canonizer

I took a glance at the first few pages to see if there was an active tire thread and didn't see anything. I've been riding on whatever the midline tire my LBS sells to scrubs like me, roughly $20-24/tire. I was thinking about upgrading as blowouts are annoying. I'd like to do it economically. Taking a quick stroll through Nashbar (our sponsorz!) these three stood out:

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...%20to%20700x28

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...%20to%20700x28

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...%20to%20700x28

I'm a prostitute [edited from take a guess] for discounts and decent prices. But I'd love to know if there's a quintessential 700, 21-23 tire that people love in the quality/price spot.

Thanks for the help! You can find me commuting from brooklyn to manhattan 2-4 days per week, maybe all 5 with some more input. It's about 10 miles r/t.

cg1985

Faillinks fail.

I use Continental Gator Skins.

DataJunkie

I prefer continental ultra gatorskins.
Vredestein makes good tires. I do not have any experience with that models puncture protection.

canonizer

Links working, I had to edit them for one time. Two Hutchinson with Kevlar and a Vredestein Fortezza.

I've heard the gator skins can be hard to work on the side of the roads. What's it take to puncture one?

DataJunkie

I use the folding version and have been able to put them on with just my bare fingers from time to time.
I can generally fix a flat in 5 min or so with them.
A big thorn can flat one.

I am also running specialized armadillos. Heavy with good puncture protection but ride horribly. I plan on moving towards a marathon plus with reflective sidewalls after it wears out.
The same bike has a different front tire, a Continental gp 4000. Worthless flat protection. I would not recommend this tire.
A different bike has a michelin lithion. Nice riding tire but almost no flat protection.
I have used vitorria randonneur tires in the past. Good flat protection and rides okay. A bit of a pain to put on.
Briefly I ran a panaracer ts serve for messenger. Everyone raves about this tire but mine flatted 3 times a week for a month before I gave up on it.

Pig_Chaser

I couldn't resist.... this is the source of my ONLY puncture with a Gatorskin so far:



Lol, the nail caused the flat, not the pen, it's just in there for scale I've put 2100km on them with only the one flat. Contrast that to when i had cheap tires, i'd flat at least weekly.

canonizer

Thanks guys! sounds like I should just pony up for gator skins and put my mind at ease.

slugman

Gatorskins too, went two years without a flat before a staple somehow got through. I've got the 700x28c wire bead on there now and they are a bit tough to get on/off. Once I wear through these or spring comes I've got kevlar beaded skinnier ones itching to go.

lapher22

I purchased tires in the $20 range from my lbs for my second bike because I didn't want to pony up for the $35 or $55 puncture resistant tires and two weeks later with 8 flats I wish I could roll back time.

Pig_Chaser

Sometimes you just gotta learn the hard way. I know i did.

canonizer

It seems like I can find the Gatorskins for about ~30 online with some very light google shopping.

cg1985

I've had to put the tire on a couple times with gator skins after flats on the side of road. I use the 700x25 variant. Its by no means easy, but it can be done in a timely matter, especially if you carry more than one tire lever.

canonizer

I will pimp https://www.biketiresdirect.com/. Got 4 shipped, for about $118.

I love my LBS, but they would have cost about 175.

bikinpolitico

For commuting, Gatorskins rock. For racing, Michelin Pro 3s all the way.

novacommuter

Vittoria Rubino Pro

They're reasonably light, fast-rolling, and corner well - haven't flatted so far in 500 miles.

novacommuter

Oh, and the Michelin Krylion Carbon used to be awesome...rumor has it that they're no longer produced though.

mconlonx

Currently rockin' Schwalbe Marathons 700x28, but these were $35/ea--not quite budget. I love them. Also bought a pair for the tandem and the only issue we had was when a nail went sideways through the sidewall (WTF?!?).

A while before, I was running non puncture resistant slicks on a mountain bike converted to commuter use. After a half dozen punctures, I got a cheap pair of Kenda 26x1.5 slicks with kevlar belt at about $15/ea, and they lasted a couple years without puncture.

I fell for the hype and splashed out for the Schwalbes, and while I'm not at all unhappy with the choice, it's not like the budget tires ever let me down, either.

CliftonGK1

Gatorskins FTW!

I've got almost 3000 miles on mine (700 x 28) with only one flat at around 2700 miles. I'm 250 pounds, so I put some hurt on a pair of tires. The only ones that lasted longer were the 26 x 1.75 Marathon Plus tires on my old MTB, but those things weighed a ton!

rlrct

I also use the Specialized Armadillos, 700 x 25 with reflective sidewalls. About 1000 miles on them with no flats yet.

Bikingtoteach

I had 27" continental ultra sports which I never had a flat for the two years I commuted on them, although I have seen them put down on this forum.
Currently I am on Vittorio 700x28, hard to mount on my wide hybrid rims but I really like them so far.
They say 80 psi, which is where I keep them.

canonizer

I'm grabbed the 700x23 so I'll probably still run into the occasional problem. I never had any problems with 27x1.5 with about a 1000 miles commuting. I'm turning from a Trek 614 touring bike to a Miyata 912 - not the ultimate commuter but so much fun!

resipsa

I'm a fan of the kevlar-beaded Ultra Gatorskins, myself. I've read that the ride quality is much better on them in relation to the non-Ultra ones (though I have no experience with the latter).

markhr

Specialized armadillos

rugerben

I run 700x23c Hutchinson Fusion2 (TDF edition) on my road bike. I love the hell outta those tires. awesome handling, and haven't gotten a flat yet in about a year.

mattotoole

I hope it's not true! I've been using the Carbons for years, and I've been very happy with them. For all practical purposes they're as fast as the best racing tires but tough enough for most roads, and last 50-100% longer. I got my last pair from eBay for $48 shipped, and they're almost always available somewhere for under $30 each.

Gatorskins are popular too and might be a little tougher but IMO they don't ride as well.

Neither is anywhere near as tough as an Armadillo, Marathon, etc., but those are overkill for where I live. If your roads are full of glass and junk you might need something like that.