scplus5

My bike currently has vittoria open corsa cs tires. They're great so far for me, but I really want to lose the gum walls, so I'm starting to look at replacements. I have very limited cycling experience <1 yr, so some of the discussions of experience with x tire vs y tire don't mean much to me. I don't live in an area with climbs or hard cornering. I don't race. I do like to go fast though, and I like to ride as much distance as time allows. So I'd say my priorities in a new tire would probably be comfort, durability, and speed.
The tires I have were on the bike when I got it and from what I've read they are very good. I don't want a tire that is not as good as what I've got, even if my typical use doesn't justify it. From what Ive read, tpi is important in tire quality. My tires have 320 tpi. I've also found veloflex online that boasts the same, and is lighter weight. My brother has gp4000s and loves them, but I gather just from reading online, that "ride quality" is not as good as vittoria. Due to my lack of experience, I don't really know what this means, because I've never ridden a tire other than what ive got. I don't really want to find out what lesser ride quality is by spending my hard earned money either...

Do I replace my current tires with open corsa cx? Or something from veloflex? Or something else?

txags92

I was riding Vittoria Open Corsas and found they were not very durable. I switched to Vredestein Fortezza Senso Superlites and they seem to have similar weight and ride quality, but are more durable so far (knocking on wood).

RoadTire 

Ride quality generally means the tire is totally predictable, has great traction - sticks to the road when you need it - combined with smoothness, minimal vibration, jarring, and noise from the road surface, feels stable instead of any sense of sloshing around or softness, doesn't feel heavy when accelerating. The other side of the coin are super durable tires, feel heavier, more harsh, feel slower. Note it's all about ride style, and "feel." There is almost no real data that means a thing for us average riders.

Assuming you are in thte 120 - 200 lb range, and running 23 or 25 mm tires now? The GP 4000 II, Veloflex, Michelin Service Course, Michelin Endurance are all very good tires. My boys and I are riding all but the Veloflex and no reason to change except ... to change. 25 mm generally gives a better ride with lower pressures. The Michelin Service Course in 25 mm actually measures out to 27 mm, so watch your brake clearance. It looks bulbous on my rims, but rides nice. Not real durable, but what a nice ride.

Give this about 10 minutes and someone will disagree eloquently enough that your opinion will be swayed like a boat on rough water...

PiLigand

I am bracing myself for a flaming, but here goes:

If you haven't developed a taste for tires or enough feel to recognize any difference yourself (myself included in this category) just go to your LBS and buy mid-line of whatever they have/suggest.
If you get super good ones, cool. If not, then the experience to weigh them against is beneficial, right?

scplus5

The he ride quality description makes sense. All that stuff feels great with my current tires, although I have nothing to compare it to. The only reason I'd like to change is because I don't like gum walls. I'm 195-200 and I can't remember the width I currently have.

Piligand, that's what I am trying to avoid doing. I don't want to spend money just to learn that a tire isn't as good as what I've got.

So would the vittoria cx ride the same as the cs? Is there something "better" in a comparable price range?

hueyhoolihan

maybe you mean Vittoria Open Evo SC? here's the "spec"...

"Vittoria's new premium racing clincher boasts a redesigned tread, classic gumwall aesthetic and the SC -- or Servizio Corse -- mark of distinction.
Like the rest of the Evo Corsa line, the Evo Corsa SC clincher features a Corespun 320 TPI casing for a light and supple "open tubular" ride quality, along with comfortable performance at high pressures. Where the SC really stands out is its new IsoGrip rubber. This high-performance road compound is specially reserved for Vittoria's Servizio Corse models -- they call it the Formula 1 of cycling. It's been meticulously designed to meet the demands of the pro peloton, blending reliable all-conditions traction with unmatched speed.
Vittoria's light PRB 2.0 belt has also been placed beneath the tread for even better puncture resistance without slowing the tire down.
The Open Corsa Evo SC is available in Black with Gum sidewalls, folding bead, recommended pressure: 115-145 PSI. 700c x 23mm (23-622 ISO) and 700c x 25mm (25-622 ISO). Claimed weight: 210/220g."

sounds suspiciously like a Vittoria Corsa Evo Cx but with a superficial gumwall look about it.

anyway, if you don't like them something will have to be done. but i think it might be wise to wear them out first and then get something else, just about anything else, in order to gain some perspective.

RoadTire 

Geeeeze the Vittoria you are riding on sound like really nice tires. Wear them proudly.

scplus5

Not evo...



Wonder if it's reasonable to hope to wear them out this year if I wear them out before replacing them...

pdedes

In a clincher tire, the Vittoria open Corsa is hard to beat in terms of absolute ride quality. The trade off is price and durability. My compromise tire is Schwalbe Ultremo zx (I think the next generation is the One). Slightly more durability and puncture resistance without sacrificing too much in road feel. The aforementioned Michelin and Continental gp4000s are excellent alternatives. Life is too short to ride crappy tires.

hueyhoolihan

well, i have to say if you go the route i suggested, you'd be one of the very few to look forward to premature tire wear.

i've read posts that complain of less than 1000 miles on the rear tire. i use open corsa's, both tubular and clincher, and probably get about 2000-3000 miles per set. i think that's probably way above average, don't know why really.

pdedes

If you properly age the Vittorias, you'll get some better durability (6-12 months in a cool dark basement)

txags92

My problem wasn't so much the overall wear, but that the vittorias would get cut so easily. By 1000 miles or less, there would be enough large cuts on both front and rear that I didn't feel comfortable riding them. The amount of tire left was fine, I was just getting flats too often and the cuts would accumulate fairly quickly.

jaxgtr

The Vittoria Rubino's or Diamante's are nice tires, the Rubino's a little more durable. Rode them for many miles. Recently switched to the Michelin Pro4 Service Course and really like them so far.

Bah Humbug

Grand Prix 4000S II

IronHorseRiderX

I was riding Vittoria Open Corsa along with Veloflex Corsa clinchers in 23c (they essentially same tires as far as performance/feel/durability goes) for last 8+ months and will be switching to Grand Prix 4000S II.
Already ordered 4000S II so it just matter of time.
While Vittoria/Veloflex Corsa fantastic tire I just got too tired from getting flats and cuts.
Over last 5K I went at least thru 8 tires (last two still on my wheels) - I paid about $35/tire so that is about $280 for tires and at least $100 in tubes ($9/tube - I use Michelin A1 Aircomp Latex Road Inner Tube).
Almost all guys I ride with running 4000S II so I figured I can not go wrong with them

I have rollers and powermeter so I'll do two rides at 20mph first on my current Vittorias and then on new 4000S II to see if there any measurable power loss/gain in rolling resistance.
From what I read in all other regards 4000S II will match or exceed Corsa.
4000S II also using 330 tpi triple thread Continental Bicycle -Grand Prix 4000 S II - not sure how it compares to single 320tpi Vittoria/Veloflex thread, I hope it just as comfortable.

BTW you can get Corsa with black sidewall as well.