Dubbayoo

Is the Michelin worth twice the price of Vredestein?

Al1943

Yes!

cycle17

If you like the ride and the grip of the Pro2 Race....then yes. They are both good tires...but I'm a big fan of the PR2. I get them from porbikekit.com for around $27 a tire shipped. That's inexpensive enough I think.

Dubbayoo

Wow. those are $50 at Perf. The only thing is Michelin is the recommended PSI is around 115. The Vredesteins will go a lot higher. I like 115-120.

bdcheung

I run 120 on my PR2's all the time. Data point: I weigh 147lbs

terbennett

I haven't ridden any Michelin Tires recently but I swear by the Vredestein Fortezza SEs. On my last set, I was able to get around 7,000 miles out of them (rotating every 300 miles). The set before that, I was able to get around 6,500 miles out of them and they handle extremely well. Performance Bike always has them on sale for around $27-$28 at any given time. If I'm not mistaken, they can take up to 140 or 160 psi. These are the only tires I use now.

Carbonfiberboy 

We must have more junk on our roads around here. I find the Fortezza SE to be a POS. I think Vredestein makes them specially for Performance. They are a much cheaper tire than the regular Fortezza, which is why Performance has them "on sale." The rubber cuts more easily and they lack the flat protection belt of the regular Fortezza. I've tried several SEs and never got anywhere near wearing the rubber off them before they were cut up too badly to ride. I ride plain Fortezzas on my winter bike and Tricomps on my summer bike. Love 'em. Tricomps are worth twice the price of the SEs, IMHO. I don't know about the Michelins.

PedalMasher

I trained and raced 4000 miles on my pro race 2's last year. They wore a flat spot before they got too cut up to use. At $25-$27 a tire, a steal IMHO.

cycle17

Probikekit rocks! Great products, great pricing.

I run 118 - 122 psi on my PR2s regularly. They have one of the most conservative pressure ratings, based on their "corporate lawyers" not what the tires will actually handle for pressure. 115 to 120psi should not be any problem at all.

GuitarWizard

I'm around your weight....try 105 in the front and 110 in the rear....

bdcheung

What are the advantages to the lower pressure?

On Your Right

If you do any fast descents, Could I take out a life insurance policy on you?

BoSoxYacht

comfort, and better grip(cornering).

linus

If you check P2R, you won't find any tread and the rubber won't change as you wear them out.

Now tell me why you think the tire rotation is dangerous.

operator

ZZZ.
The stuff listed on the sidewall is not a true measurement of anything. Only experimentation and your own personal weight + bike weight determines the pressure you'll run.

jeffc7

I run Pro2Race's at 120 psi and I weigh 185. Never had a problem. PBK is the best place to get them, especially now since there is a 5% off coupon.

On Your Right

I prefer to have my thicker tire on the front while descending. That way if I hit something, it is less likely to be catastrophic. At least with a rear tire you have a chance. With a cut tire on front....It ain't pretty!!!

linus

If you ever really raced, you would know better. When you descend fast and hit something, you will fall. Also if one of the tires fails as you try to corner, you will still fall whether it's your front or rear. And if you descending fast with the much worn tires, you might want to stop riding before you kill someone or yourself.

I wouldn't risk my life to get a couple of hundred miles more out of my tires.

AnthonyG

The problem with rotating tires on a bicycle is the profile thats worn into the tire and the consquences this has on handling. A tire that's only used on the front will maintain a round profile and it will provide safe steering. A rear tire will wear flat in the middle and if this tire is transfered to the front its effect on handling will be horendous. It is OK though to transfer front tires to the back and get a new front tire.

Ohh and regarding Veredestein Fortezza tires I use and reccomend the Fortezza Road/Race tires but I've read a lot of negative opinion of the Fortezza SE model.

Regards, Anthony

iNewton

I run my PR2 at 140 PSI.

I'm a sucker for stiff rides.

steaktaco

130 psi here. sometimes 135 when I'm feeling saucy. never had a problem—unless you count blowing out on the rebound of a crash.

I race on the pro2s and train on the krylions, but now that I've moved from the glass-infested streets of chicago, I'm going to start training on the pro2s as well. krylions still have a place on my commuters and my trainer.

531Aussie

My experience with Vredesteins is that the cheaper ones, including the SE, are HORRIBLE.
I like the TriComps and Super lights, but that's about it! I haven't tried the Quattro TriComp

Vredestein have a different philosophy on TPI, saying that it's not as significant as manufactures make out, but still, I figure the SE, with its 50tpi, would struggle to give supple ride

Dubbayoo

my 230 lb butt can bottom out a tire pretty easily.

I bought two Michelins today.

531Aussie

hmmm, 230, that could be a bit heavy for a supple tyre at 115psi on the rear.

If you want the peace of mind that a higher psi rating offers, perhaps use TriComp on the rear -- that's what I used to do. A few years ago, when I was still addicted to high pressures, I had a TriComp on the rear, at about 130/140, and a Pro Race on the front, at about 115/120

Nobody will notice you don't have a matching pair of tyres

Terex

I've been running the SE's because they're a pretty blue color. They've held up well, but tend to get cut/cracks. I picked up a pretty blue tri-comp, and mounted it on the rear. I had to replace it when I got another cut/crack. I noticed a small cut on sidewall, and monitored it for a few weeks, until it got to the point where I could (maybe) see tube. Changed it out for an SE. Maybe I'll pick up a couple of the Michelins and try them out. The tri-comp was clearly superior in the hand when mounting, but I couldn't discern a big difference in the ride. I'm guessing I had about 2K mi on them. Glad I changed it out before last weekend when I hit 50 on a nice downhill. On reflection, it just may be easier to pick out cuts/cracks on non-black tires.