is what I have to stick with.

thrllskr

I use Continental Super Sport Plus for commuting and town riding. I get 750-1000 (on the 700x25) miles on the rear tire. A flat never happens and I have had a few sidewall punctures. $30 USD is a good price. I have ridden more expensive tires mentioned and I do not get the mileage out of them I do with SSP. They make a 700x28 which is perfect for my rear tire at 225 lbs. and 6'5" (1000-1250 miles out of them).

ChuckD6421 

Veloflex Master 25's

After decades of ridng tubulars (after a period of higher level racing in a previous life) I picked up a Domane 5.2 and my first experience with modern road clinchers and was wholly underwhelmed. I switched to the Master 25's and frankly couldn't tell the difference between these and the Veloflex Roubaix tubs. Close enough that I've scrapped my original plan to build a new set of tubular wheels to regain that "feel".

I don't know what conditions you ride under, my rides are on pretty clean rural roads, but with close to a thousand miles on them now I've yet to puncture and I like how they're wearing.
And anything over 16 mph is a magic carpet ride.

Beachgrad05

Scared to comment for fear of jinxing myself.

I use Continental GP4000s tires.

I put 3100 miles on my rear tire before it wore out and I got a flat on the ride right before replacement. The new rear tire now has about 750 miles on it.

I replaced the the front after a cut in sidewall this past Monday with about 4000 miles on it. Didn't flat...saw the tube bulging out and changed tire out.

jc650

I actually just ordered the continental gatorskin hardshells after reading lots of reviews. I was between those and the continental 4 seasons. I really like the Schwalbe durano plus tires but wanted to try something different so I guess we'll see soon enough as the roads around here suck big time.

longbeachgary

That's terrible mileage for tires. I have 700, 1200 and 1300 miles on three of my bikes (GP 4000s) and the tires are still going strong.

bigfred 

It looks like the OP has already ordered his tires. But, for what it's worth, I'm currently using Continental GP 4 Seasons 25mm front, 28mm rear. I've had zero punctures, but have suffered one sidewall cut and one instance where I broke casing cords in the contact patch without damaging the tread or tube.

I've also liked Michelin Pro Optimums. Again, no punctures but I was cutting up sidewalls before wearing them out.

Maybe I should start being more careful about not riding through road debris.

jc650

These may go on my other set of wheels for the bike if I like the way things go with the hardshells. It was between those two and I just hate to give up the puncture protection, especially with the roads around here. Im hoping the less weight that I carry around now will help with that to!

mr645

Why not wear the Schwalbe Lugano tires out? They are not bad tires. They should roll well, pretty reasonably tough against punctures and grip well in dry & wet conditions.

jc650

Well I thought about that, Im not comfortable with the stock wheels that come with it as they only have a 16/20 spoke count. I might just have them put those tires on my second set of rims as Im also changing the cassette from an 11-28 to a 12-30.

I just looked and found a weight limit for the Shimano rs-11 rims and its 101 kilos or 222 lbs, Im 220 so maybe Ill give them a shot to see how they hold up lol.

mr645

Maybe do some research on the RS-11 wheels. Shimano typically makes good stuff. Often the weight limit is conservative for those who may be dealing with rather rough conditions.
When I got my road bike is came with Hutchinson tires that sold for $9.99 and everyone told me I needed to change them out. But you know, after 1500 miles, I learned that they were very tough, due to thick tread and 335g weight, gripped well, especially in the wet. They did however show heavy wear around the 1500 mile mark on the rear. I replaced them with Michelin Pro 4 Endurance tires and you know, I really can't say I noticed a difference. The new tires are lighter, seem just as tough, seem to be wearing better but on the road? they are all black

jsigone

Those shimano wheel have way thicker spokes then normal and feel fine when I was 218 despite the low spoke counts. They actually ride pretty darn good but heavy at 18xx grams, very similar road feel to my Spinery PBO Xaero just 1/2 lb heavier.

jc650

Well that settles it Im gonna leave the stock wheels and tires to start with and see what happens. I know Ill have the other set of wheels and tires ready to go if it goes bad lol.

IBOHUNT

Everyday tire - Gatorskin, hands down