Originally Posted by
SkyDog75
I run Vittoria Rubino Pro III Slicks on my road bike. The casing is thin and pliable, like most good tires, but don't let that fool you. They're reasonably tough. They're not completely bullet-proof, but I find them to be a great compromise between performance and durability. There are more durable tires out there, but they tend to be heavier, thicker, and harsher. There are lighter, grippier tires out there, but they tend to wear out faster and are more puncture-prone.
I've rode for a bit on the Rubinos and I found your observations to be pretty spot on. Compared to the Kenda Kalientes, the ride is noticeably smoother. It seems that the Rubinos smooth out road imperfections such as small holes and the such much better than do the Kenda Kalientes. Traction seems pretty good and they do seem tough ... took them over some serious gravel (about 10 miles worth) and not so much as even a grain of rock embedded in the tread! By serious I meant that the entire ride I heard "crunch crunch" and a few times the bike in front of me would kick up gravel that would hit my shin (ouch!) ...
Tough yet almost buttery smooth. The new tires made me realize that the Kalientes I had before were a tad bit on the harsh side. I like the Rubinos!