AlphaDogg

My rear stock tire finally failed after only 2000 miles. I hated it. It was flat prone (until I added tire liners), had a jarring ride, and was heavy. I decided that I wouldn't replace it until it failed. Well it's about to fail, with exposed and partially severed cords on the sidewall. I will be purchasing the tires from the co-op where I volunteer, and since they only carry tires that serve the needs of their usual clientele (mostly mountain and hybrid tires with a couple wire bead road tires in there), I'll have them order them. They can get ahold of anything that QBP and another supplier (I can't remember the name) stocks. I was considering the Continental Grand Prix 4000S tires, but I want to know what you guys recommend. I know that the GP4000S is the 'go-to' tire on BF, but I want to hear opinions on other tires in the same and slightly lower price range. I got rid of the stock front tire at the beginning of the summer because cords tore.

My criteria are:
Flat protection
Grippy
Smooth rolling
Folding bead
High TPI
700x23

I'm using an old (2 years at max) wire bead Serfas Seca 700x28c tire on the rear in the meantime, because that's all that I have in terms of a spare.

Ruby13

I'll comment on what I've had. Cannondale Synapse came with 700 x 25 Schwalbe that started out fine but at just under 1000 miles started to get flat prone and the rear was pretty worn. Bought some new/used wheels and they came with almost brand new Vittoria Diamantes that also wore out quickly. Now as for the GP4000s that my LBS loves, I put on 700 x23 and have 1800 miles on them and they are barely worn. They have little indents in the tread for a wear indicator and mine are barely worn. LBS says he has gotten up to 3000 miles on a set and mine are well on the way.

RyleyinSTL

given your requirements there is no reason not to get the 4000S. Less money will require you to make compromises.

AlphaDogg

I wasn't saying I want to spend less money, I was just saying that I want to compare it to other tires in the same and slightly lower price range ($60-$80).

FBinNY 

Stupid question.

Why is a folding bead important to you on a tire you're mounting immediately. The only benefits of folding beads are easier shipping, and easier to pack as a spare on long tours (though old timers know how to fold wire bead tires into thirds to carry as spares).

Eliminating the folding feature might save you dough and/or will broaden your options, and in most cases make the tire easier to mount and unmount. IMO ease of mounting/removal is the single most important consideration in tire selection for anyone who rides more than a few miles from home. I categorically reject any tire that I can't mount easily with half numb fingers on a cold, rainy night (because Murphy's Law dictates that's when I'll need to).

ben4345

It's not a stupid question.

You realize there are so many good tires out there that don't even have non-folding option?

I would imagine the Maxxis re-fuse is worth looking at. It isn't a high TPI (higher tpi tires usually are more prone to punctures), it isn't the nicest ride. It is very grippy, very good puncture resistant, strong sidewall (ask me how I know ) folding, and comes in 700x23.
They also toned done their trade marks on the newer ones.

zukahn1 

I really like the Continentals they are great wear and handling wise. The only real draw back I have found with them is they don't brake well on some surfaces like wet pavement or concrete they just slide.

AlphaDogg

I want folding beaded tires because they're lightweight.

FBinNY 

Kevlar bead tires are usually (not always) more difficult to mount than steel bead tires. If you end up trading field serviceability for lighter weight, that's a decision you may regret one day. Whatever tires you end up, make sure they mount and unmount easily.

My rule is that they must mount by thumb or heel of my hand without tools, and easily come off with 2 tire levers at the most. Unfortunately a large number of rim/tire combinations today come nowhere close to making the cut.

AlphaDogg

Will do!

ben4345

Are you one of those weight weenies?

AlphaDogg

Nope, but I want to cut down on rotating mass as much as possible.

I bought them today, and the co-op where I volunteer cut me a deal at about $65 per tire. QBP sells them for $40 apiece.

FBinNY 

That's a deal????

It's close to what I paid for H rated tires for my Miata (without a deal).

AlphaDogg

Compared to what they'd normally charge, it's a deal. I know, I could search around for deals of bout $40 per tire, but I want to support the co-op.

Mithrandir

I've had the exact opposite experience. Folding tires are always easier to get on than wire bead. I literally need tire levers to get wire bead tires on, even though you're not supposed to.

FastJake

Until recently, this was my experience too. Although I can often mount lots of wire bead tires without levers also.

Then I bought a Kenda Small Block folding cyclocross tire which I absolutely cannot get on my Kinlin rim. But it mounted easily on a different rim

FBinNY 

Both the tire and rim are factors. A rim with a deep center well makes mounting any tire easier. Then there's how much stretch the tire maker factors. Tires designed around hook edge rims (bead area has a bulge outside of the wall immediately above) allow the maker to factor less stretch, and so are usually easier to mount. You can also look or feel how much material is to the inside (in circumference) of the bead. Some have only the thickness of the plies, and others a decent amount of rubber molded around the inside of the bead.

Since I'm a fanatic about field serviceability, I only use rims with relatively deep center wells (getting scarcer every year) and choose tires based on ease of mounting. Being in the industry, I can cheat a bit, by visiting a dealer and trying tires for fit before buying, but I tend to stay with the same stuff I trust until the maker changes it.

wroomwroomoops

I just checked, and I found suppliers that sell a set (2) of Conti GP 4000S for less than $70. That's $35 apiece.

Regardless.... if you really want to support your co-op (which I actually am sympathetic to), shouldn't you want to pay full price instead of taking their deal?

FBinNY 

Half a loaf is better than none on both sides of the transaction.

wroomwroomoops

Actually, I was a covert devil's advocate.

ben4345

Did you look into the Maxxis re-fuse at all? They are much cheaper and mostly meet your criteria of wants.

AlphaDogg

QBP sells them individually. I saw with my own two eyes that it said $40 apiece in the QBP catalog. Maybe another supplier sells them in pairs for cheaper.

AlphaDogg

Yes, but I decided to go with the GP4000S.

wroomwroomoops

I found also a supplier that sells them individually, less than $35 apiece.
https://www.roseversand.de/artikel/co...0-s/aid:194537

Al1943

When I see a tire with a cut sidewall it's usually a Continental.

The tires I'm riding now are the best clinchers I've ever used, Michelin Pro Race 3.