FogVilleLad

I'm currently training on Conti's Ultra Gatorskins. These tires have, in effect, two riding surfaces. For cornering there's a second surface. When you're on it, turns tighten and there's a disctinct sound - somethng like a soft scraping.

I like the sound very much, because it confirms that I'm taking the turn about as tight as I dare. Does anyone know if Conti's Attack/Force combo makes this same sound? How about Michelin's Pro?

Any info would be very much appreciated.

Bob Dopolina 

There is only one surface and a single compound used on these tires. The sound you are hearing is not what you think it is.

The Attack/Force tires are a very different animal. They are a pure racing tire whereas the Ultra GatorSkins are a long wearing tire that is good for training and touring. Apples and oranges.

bikeM3987

pro2's make no such sound.

daytonian

your choosing tires based on their sound?

Mojo GoGo

Sound is the physical manifestation of scrubbing/losing speed and means you're not cornering smoothly. Pro 2's work just fine.

daytonian

agreed

Mtn Mike

I haven't noticed any unusual sounds from Attack/Force, GP 4000's, or Pro2 Race's, if that helps. They're all good tires, regaurdless of how they sound.

waterrockets 

FWIW, I've been racing and training on $20 Vredestein Fortezzas and have no complaints.

The_Cretin

I've found that the slowest tires (Specialized Armadillos) are often the noisiest.

outofshape

+1

Yuppie

Tons love the Pro2 and I'm sure the Pro3 will be seen a lot.

Vittoria Corsa CX is also a popular racing tire. Clincher or Tubular.

Oh yes: I use Bontrager Race X Lite Tubulars for racing which may be made in the same Thainland factory as Vittoria tubulars.

For training, I use Michelin Krylions.

wanders

I have been racing and training on gatorskins, wired, just for fear of flats on the crappy surface I race on.
I haven't noticed any sounds while cornering. As slow as I am the added weight is not an issue. I have 2 set of PR2's for the road races I haven't enter yet.

kukusz

When I switched from gatorskins to 4000s it was night and day. The gatorskins were tanks, cornered badly, and didn't provide a very comfy ride. I felt like the the 4000s were like nice running shoes versus clogs. YMMV.

rizz

4000s work for me both in crits and on crappy roads that seem to be designed to collect debris that is magically attracted to the surface of my tire.

FogVilleLad

Thanks to all for the replies.

Mojo and daytonian, the sound happens when I lean the bike over farther. I've been assuming that the sound means that I'm getting onto the sidewalls. I do know that I corner tighter when I'm hearing that sound. That's why I asked about it.

Tho I've ridden for years, I'm brand new to thinking about speed. I'd read that Contis have a higher crown, so wasn't surprised that tighter cornering came with the sound. Just wondered if that was characteristic of Contis or whether I should expect the same with other brands.

wanders, you have me worried. The sound is definitely there with my Gatorskins. In fact I've been using it to tell me that I'm cornering faster than I otherwise would. Hmmmm.

ted ward

I know the sound you're talking about. I think it's the sound of the stressed tire carcass slipping over the individual rocks in the asphalt that it doesn't have a "good hold" on (relate this to expected slip-angle in maximal automotive cornering). I only notice it on a specific corner with every skinny-tire bike.

FogVilleLad

Ted, interesting info. I get this sound just by laying the bike over. My line tightens and I ride the corner faster. Doesn't mean that the carcass isn't slipping, tho.

Now it's back to whether to go Attack/Force or Pro's.

laryanshabaz

The sound is your inside pedal.