Originally Posted by Drillium Dude

Thanks for the detailed answers!

My pair of Giros are probably from the same era; gumwalls with the small orange label. Tread still seems pliable, tho the latex on the sidewalls is beginning to brown nicely. The valve sits nicely and doesn't ride up, so that's a bit of a leg-up over the Gommi Champions, but the Champions are newer. I would also imagine that a little bit of a gap that will probably settle later is no biggie in any case; the area is as small as the area some have suggested to leave tape- or glue-less on the opposing side. Pretty sure if it were an issue more people would be pointing that issue out.

I've not mounted any of the tires yet as I'm waiting on tape and the new Challenge Elites to arrive; they are going to be my beginner pair. My plan is to ride them - if possible - for an entire week straight, then go over to one of my clincher-tired bikes and do the same, then report my findings in a compare/contrast post in this thread. If nothing else, it may serve as a practical lesson to someone else thinking of going back to tubulars after a long absence - or even for someone contemplating tubulars for the first time.

DD