Tire choice for commute?
 

Hey everybody!
I am starting a 26 mile round trip commute and the Cannodale critirium I currently ride had Hutchinson carbon comp tires 700X23. I need to replace them soon and was looking for some reccomendations for a lower priced replacement.:thumb:
Thanks in advance

So - what price are the tires you're replacing that you'd like to stay below?

The cheapest decent flat-resistant tires I know of are the Panaracer Paselas @ $30/tire. I use the next model up, the TServ Messenger tire. But I've been tempted to drop some cash on the Continental 4 Seasons, but...at $65/tire or so I doubt they're cheaper.

I like vittoria randonneurs.

I would like to stay below $50 per tire, the Hutchinson's are $90+ each, way too much for this cowboy.

Do you want to stay with the same width tire? I like Paselas myself, but I've never used any that narrow.

+1 for the Vittoria Randonneurs. I have 700x32's. I don't know if they come smaller than that, but if your bike will fit them, I would consider them. I've run through lots of stuff that should have popped a bicycle tire, and didn't.

I just got some continental GPP4000S (700x23) for about $35 each on probikekit. They only have 100 miles or so on them, but so far I love them.

Panaracer ribmo on sale @ REI 29.93

I run Continental GP 4000s on my commuter. I'm getting about 2,000 miles out of them. Just order one to replace the rear at $45. If you shop around might be able to cut that by a few bucks.

For road tires, the GP4000s can't be beat. I'm not sure I'd use them for commuting though, but then again, why not? I use them on my roadie and don't get flats riding in NYC, which isn't the best environment.

How about a less expensive, name brand, non-puncture proof with a tire liner like Mr. Tuffy? Mr. Tuffy's last forever and you simply transfer from tire to tire as they wear out. I think it's a good investment. I've been using them for the last 15,000 miles and have only had one flat (knock on wood). It was caused by the Mr. Tuffy itself. It was in there so long it actually wore a hole in the tube. So it's a good idea to rotate where the tube contacts the overlap of the Tuffy every so often. Others recommend talcum power on the tube to prevent this problem.

If yours a modern road bike you are likely not gonna stray any higher than 700x25 due to tight clearances.
I currently run Specialized Armadillo All-Condition on my roadie commuter with the above size. So far so good. Rolls well and fairly light.

Whatever you get, would suggest consider reflective sidewalls a priority if you are riding in any dim light situations. You have a long ride and better safe than on the ground.

Well you might consider it, that's a matter of some debate...they only work from the side, and when there's light actually hitting them, which in the case of a car at an intersection is often to late to be useful.

23 is rather narrow for the poorly maintained urban street, advantage to a 32 tire then.
but if they wont fit then thats it 25 is what you got. then theres the issue of fenders or wheel spray stripe up your backside..


wet weather braking puts dirt and aluminum off the rims onto those reflex bands anyway.. reducing their light reflecting..

cheap in bike tires is $20 each these days. except 27" at Wally World.

Reflex sidewalls
 

One other advantage of reflex sidewalls is that they cover the legal requirement for side reflectors (which exists in many states and cities, including here in California), so you don't need to put spoke reflectors on your nice road bike. In practice, this rule is never enforced (at least around here), but as a commuter I like to always stay within the law, and reflective sidewalls are cheap, light-weight, and harmless.

With wider tires, like 37 or 45 mm, the reflective strip is at an angle, and actually shows up pretty well from the front or rear as well as the side, so I think they have some utility. They are no substitute for a headlight and taillight at night, but are much nicer than spoke reflectors or useless front reflectors.

Actually, just last Thursday night a front reflector probably saved some moron from running into my car with his bike. I was doing a uturn in order to get a parking space, looked in the mirror, and saw a dim red reflector behind me. I stopped rather than pulling out, and this moron sailed on past me with no lights whatsoever. It looked like he just wasn't going to stop (maybe he was drunk), and I would have pulled right into his path if I hadn't seen him - there's little doubt in my mind we would have collided.

So actually, I don't think the front reflector requirement *is* completely useless.

I would jump on that - I've heard nothing but good things about RibMo tires. They are on my radar for my next set.

I really like Continental tires, I dont know why but ive rode the same 2 pairs (4 seasons and gatorskins) for the last 2 years to and from work and around town. and rei has some cheap sport contacts for 35.

+1 Commute 24 miles each way from North Jersey to Brooklyn on BLACK 700x25 GP4000s. They have held up well, better than the Michelin PR3s. But I do not use them in wet or low light conditions. I have another set of wheels with 700x28 Gatorskins. The Gatorskins are somewhat slower climbing hills and accelerating. But, if your commute is flat they roll pretty well and seem to be bullet proof. Prices vary. If you can, wait until you see a sale in your price range.

+1 on the Conti's I run them on my road bike (700x25) and my hybrid (700x28). I get a good ride out of them, they've been pretty bullet proof and wear well.

+ 1 on Ribmos. . ..they're not the lightest and plushest tires but they do roll fine, have good 'sticktion' and are pretty much bomb-proof. I often have to ride in some road shoulders that are full of glass metal and other crap and just roll through it without hesitation with these tires.

I'm pretty happy with my Vittoria Zaffario II. After 1000s of kms commuting, not a single flat yet.

If I may chime in here, we make (at least for now) a nice 700x23 tire with a kevlar puncture protection belt. It's called the Blizzard, which I've always thought was an odd name considering that it's not a winter tire in any way. The wire bead version retails for $29, and the folding bead version retails for $36.95.

http://www.schwalbetires.com/node/1391

Also available in a 700x25.

For those suggesting wider tires, I agree in principle, but the bike that the OP has will not likely work with anything wider than a 25mm tire. As the name implies (Cannondale Criterium), it was a purpose built bike for racing and the tolerance between the chainstays is fairly narrow.

Yes to the Ribmo's. I received some from Panaracer due to a problem with a set of Paselas. The ribmo's are excellent tires, however they are the absolute most difficult tires I have ever put on a bike. I felt like I was wrestling a bear. After the first time, they've come on and off pretty easily.

As has been mentioned, they are grippy and feel more nimble than the paselas. Mine are 700x28.