Tires
 

What size tires best for commuting. Thinking of 32's gatorskins?

Sorry, there is no "right answer" to this. I commute on 23s. Others commute on 50s. To each his own.

If Gatorskin 32s fit on your bike, they are a fine option. I rode them for years prior to getting my new bike. I think puncture resistance is a very good quality to have in a commuter tire.

25's Schwalbe Durano Plus .... bombproof and very good grip in wet and dry

if you do opt for the gators, you need Gatorskin hardshell (*they have a bit more puncture protection)

if you are not worried about speed, Schwalbe Marathon Plus .... better than Durano Plus and Gatorskins and they last a long long time

Well you just limited replies to at least 50% negative responses. The more than half of all riders that hate Gatorskins think that those of us who ride them are idiots.

I prefer the gatorskin Hardshells for commuting. They have even more puncture protection than the regular gatorskins.

I've commuted on everything from 23s to Big Apples (which are what, around 60mm wide?) Each is good for someone's route.

Some people commute almost entirely on nice smooth bike paths. Some over smooth streets. Some over extremely bad road. Some have gravel roads on their route. Some even go cross country a bit. Heck I bet there are people who have stretches over beach.

Clearly there's no such thing as a tire that's just "best for commuting." You have to specify your parameters. Best for commuting on what kind of roads, for what kind of distance, and what are your priorities? You like to go fast? You hate changing flat tires? You need to be able to pick up a load of groceries once in a while?

After 4 flats in 3 days on some POS 23's I picked up some 32 gatorskins and self sealing tubes. It's only been about a week but so far I love them. It's a world of difference as far as comfort goes and there's no noticeable loss of speed or extra effort. Maybe they are harder than regular tires?

Stop thinking and just get some tires you like, Best is only an Opinion .

Conti Gator skin is OK.

I always advocate a wider tire for more comfort, but that's a matter of choice. As a commuter, my focus in order of importance:

Flat protection -- you can't get anywhere quickly if you're on the sidewalk fixing a flat.

Comfort -- if you're serious about commuting you'll realize it's a marathon and not a sprint. Be comfortable while you're doing it 'cause you'll be doing it everyday. Every. Day.

Grip/wear -- you have to have faith in your tires. Lean into corners with confidence on tires that will last.

Price -- buy quality, cry once. Cheap tires are almost always false economy.



-Kedosto

Yes, lots of it is tradeoffs ...Grip in corners is Vs long tread wear. light tire Vs puncture protection.