Originally Posted by
vitaly66
The idea of using some delicate lightweight tire to "roll a lot faster" on a fully-loaded, 26" wheeled touring bike is fairly meaningless.
What will be noticeable when loaded for touring: roadside debris, cracked/potholed pavement, slower bike handling/response, limited space for maneuvering on the shoulder, etc. The desire for a durable tire will increase with each pound added to the bike, and each flat that could have otherwise been avoided.
I posted a quote from a guy I know who rode cross country on RTP tires, fully loaded. He made it on one set of tires, averaging over 100 miles a day. Is it less durable? No question, I've torn a sidewall on a RTP tires that I'm pretty sure a Schwalbe Marathon would have held up to. Would I want to do the Southern Tier on Schwalbe Marathons
and average over 100 miles a day? No way.
I've got a certain
Woodrup in l'Atelier currently that has some 700c x 38 Compass tires, same casing as RTP. The guy posted his tour from Washington to Colorado on it. I've done a half dozen credit card tours on Compass and Gran Bois Hetres (similar tire), I had flats on 4 of those tours. I've ridden over the demonstrably rugged
North Trask route on nasty gravel twice on RTP tires. The first time I had a flat, but it was on a paved section! Getting a flat tire isn't the end of the world if you carry appropriate spares and tools.
I have two similarly set up Raleigh Grand Sports, one with Panaracer Paselas, the other with Compass tires, same size on both (700c x 35). I've commuted on both of them over the past year, enough to give an informed opinion. The Compass tires are noticeably easier to pedal.
I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience with Compass tires. Would a more durable tire hold up in the same exact rides? Maybe, probably? Surely a beefier tire will be more flat resistant, and a casing cut is much more likely on a supple tire.
If you look a the weight of a Schwalbe Marathon, for example (which seems to be the long distance tire of choice) vs a Compass RTP, you can afford to bring a spare tire for about the same total weight. Your ride will definitely be nicer. The idea of using some delicate lightweight tire to "roll a lot faster" on a fully-loaded, 26" wheeled touring bike is not meaningless to me. As usual, YMMV. The big, cushy RTP tires make potholes and cracks in the road sometimes un-noticeable. I can plow through light gravel on road shoulders with these fatties that would make me scared on narrower tires.
Just like in the Olympics of old, read a lot off reviews and experiences, throw out the East German and Canadian judges, average the rest, and you'll get a good idea of what to expect.