Avraam

hi folks, need some really good advice. im training for ironman uk which is in four weeks. im going to get a new set of tyres two weeks before. this is my dilema... im new to road biking, buying my F5 in october and rode approx 1500 miles on it without a puncture on the tyres that came with it, rubino vittorios. people say im lucky, but ive got a feeling that these tyres are very resilient. what should i do, replace them with the same ( theyre only £10 each new) or get something expensive like pro race 3's or gp4000's. ive already took advice but im suspicious that these high end tyres will puncture more easily and thus give me a real headache come ironman day? please try and advise me if i should take the chance and change and explain why if possible, many thanks, i've been chewing this over and over for weeks....

mander

Relax, it's just an amateur race, and only ~100 miles, less than 1% of your current total distance-without-a-flat. If you roll up with brand new tires of any kind, you ought to be fine. If you are really worried about flats, you can put on some kevlar armored tires like Continental Gatorskins or Bontrager Racelite Hardcases. Better yet, just buck the stereotype of triathletes and learn to change a flat tire quickly and efficiently. I have seen youtube videos of people doing it in under a minute. yes it will still be a pita to flat during a race but that's cycling.

Carbonfiberboy 

IMO if you have a chance for a class win, go for it and get the fastest tires you can. Vredestein Tricomps are quite fast, as are the 4000s, as are the Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX. If you're not racing for the win, why spend the money?

It's true that thinner tires can puncture more easily, but that's bike racing. Your chances are very good that you won't puncture, no matter what you run.

Avraam

Thanks folks

Gerry Hull

I love the vredestein tricomps.

I used to use pro3's pretty exclusively. Its true that few tires ride that smoothly. But they did wear quickly.

I found the vredestein tricomps to be the ideal balance. I think of them as like pro3's that ride a little harsher but last a lot longer, and the only flats I've had were my fault- bad mounting, rim tape and such. Hardly ever
cut. Can be inflated to 175. I usually ride them 120 training, 135-140 racing
The conti is the only other tire Ive heard that constitutes that sort of ideal balance. I just like the tricomp
colors better.

In fact, I think you should forget about all the fast-but-fragile vs. Slower-but-more-reliable logistics and buy the tire that looks coolest on your bike. The one that makes you FEEL fast. Thats the right choice.

They all cost about the same.