Tekcor1

Yesterday I bought a 2013 Specialized Secteur Disc (Yay!) and I want to upgrade the tires and tubes. I'm commute on chip seal roads several times a week (~20 miles each way) and am looking for a tire and tube recommendation. My primary concern is avoiding flats as I don't generally leave myself a big cushion to deal with a flat. I'm currently 235 pounds. Thanks for suggestions!

mcmoose

I think everyone will suggest that you want to get a flat-resistant tire like the Continental Gatorskins. Not everyone will suggest pairing those with Slime Lite tubes, but I will. Both will add some weight, but both will serve your goal of minimizing flats.

indyfabz

I would help if you told us what tires you have on there now. And, for the most part, a tube is a tube is a tube.

MRT2

A lot of folks in my local cycling club used Continental Gatorskins. I used Panaracer RibMo. I have only had 1 flat in 2 years.

bbeasley

Hard to beat the Conti Gators or 4000S. I've ridden both at your weight and above with good flat experiences.

bbeasley

Now you've done it

gman214

Continental Country Plus tires with Continental 42mm Presta Tubes! One of our local LBS praises these tires.

Black wallnut 

Since switching to Armadillos I think I have had one puncture flat and several pinch flats. I've worn out 2.5 front tires in that time and twice as many back tires. 5K+ miles last year, 2647 so far this year nearly all has been on chip seal and some has been on gravel and dirt roads and trails. I'm currently using the Roubiax 23/25 'dillos FWIW. I've also read great things about the Conti gatorskins and am thinking of trying those next hoping for a bit more pleasant ride.

And for tubes, those that came on your bike will be fine. IMHO

Tekcor1

Thanks for all the suggestions. The tires on the bike are stock, and from what I've read are not very good tires. I got a screaming deal on the bike, so figured I'd start by throwing some money into the tires.

As for the tubes, I was pumping the tires up with a small hand pump and somehow pulled the valve wrong and all the air came whooshing out from the base of the tube. I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to do that so I'm guessing I'll have to replace it. I'll use the other tube as a spare in case I get a flat, so since I'm replacing both anyway I thought if it made a difference I'd buy better tubes too.

So a good consensus is Conti Gatorskins. Now what size? This is my first road bike. I've been commuting on an old Bridgestone MB with 1.5" tires, and as I said I ride mostly chip seal roads to work. 28's?

My guess while we're at it, suggestions for a good frame mounted pump? I'd prefer to stick with a real pump and not a CO2 type.

mcmoose

If your bike came with 28's, that a good size. With your current wheels, you could go down to 25 for a bit faster commute, or up to a 32 for a bit softer ride -- I like 28's on a commuter. YMMV.

The Topeak Mini-Morph is a nice frame-mounted pump. It doesn't have a gauge, but, frankly, I'm not going to bust the psi limit with a hand pump... I'm just trying to get near 80 psi until I can get to a real (floor) pump.

stephtu

IMO go for larger Topeak Road Morph with the gauge. And get a good floor pump for your regular pre-ride top-offs if you don't have one.

donalson

for pump... topeak road morph G (G is for gauge ;-) its a great little pump (for a mini pump)... for floor pump, I've been using the same blackburn dual valve with a gauge for the last 15 years... I'd like to upgrade but it works well enough that I can't justify it... whatever you get make sure it is built for high pressure, some are super high volume for MTB but when you get above about 50/60psi they become increasingly difficult to pump

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FI6YOS/...l_7t67xau590_b



for tires... some good recommendations have been tossed out, just remember that the larger the tire the lower the pressure you can run which = comfort and on chip seal that tends to be nice... but you are in turn spinning up a bit of extra weight each time you stop and start again... I personally don't see me ever going smaller than 28's even with significant weight loss... right now I stick to 32's both because my bike happens to fit them and it doesn't require insane pressure (which is due to my clydness)

Black wallnut 

I would be surprised if your brakes would allow the use of anything larger than 28.

donalson

don't think those will be an issue ;-)... however the seat or chainstays will likely be the deciding factor... pretty sure the normal non disc secteur is limited to 28c... disc might go up to 32c... but even then one brand may fit and the others not... don't know unless you try... but at your weight 28c would be more than adequate.

