biffstephens

I did a search and ther was limited info on these tires. Everone thoughts? I just got a set and I am not sure if I like them or not...I am sure I will like the puncture resistance....they just dont seem to roll as good....I used Maxxis before and just never got the life out of them I wanted...seemed there quality control was lacking a bit....

rule

Hmmm...can't help you with the comparison to your previous tire. I run them on my Langster for commutes and fixed gear training rides. They definitely are tough. I have had them pick up chunks of glass and still not take a puncture through to the tube. No flats yet over about 1500 miles of urban broken glass rich riding.

I do think that they are a little slower tire than what I was expecting, but I think that is because of their 23/25c design. They are designed to expand their footprint out from the bead quite a bit, and meet the road more like a 25c tire. As a result, they ride with a pretty beefy footprint which I think is what slows them down for me.

I run GP4000 23c's on my other training bike and get maybe a couple of mile per hour better average over the same roads. That's a pretty subjective comparison bike to bike though. Been getting some flats with them too though, which is not.

So overall I'm really happy with the Elites. Flats on a fixed gear are a bit of a pain, especially trying to get in to work. The Elites definitely are doing the job for me there. If I can ever wear them out, I will experiment with an narrower tire next go round just to see what it gets me on the Langster. In the meantime though, these are definitely taking the miles very well. So it may be a while.

Squint

I have a pair of Armadillo Elites in 700x23 that I put several thousand miles on before switching to Michelin Carbons for training. Testing indicates their rolling resistance is just as high as regular Armadillos. The Armadillo tires are the only tires I've used that will reliably stop goatheads. They feel slow and are slow but are very unlikely to flat.

Bob Ross

I put Armadillo Elites on my commuter/beater bike, and got a flat the very first day I rode on them! Admittedly someone had strewn a box of carpet tacks all over the local bike path, so perhaps I should be impressed that only one of them managed to puncture my tire...but still, I think it's important to realize these tires are *not* bulletproof, they're just more bulletproof than most.

And as for the speed thing, well... My commuter/beater bike & my main "good" road bike are so unalike that any comparison is apples to oranges -- the former is a 22-year-old >20lb lugged steel six-speed w/ downtube friction shifters, 36-spoke wheels, & the aforementioned Armadillo Elites; the latter is a 1-year-old <18lb carbon fiber 20-speed w/ DuraAce/Ultegra mix and Ksyrium Elite wheels w/ Conti Attack/Force tires.

Ya know what? I can't go any faster on the good bike than I can on the beater.

It's easier to go fast on the light bike w/ the low rolling resistance tires. But the heavy bike w/ the "slow" (sic) Armadillo tires goes just as fast.

aliensporebomb

I feel they tend to ride hard, but after suffering a blowout at 25 mph with my old
set of Hutchinson Carbon Comps (sorry guys, probably not trying those again) I'm
loving the security of the Armadillo Elites.

I've ridden many miles since with the 'Dillos and no problems. But I might try the
Michelin Krylion carbons next - the ride quality is what most riders seem to notice
about the 'Dillos. If you've got an aluminum bike (hard ride quality seems endemic
with these bikes like mine) these tires seem to make it slightly more hard riding.

Give it a shot.

cujet

My best results are with all condition armadillo tires, as compared to the gatorskins and a few other "tough" tires. The "Roubaix elite" flavor is a bit different. The size is 23/25 and they have soft sidewalls with very wide tread. I am considering them, but, they are expensive.

I have to wonder if they are as flat proof with those soft sidewalls.

Chris

nachomc

I had the all condition elites. I could ride over a pile of nails filled with glass and goat heads and get no flats. I'd be going really slow though - they roll slow and are a bit heavy.

rb07

I ran all condition armadillos when I was going to long-ish ride on a gravel trail. I could tell they were stiffer than the mondos, but I had no issues with them (never encountered tacks on the road though ). I actually liked commuting on them because I often encounter bits of glass. I've switched back to mondos now for most of my riding though (which are more than a bit softer). The armadillos are definitely a tough tire with strong sidewalls. I've kept them around if I am going to be riding on rougher roads or rail trails and the like.

lourose

I put All Condition Armadillos on my Specialized Sequoia after wearing out the original tires, but found them very stiff and slow. I took them back to the LBS and swapped them for Armadillo Elites. I like the Elites much better and have been riding them for three months without flats or other problems.