One of the commuters I see in the morning has tires with reflective sidwalls, anyone out there have tires with reflective sidewalls? What is your experience good or bad. I'm looking for 700 X 32c size.

One of my studded tires has a reflective sidewall. I think it's great but pretty low on the list for me as far features I look for in a tire.

I've been running schwable marathons (which have the reflective sidewalls) for a few years now, and they work great.

D

Michelin Transworld City tires look like you're rolling in the dark with Tron wheels. Love 'em.

I like the Marathon Plus tires.

got 'em; love 'em; get 'em

I have reflective sidewalls on both my bikes, but i have no idea what they look like, I'll have to ask the cow-irkers if they've noticed them.

I have 700 X 32c Marathon Supremes, and they have reflective sidewalls. They've been great so far.

Good:

Are those the Schwalbes? What size?

yes, 35's

Panaracer Pacelas!! Good price too... around $35.

I've never seen the paselas with reflective sidewalls. I have an extra set of Pasel TG's here at the house. Haven't installed them and after thinking about the reflector sidewall I Just might order a set.

Continental Contacts have reflective sidewalls. A great commuter tire imo...

Michelin City and Michelin Pilot City have white reflective sidewalls.

https://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...trip+Tire.aspx

Reflective sidewalls used to not be high on my priority list. Then one night while I was driving somewhere I noticed just how much visibility they added to a bike in my headlights. So I got a set of Marathon Supremes.

I think they're great and I wish more tires had them but when it comes to features things like:

traction
flat protection
durability
ride quality
performance

are all more important to me than a reflective stripe. There are a lot of ways to make you and your bike more visible at night including the wheels so I'm willing to forgo the reflective stripe in order to get the other features I want. If a tire has everything else + the reflective stripe, then it's icing on the cake.

A case in point is my Marathon Winters. In so many ways they are a fantastic tire, but when push comes to shove, they just aren't as good in the snow as the Nokian 106s. A reflective stripe isn't enough to compensate for that.

One of the best inventions ever... as scotchlite glows in the daytime as well.

Have used Schwalbe marathons for years - coworkers who drive have often commented about how visible they are during the dawn and dusk light transition.
The bike/haystack photo above is a great example. However the side walls do fade over time and get dirty reducing their reflectivity.
Also use reflective tape on fork and frame- anything to form an unusual reflective pattern that might help attract a motorist's attention.

= Marathons

my Trek Soho came with Bontrager Nebula tires that have reflective sidewalls. can't say they've saved me from an accident, but they do make me feel a little more comfortable. I also have one of those lights that attaches to your spokes, but I keep forgetting to turn it on

Here's a pic of my Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires in action. They are covered with road grime in this picture (hence they are less reflective than my pannier's piping) but they are still quite reflective.



For nicer weather I use the above-mentioned Michelin Pilot City tires. I would have bought Schwalbe Marathons since I am so impressed with the Winter version, but the Michelins were half the price and they have a "slicker" tread pattern. So far I am very pleased with them. BTW - if you are considering the Michelins, and you want puncture protection as well as a reflective strip, make sure you choose the Pilot City over the City tires.

Vittoria Randonneur RFX I picked up for my night riding.

I run 700x28 Vittoria "Randonneur" tires with reflective sidewalls. Pretty sure they're available in 32, though. Like the others have said, a great addition to a commuter setup.

Here's a quick, crummy pic:

I have 700x32 Randonneurs with reflective sidewalls on my commuter bike. They're very nice tires.