Black wallnut 

Now don't I feel stoopid.

donalson

I do know where you are coming from though ...

it was a super tight squeeze getting 28's into my vintage trek (57mm brakes) and to fit a 32 I had to deflate the tire... my Klein frame won't fit 28's without deflating and even then it's SUPER tight on the chain stays to the point of being screwed if the wheel was kicked out of true

veerod82

I have a '13 Sport Disc, I ran the original tires for 2000 miles and just recently changed out the tires to Gator Skins. I really did not have too many issues (flats) with the Stock Espoir tires. They were the 28c version, I think i read somewhere that the 14' models came out with wider tires. I would run the stock ones for a while to give them a chance. As far as tubes go, i buy the $5 tubes from my LBS.

thecactuswill

Slime is crap. Anything thorn resistant will last quite awhile. Go that route, installed correctly will very rarely let you down.

syncro87

I've been running 700x25 Gatorskins on my Spec Sequioa Elite for a while now with zero flats. I'm about 15 lb smaller than you, so roughly the same weight. I recommend them. Now that I said that, I'll be getting a flat tomorrow.

The Secteur disc I saw in the store yesterday seemed to have tons of space for bigger tires than the stock 28's but I didn't examine it that closely, just casually.

jsigone

my vote would be 28c hardshell gatorskins and regular tubes

daviddavieboy

I have a hard time voting for Gators' now, 600 miles and a blown out sidewall. They were always at max pressure and I now hear lots about the weak sidewalls. I like the idea of the 'dillos but at nearly a pound each I am not sure. I might try the hardshells next and see how they go.

Little Darwin

+1

I was going to also suggest thorn resistant instead of dealing with slime. A little thicker so that if anything does penetrate the tire you have a little extra help. I don't see them much. I think many people have bought into the slime solution, but they should be around if you look.

I bought a bike once that someone had used slime in the tubes, and it gummed up the valve, so I had to replace the tubes.

nymtber

I've been running Mavic Aksion 25c for 2 years now. First on my former Sirrus, and now on my Podium 2. Regular tubes: qtubes work well for me.

I ride chipseal, rough beat up country roads. I'm at 211 as of today (down from 230 this winter), no issues. I was up to near 240 when I got the tires. So far no flats, I do wipe the tire down with a shop towel after every ride. Potholes, broken glass, chip seal, farm land with dirty roads, etc etc. 110/115psi front/rear.

Tekcor1

Interesting. I've never heard of wiping down tires after a ride. What benefit do you get from wiping the tires down?

Also, my stock tires are 90psi max, and I've just been using them for now. Will I see a dramatic difference with a tire I can run a higher psi? Thanks for all the suggestions on tire upgrades.

nymtber

Wiping down the tire after a ride (its just a dry shop towel - paper towel kind) clears the dirt and dust off the tire and lets you see if anything is sticking into the tire. I like the roll of shop towels from walmart Scott brand, they are soft enough that if anything sharp is sticking in the tires, it would catch a bit. Doing this every ride lets you see if you have a piece of glass, sharp rock, thorn, etc working its way into your tire. I would bet half of flats come from stuff slowly working their way in over a few rides. Just my opinion there!

Tire pressure is dependent on tire size and rider weight. Enough pressure to avoid pinch flats when you hit potholes, not so much the ride becomes harsh. Play with pressure some! Sometimes you will roll faster at a lower pressure on rough roads.

Oh, and since you commute, get some of the puncture resistant tires. I should have read your question better haha. Gatorskins have a good following and are still known to roll well. Armadillos seem to be just as good, but I've heard they are bricks. Panaracer Pasela Tourguard seem to have good results, and have some tread to them as well for the rainy days... I'm a fair weather recreational rider, so slicks and fast rolling tires are what I get. I've ridden slicks in rain before, on worn chipseal (you know, smooth hard tar showing...) That was a scary event. Straight away was fine, but even the slightest turn was slick. If I was to commute, I would have tires with light tread on them!