Originally Posted by cyccommute

I'd not suggest any Continental tire. I've had nothing but problems with them. I've had Top Contact tires that blew off the rim at even the hint of the recommended pressure. They blew through 4 tubes on the first day of a tour, leaving me stranded 25 miles away from the start. I had to carry no less than 6 tubes the rest of the tour and pump the tires up to less than 70 lb which is 20 lb below the recommended pressure. It made for a very squishy 500 mile tour.

I've had Top Touring that cracked and then blew out the sidewall...thankfully, I wasn't on the bike!

And on my last tour, the new Top Contacts I bought at about the midway point did this in less than 200 miles



The outer tread split exposing the inner liner and the inner casing. The split was likely caused by an impact with a rock or a pothole. I probably could have ridden it for the remaining 500 miles but I didn't really trust it. I replaced it with a HelMart Bell Ton 'o Bricks tire that was superior in every way.

The tires I replace after about 800 miles of glass strewn road was a set of Michelin Lithion which were really good tires. I should have kept them but they were looking a little worn. I'd go with them again.