I disagree with older rubber being better stuff, I've been riding mountain roads for over 30 years, as the tires got better year after year handling got better than older tires, newer tires last a lot longer in mileage wear, plus the newer tires are more resistant to flats and cuts, especially this last 5 years or so crop of tires are almost immune to cuts yet handle very well. I'm older guy, I've seen the cycling world change over the years, and some of those changes were not good, yet some of them were like tires. The only thing the older tires have over the newer ones is ride comfort, but that's because the older tires didn't have flat belts, and when they did come out with them they weren't as thick or just one ply of flat belt instead of several plies, that thicker belt or more plies lends to a bit harsher ride I think...unless it's just my age doesn't like the harsher ride like it use to! LOL!!! either way newer tires are definitely way better then they use to be years ago. I think silca being put into tires these days has a lot to do with the gripping performance. If you want to experience the feeling of tires of era gone by simply pick up a pair of Specialized Turbo Cotton belted tires, the rubber tread is much better than it was but the cotton belt is the same, if you really want the best feel of an era gone by find a pair of silk belted tires with no other belts of some other material in the tire; of course these cotton and silk tires are very expensive and they don't last long, but tires in the older days didn't last as long as they do today anyways.