Damn, well thanks for all the information guys. The Pasela TG seems like a good bet for me. It is affordable and seems, from all accounts, like a durable tire. After doing some more cycling in Cleveland, the idea of a thinner tire looks less and less like a good idea. I was thinking of increased speed as a major motivator, but after some thought, feel, grip and handling is more important. I have had some trouble cornering with the knobby tires and that worries me more than being the fastest thing on the road.

Did have another question. I know a folding tire tends to save a bit of weight. I don't care about that so much so my question is whether there are other pros/cons to a folding tire vs wire bead?

The only difference that I know of between a folding tire and a wire bead tire is that the folding tire weighs less, and sometimes costs more. If it costs the same (which they often do, because a folding tire is smaller and cheaper to ship), go with the folding version.

Whatever slick you get, it will be easier to corner with than the knobby tire. Cornering on pavement is what knobby tires are particularly bad at.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
"Squirm

Ok, so money that doesn't need to be spent, got it.

If you're referring to the folding part, if you can find a wire bead that's cheaper there's no reason not to go with it other than saving some grams.

But you see a lot more folding tires nowadays than wire bead ones. My theory is that although the folding tires cost a little more to make, they also cost less to ship (they're obviously bigger) and they take up more wall space in the store, so in the end the folding tire ends up costs the same as the non-folding version - and they weigh less to boot.

Course that's just a theory, in reality I haven't done much shopping around for different sizes lately. The difference in weight of a 32c tire appears to be about 15% heavier for the non-folding version.

As I said before, the one thing I would make the sure the tire has is "TG" or "Tourguard" in the title. There are non-tourguard models available that are cheaper, but they don't have as much protection against flats, so I would avoid them.

Now on a side note, if you wanted to go *really* crazy with tires, the Continental GP4000 black chili, and the more flat resistant Continental 4 seasons are both top rated tires for rolling resistance and such. But they cost twice as much, and the benefits might be tiny and perhaps somewhat physcologial (they "feel" faster, but aren't significantly faster at all). Just an fyi - the Pasela's are nice tires themselves, especially for their cost.

P.S. I believe my dad has 28c's on his crosscheck and likes them. Nothing wrong with going with a fatter, comfier, and perhaps ever so slightly slower wider tire though. The benefits of being comfortable and cushy while riding often offset the 0.1% drop in speed, lol. :-)

The only reason I use folding tires is to save a few grams on an already heavy pair of wheels, and because I can bring a spare tire with me on long distance rides. When you're 30 miles from the nearest anything, out of cell service range, and riding unsupported, you don't want to chance having a tire problem that you can't fix. If it weren't for those reasons, I'd use the non-folding version and save $15 a pair.

To be fair though, with the exception of touring or in riding remote locations, carrying a spare tire isn't very common. Spare tube, patch kit, pump, tire levers, and definitely your cell phone? Yes. And maybe a "boot" for a tire if it blows out. But carrying an entire spare tire isn't typical.

I could discuss why, but I don't want to go to far off-topic...

Some of us carry a natural spare tire. :o

It is common down here.

I find the Continental UK site easier to browse than the "global" one, here's the link for the Top Contacts:

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticy...pcontact.shtml

Well if you want to start a poll, we could find out. :D :D But in the meantime I haven't found it very common, except for the categories I mentioned, which it sounds like you might be in.