Originally Posted by
BFisher
Here's a question for those who have experience with tubulars and clinchers: Do you get similar mileage out of a nice tubular and a relatively comparable clincher, not regarding flats/damage?
Yes. (Although I ride many more miles on tubulars) You can buy tires from Veloflex, Vitoria, Continental, Challenge and no doubt others that feature EXACTLY the same tread and and casing material/weight in both clincher and tubular form with the only difference being the attachment method to the rim. The one tire life issue that falls in the favor of clinchers would be on a somewhat worn tire that is the victim of a minor* puncture. On a clincher you would just repair or replace the tube and put the tire back in service whereas with a tubular it would probably be the end of the tire’s life as it would make no sense to repair a tubular nearing the end of its wear.
* I define a minor puncture as one that pierces the tube but does not cause damage to the casing that would require repairs as well.