wunderkind

Just wondering if any roadie or any commuter really had experience with these Panaracer Ribmo tires. Good or bad? How does it compare to the stalwarts of commuting tires like the Armadillos, Marathons and Contacts?

Jethro

I am using Ribmos, and so far, like them better than Gatorskins.

canopus 

I use them and like on Cannondale ST. 0 flats, 1000 miles maybe so far.

I am wondering about the size on the 700x28 version. Can anyone tell me how tall that tire is from the rim edge? I am trying to stuff them on a Cannonale SR300 that has very little clearance.

jr59

That depends on the rim.
On my cross check, that has Alex-da16 rims, it is app. 28mm.

They hold up, ride very well.

h. bicycletus

they are a bit heavy perhaps, but pretty much bomb-proof so far. They ride well and have good 'sticktion'. Mine measure about 29mm from the floor to the rim (floor of the room I park in at work). They do seem a bit taller than other tires but it's been a while. I'm running 700x28's on DT 1.1 rims.

Q: for Jethro: why do you like them better than Gatorskins?

DallasSoxFan

I love my RibMos. You can find them for $15 every now and then online at Niagara Cycle.

I'm doing the Pineywoods purgatory in October. I'll be taking my 700x25 RiBMos off of my commuter and will put them on to my weekend fun road bike for the ride. They will be much more comfortable on east texas chip seal than the bontrager race lite tires that are on them now.

wunderkind

700x25: Both the Marathon Plus (580g) and Armadillo All Condition (435g) are heavier than the RibMo (340g).

The Marathon Plus is a Sumo compared to the featherweight Ribmo in this case.

megalowmatt

I have been using a set of 700x28 Ribmos for around 4 months now. I really like them and they feel more nimble compared to the Paselas I was using prior to that.

Be warned, though - for me they were the most difficult tires I have ever installed. I felt like I was wrestling a bear. After the first installation they came on and off easily.

Andy_K 

I have a set of 700x28 RiBMos. I got a flat after less than 100 miles, then went nearly 2000 miles without another flat, then got 3 flats in under 150 miles and lost confidence in them. So now, after 2160 miles, they're sitting on a shelf in my garage.

Overall, I think they're good tires for the money. They don't ride as well as Gatorskins, but are cheaper and probably a little more flat resistant.

Jethro

In response to H.Bicycle -- I have had fewer flats with the Ribmos than with the Gatorskins over comparable periods of time.

h. bicycletus

[QUOTE=Andy_K: then got 3 flats in under 150 miles and lost confidence in them. So now, after 2160 miles, they're sitting on a shelf in my garage. . . .[/QUOTE]

And that's why I switched from Panaracer T-Servs to the Ribmos. . .. T-Serv for Messenger were great in dry conditions. . .. but once it started raining I started getting frequent flats. The Ribmos have been much better so far.