Searching for long lasting tires.
 

Hi.

I'm commuting for the second season going 61 kms every day. I'm wondering if there's a tire that can last longer than the usual, I just find racing tire but they don't say about durability.I did approximatly 2000 kms with my last pair. the size I'm looking for is 700x23. I just not sure that more expensive tire will egal longer lasting tire. Anyone know?

Thanks

I had good luck with my Gatorskin Hardshells. I don't know for sure how many miles I've done on them because I changed from 23-28 in Feb. I used the 700x23 for 5 months at about 400+ miles a month, so over 3218km and still have plenty of life left.

Racing tires are usually designed for good grip, low weight, and low rolling resistance, not high miles. Schwalbe has some models that might work for you.

You can't go wrong with Continentals or Schwalbe Marathons.

My Schwalbe Marathons lasted about 6500 miles on the rear, the front is still going at 7000 miles and look to have significantly more miles yet in them.

My Bontrager Racelite Hardcase looks like it MIGHT have lasted for an extremely long time, but the center ridge of cemented-on rubber came off. This may have been a manufacturing defect, the 2nd tire is still rolling, I've used it as a backup tire for years and I don't even know how many miles are on it.

Long lasting tires are generally those targeted at commuters and touring cyclists and they're usually fatter than 700x23. You'd have to probably settle for at least 700x25 if not more. I used Maxxis Re-Fuse tires, they lasted two years of daily commuting but they were 700x25 or more, can't remember.

Thanks for all your answers, big help!

I logged over 3000 miles on a pair of Continental GP 4 Seasons a couple years back. Not only are they durable, but they provide good road feel and good traction in wet weather. I ran them until the rear threads were showing, then I added a tire liner and got another few hundred miles out of them. I think they still have some life left in them, actually.

4seasons wet weather traction is so over rated. I had them for almost a year and I didn't notice any more confidence in cornering or any better forward traction. They are good tire but too expensive and overrated IMO. If you want better wet weather traction, I can vouch for the maxxis re-fuse. They're still not a night and day improvement but a noticeable one.

I would look at gatorskins for high mileage, I am still testing the re-fuse (they get lots of great reviews in this regard)

Another vote for Conti Gatorskins. Very durable and long lasting in my experience, although I don't keep mileage data. I'm on my second set and I see no reason not buy them again when these wear out.

I ride 25mm but you can get them in 23mm.

Yes, the GP 4 Seasons are expensive. However, I got mine for something like $35 each from PBK a few years back. They were definitely worth the money.

Nothing wrong with Gatorskins. I rode to work on them this morning. However, based on my experience, I would put them one notch below the 4 Seasons in terms of mileage, ride-quality, and wet-weather traction.

I am curious about the Maxxis Re-fuse, however. I'd be interested to know how the ride-quality compares to Gatorskins.

re-fuse have a tad harsher ride and little more rolling resistance but make up for this in their beefier casing (in a good way) and better cornering. And they cost less, $55 for gatorskins and $40 for re-fuse. But I need to give the re-fuse at least 800 miles before I can give a good review.
Also, when you ride a brand new re-fuse, they are very dead feeling. I was almost disappointed, I find they need to be broken in (50 miles) and the improve a lot.

I also agree the gatorskins are indeed a notch below the 4seasons.

It depends on where the tire company's priorities were. I have over 4000 miles on my front 700x25 Gatorskin and it's barely square. I yanked the rear with only 3000 miles with lots of life left because I got two flats in a row and couldn't find a piece of tire wire or anything and didn't want to deal with it. The 700x25 GP4 season I threw on the back after two flats in a row where I couldn't find a piece of tire wire or anything has worn to the threads in 2000 miles.

It's also worth noting that the rear tire wears faster than the front. You'll buy fewer tires if you move the front to the rear when the rear wears out and put a fresh one on front.

The Gatorskins seem to be a nice balance between long lasting, decent ride, and OK wet weather traction. The GP 4 seasons wear a lot faster, ride a little better, don't seem any faster, and might be a hair less likely to slip on wet metal which is to say the advantage is on paper only.

I'm in the same boat as the OP. My tires are near their end of life. I currently use Vittoria wire bead tires, and they're a pain to mount although I've gotten a lot better at it. Just wondering if the folding Gatorskins are easy mount?

Recently I've become a big fan of the Vittoria Randoneur Hypers. I have had conti's and Bontrager hardcases for a long time too and had good luck with both.

When it comes to glass, Vittorias.

It depends on the rim and tape.

With Open Pros and Velox tape I can mount and remove them without tools. No problem.
With Kinlin XR-300 rims and Velox tape it takes tools for both steps.
With the Kinlin's and Velo Plugs it's work to get them on without tools and taking them off takes tire levers.

Gatorskins over 4500+ miles and still going (10 months).

Narrow tires will concentrate acceleration wear, on a thin bit of tread, maybe 1/2" wide
just no way around it ..

Sidewall on a Nokian A10 gave out , touring, 3 mos, before it showed any tread wear,
but was a 40 wide tire
ice and snow not 4 months of the year , here, Winter studded tires, bought in 91 still fine ..

Thanks for all the advices, I finally ordered continental gatorskin, 40$ (canadian) each on ebay. It looks to me like a reasonnable price. Should get them this week.

Thanks again!

The mechanic guy at my LBS when he trued my rear wheel told me my tire was hard to take off. I told him it's probably the rim/tire combination which is what I've read on this forum, and he said the rim has little to do with it, and that it's more about the tire. He didn't mention anything about tape. He told me Vittoria tires run a little tight and that folding tires would be easier to mount. I guess I'll have to find out.