Anyone Experienced on Conti 'Utra Sports'? Comparisons?
07-06-12, 09:40 AM
#1
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Anyone Experienced on Conti 'Utra Sports'? Comparisons?
I am trying to chose tires for my new Ultegra wheelset (destined for my Woodrup build). I've been using Continental Ultra Sports on my Simplon — mounted on Shimano R500 wheels. I like them, but they are not stocked locally anymore. So I am wondering how they might compare with Zaphiro II, Gator Skins or the Michilins, Rubino blah blah.
Any chatter about tires like this welcome — 700 x23c.
Any chatter about tires like this welcome — 700 x23c.
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07-06-12, 09:52 AM
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IMO any of the others are an improvement over the Ultra Sports. I never rode a more dead feeling tire. Gave them away and felt guilty doing it to the person to whom I gave them.
07-06-12, 10:10 AM
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Ultra Sports are terrible tires. They are harsh riding tires and pick up debris really easily. If you were looking for a budget tire, just go with a Pasela. Get gators if you want a decent tire that sacrifices some ride quality for durability..
Last edited by Puget Pounder; 07-06-12 at 10:15 AM.
07-06-12, 10:22 AM
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+1 The Ultra Sports felt sluggish almost like I was dragging my brake a bit. I put them on the last bike I sold and told the buyer "tires are pretty new, but you're gonna want different ones!"
-Andy
-Andy
07-06-12, 11:12 AM
#5
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What about Bontragers. The Gators seem a bit heavy in the spec — or are they?
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07-06-12, 11:16 AM
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H8ers gotta h8
.........Lenton, I just did a 65 miler on the fourth of July
here down through the Sacramento delta on all kinds of dog assed roads,
including 5 or 6 miles of gravel. It was a test of some ultra sport tires in
700x25.
They felt fine to me, but a lot of it was not smooth roads. Certainly
they are pretty good tires for what they cost me. While some of our
group experienced flats, I was not among them.
In my experience, a comparable tire is the one sold as the Performance
Forte house branded tire, but you probably can't get those either.
There are a lot of Pasela recommendations on here in the various tire
threads, and they are relatively cheap, so if you can get those, I'd
try them first.
Anything I've ever tried with Schwalbe on the side has been excellent.
.........Lenton, I just did a 65 miler on the fourth of Julyhere down through the Sacramento delta on all kinds of dog assed roads,
including 5 or 6 miles of gravel. It was a test of some ultra sport tires in
700x25.
They felt fine to me, but a lot of it was not smooth roads. Certainly
they are pretty good tires for what they cost me. While some of our
group experienced flats, I was not among them.
In my experience, a comparable tire is the one sold as the Performance
Forte house branded tire, but you probably can't get those either.
There are a lot of Pasela recommendations on here in the various tire
threads, and they are relatively cheap, so if you can get those, I'd
try them first.
Anything I've ever tried with Schwalbe on the side has been excellent.
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07-06-12, 11:18 AM
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less than a low rolling resistance tire. My experience.
Those 700x25 Conti's replaced some 700x23 Rubino Pro's.
I like the Conti's better, but given the size difference, probably
not an appropriate comparison.
I honestly don't understand how guys can complain about
a tire as "harsh riding" without going up a size or two to see
if that makes a difference..........it almost always does in
my own experience.
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Last edited by 3alarmer; 07-06-12 at 11:25 AM.
07-06-12, 11:25 AM
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Don"t count on Gators to be the total answer for flat protection.
I put them on my Hollands for this "flat protection" feature.
Had a flat at 5:45 this morning while meeting the guys for our ride!
Oh yeah, zero road feel on a Gator.
That is one dead feeling tire they designed, that's for sure.
I put them on my Hollands for this "flat protection" feature.
Had a flat at 5:45 this morning while meeting the guys for our ride!
Oh yeah, zero road feel on a Gator.
That is one dead feeling tire they designed, that's for sure.
07-06-12, 11:32 AM
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If you liked the Ultras, then the gators will feel fine. They are way more durable too.
07-06-12, 11:51 AM
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I've never been impressed by any Bontrager tires.
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07-06-12, 01:36 PM
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Michelin Pro 3's are my suggestion. Replaced Gators on a steel and a carbon framed ride. Much more supple, smoother, better handling and faster tire. They do have a flat protection layer as well. Internet search them found mine for less than $40.
07-06-12, 01:45 PM
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I've got Gatorskins and Marthons on most of my bikes. I've come to really prefer the Schwalbe Marathons, quite honestly. I know many of us here like Paselas, but I've never cared much for them... I wish I did, because I like the look. I've got quite a few sets of Ultra Sports hanging around - they come in on a bike and I pull them off to replace them with my preferred tires, generally a size or two up btw. I am coming to find that the size has really made a huge difference in ride quality.
07-06-12, 03:11 PM
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I had two friends with Ultra Sports. They got flats all the time. One finally switched to GatorSkins, the other switched to GP4000s. Of course, those are much more expensive.
The Ultra Sport is just Conti's attempt to keep some of the low end market with a very cheap tire. And it is a very cheap tire.
I think if you want a 20 dollar tire you should get a no-name kelvar bead tire like those sold at Performance. I think they are called the Strada K.
The Ultra Sport is just Conti's attempt to keep some of the low end market with a very cheap tire. And it is a very cheap tire.
I think if you want a 20 dollar tire you should get a no-name kelvar bead tire like those sold at Performance. I think they are called the Strada K.
07-06-12, 04:48 PM
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How is the pricing for Japanese-made tires in Japan? Can you get Panaracer tires at a good price? Apparently they make a wide range of tires beyond the Paselas.
07-06-12, 06:45 PM
#15
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I'll look out for Panys and in the meantime I hope to get a good education here on this thread. Thanks guys for the opinions so far.
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