Tire Recommendation Please!
 

Heya Peeps,

Can anyone recommend a tire brand? Most importantly, I'm looking for less flats, so a tougher tire as opposed to lightweight, high-performance, or cheapest.

Size is 700x25c. Search on nashbar.com revealed these 40 tires, and I'm at a loss.

Thanks,
Keith

Mountain Bike Tires | Road Bike Tires | Bike Nashbar

Second best puncture protection IMO comes from lower pressures - that means wider tyres. If you can get 28, or better 32 mm tyres to fit the frame, you're good, with any tyre you choose.

The first best protection is paying attention to where you're riding, avoid glass, thorns etc.

Puncture protection for 25 mm tyres is not that good, and if it's any good, they will be rock hard (and heavy).

Schwalbe Durano Plus .... they are brilliant and I am on my 2nd set now

Another really good 25mm tire is Schwalbe Marathon Plus. I worked in a city commuter bike shop in the rainy season and we would get a ton of customers on certain days. We would recommend the above stated tires and never have to fix a flat again on those who went with them. They are $60 ish dollars but well worth it.

Would agree with this, have done a lot of long distance riding, and they are a very good balance for performance, and durability.

You'll get by far the least flats with the Tannus tires. The 700x23 gives a bit harsh of a ride, and perhaps slightly slower. But... the ultimate in flat protection.

Gator Hardshells have a good reputation for durability, although mixed opinions on the ride. I did manage to damage the sidewall of one, but so far no tread punctures. Still working on trying to wear it out.

The Schwalbe Marathon Plus is a HEAVY tire. Tough, although I do wonder if the thick rubber allows it to get larger cuts than would otherwise happen with a thinner tire. I think their wet traction is somewhat better than many of the treadless tires.

I had pretty good luck with a pair of Origin8 Elimin8ers. A relative cheap tire for having puncture resistance. Somewhat heavy, although lighter than the Marathons. I got about 2000 miles on the pair and thought they were about worn out. But, kept riding them for another 2000 miles or so. I did get a couple of flats, but nothing exceptional.

I do check for the causes of any flat I get, and periodically pick out all the glass from my tires.

I switched to Vittoria Rubino Pro III tires in size 25 about 18 months ago. I have a lot of bikes, and ride about 6,000 miles per year.

So far, zero flats in 18 months on bikes equipped with Pro III's. And they have an excellent ride, cost around $22 delivered when ordered from overseas.

I also like the Vittoria Rubino Pro IIIs, but I think they are more of a performance tire than the OP is looking for. I suspect that the OP wants something even more rugged, and would probably be better served with something wider, like 28s or 32s, if their bike can take them.

Perhaps you are correct.

In that case I can wholeheartedly reccommend the Rubino Pro III in size 28. Used a pair of the for L'Eroica California this year on the 87 mile route, more than half of which was on very tough, very steep, heavily rutted gravel roads. Saw plenty of guys on the side of the road changing tubes and sometimes tires as well. Me? Zero flats.

For 32's, I've had excellent luck with Vittoria Randonneurs. More tread, heavier, fewer TPI, but you can run them at a lower pressure. As an example of toughness, used them on a 252 mile ride from DC to Pittsburgh on the C&O Canal towpath and GAAP trail in PA. Again, no flats. Comfy on the gravel and work well on pavement.

Another satisfied user of Vittoria Rubino Pro tires. I've been using them in 700-23 for several years and I typically get 4000+ miles on a rear tire with very few to zero flats.

+1 to this.

Installed a pair last Nov and ridden 800-1,000 miles a month since; no flats. Rear is showing some wear, but not needing to be replaced just yet.

Thanks, All!

I ended up getting two: One Gatorskin, and one Vittoria Rubino.

Time will tell which one performs best for me :P

Thanks again for your help. :D

Amazon.com : Vittoria Rubino Pro III Fold Tire (Black, 700 x 25) 25-622 Euro size : Bike Tires : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : Continental Gatorskin Bicycle Tire (700x25, Wire Beaded, Black) : Bike Tires : Sports & Outdoors