jchou701

I'm just curious:

what tires are best for road bikes riding on dirt roads (this includes durability, and speed)

This question came up to me after watching a clip of the Paris Roubaix - most of them were going pretty fast on dirt roads

I've also looked into the specialized all condition armadillo tires, but they're pretty wide, I have never tried them, but I would assume that it would slow me down despite it's durability...

your thoughts?

MIN 

What about cyclocross tires? They are heavy though.

TheKillerPenguin

Tires I've ridden on dirt roads:

Michelin Pro2 (practically did cyclocross with em at some points...)
Specialized Mondo Pro
Maxxis Fuse

All 23c, all with great success.

bitingduck

I've ridden 23mm Conti Ultra2000 and Gatorskins on the fire roads in the San Gabriels as well as a lot of dirt roads. For dirt they do just fine, but on the rocky bits where it's all fist size or larger chunks of granite you have to be careful and pick your way through.

voltman

How's the Krylion Carbon versus Pro2 Race on the rougher stuff?

Ernesto Schwein

No perceivable difference in my experience. I will say that in anything loose a little extra width and lower pressure is going to help, I used to ride vittoria open pave 25s but i got sick of them puncturing. A narrowish CX clincher isn't a bad compromise but they get tiresome once you get on the pavement.

Patriot

If you're talking about riding alot on a dirt road where there may actually be some loose turf, I would definitely suggest going to something like the Conti- Contact Cross Hybrid tire. They can be had in a 700x28c.

https://www.bicycletires.com/tek9.asp...cific=joemdqj8

If you want something even a little beefier, the Maxxis Overdriive is getting rave reviews. They can be had in 700x38's.

https://www.bicycletires.com/tek9.asp...ific=jnnpgphmc

ed073

only 52km of the 260km 2007 Paris-Roubaix was on unsealed roads....and yes, they go fast, regardless of the road surface.

DrPete 

My last riding on dirt/gravel roads was with Specialized Mondo S-Works tires. The slightly higher running pressures are good for pinch flats, and the belt is reasonably durable. This was a 40-mile RR with 6 miles of dirt, though. If you're spending the day on dirt roads a CX tire of some kind might be useful.

Tmax1

I survived the Rouge-Roubaix on Michelin Pro Race. It was brutal but the tires survived.

AGGRO

Don't forget the liners that go between the tire and tube.

merlinextraligh

I did Webster Roubaix on Michelin Pro Races. However if you don't care about maximum speed on pavement, I'd go with something a little wider and a little more robust for dirt, like say a 25c Gatorskin or Armidillo.

And the high zoot answer would be a cyclocross tubular.