What tubular tires should I get ?
 

I just won an e-bay auction for tubular carbon wheels & have never rode tubular before.
Never wanted to until my Carbon Clinchers melted when descending Sierra (a popular hill in San Jose, California). I discovered the thrill of instant speed and now am hooked on carbon wheels, but don't want another meltdown, hence the move to tubulars. Besides, I'm curious. After winning the auction I am horrified to discover the cost of sew up/ tubular tires! I ride in two clubs and logged 7000 miles this year. So what tires should I get that are decent (get the benefits of tubular) for the lowest or best cost? Any inputs, thoughts on the subject will be appreciated!

Wait, your rims melted and you think going to tubulars is going to fix that? I did read that correctly, didn't I?

Ribble has really good deals on tubulars. I'm running Conti Sprinters at the moment. They're cheap, handle well and have good flat protection. I'll probably go with Vittoria Corsa Evo CX next through, for hopefully an even better ride.


Carbon clinchers are much more likely to warp/melt than tubulars due to their design.

Ok, but, admitting I don't know anything about it, aren't you more likely to melt the glue long before you start melting/warping wheels? And if so, wouldn't that make tubulars less desirable, not more?

you can ride a tubular without glue. You can't corner hard, but it won't implode. Tough to ride a clincher with a blown bead

The real solution is disc brakes, sorta.

edit: ps OP -- if you think the tires are expensive, wait til you pay someone to glue them. Oh, and you'll need at least 3 (one for a flat change)

I've been riding tubulars since 1975. My favs were Vittoria Seta Extras (1977) and Continental Sprinters (1986). I don't race anymore, so I'm happy with a 300g training tire for training/everyday riding. My Ciocc currently rolls on Servizio Corse tubulars purchased from the Yellow Jersey (three tires for only $50). I've been riding these for over a year now on typically less-than-ideal rural parish roads and they've held up just fine.

I'm in a similar boat. Ordered four Vittoria Corsa Evo CX from PBK for $65 each. Looking forward to trying them out.

I've watched a few videos and read a number of guides. Seems labor intensive and time consuming but not particularly difficult. Will see if I change my tune after doing it for myself.

Vittoria Corsa Evo's are a very good choice.

After a foolish attempt to glue my own in which I successfully glued myself to everything in the dining room but not much else I brought it in to the shop. $50 for a tubular glue-up

I've been extremely pleased with my Schwalbe Ultremo tubs. Weren't cheap, though.

You're supposed to ride UP Sierra!!

Schwalbe Durano Tubular. Praised by many for their very round casings and perfectly aligned threads. Schwalbe claims they should last 10,000km with regular load and average braking; also the tires have a Raceguard protection strip. That's what I'll be buying once my tubular wheelset is complete. (3x tires of course =) )

-Carcinogent

P.S. As far as puncture protection goes, while commuting on Schwalbe tires with Raceguard i've had 1 puncture in the rear after ~2500km when a piece of glass JUST made it through. Imo when commuting you see more glass etc. than when training.

You can try the Tufo tape instead of glue. I've heard good things, but not used it myself.
Either way, have the tires stretched for a couple of days first (120 psi on a rim)

Please explain the "melted carbon clinchers" ?

you were gluing in your dining room? I hope you at least had the windows open...

I punctured Vittoria Corsa Evo CX on two separate occasions. Second set post gluing, got a flat after the third ride. Went back to Conti Sprinters. If I had to do it all over again would give Vredestein Pro TriComps or Tufos a try. YMMV

Veloflex Carbon 22s..... Best bang for the buck

Dont do that.....

There are a couple of pictures here. The rim heats up so much that the brake track warps and deforms

I've put GP4000s tubulars on my newest wheelset, and they're just fine. But I can't say I love them or that they're any more comfortable than the Vittoria Open Corsa CX clinchers I came off of. If I had to do it again – and I will in 1500 miles – I'll probably go with Vittoria Corsas.

I'm with Wens on this. If you're braking hard enough, long enough to worry about warping carbon clinchers, I have to think you're going to get enough heat to loosen the glue on a carbon tubular.

And rolling a tubular on a descent is not a good thing, see e.g. Joseba Beloki.

So if your purpose is doing descents that require prolonged braking, you might want to think wheels other than carbon.

Of course a completely different approach to the problem might be to examine your braking technique, but that's a different thread.

I can do it myself, but my LBS charges $10, so I pay the $10 to avoid the hassle, and mess.

good for you. I've glued a couple, but like all things home improvement/car repair/mechanical it pays not to be in a hurry. If you want them glued up for that group ride on Saturday, and it's Thursday night....uh oh. If you want them glued up for your first crit in January, have at it!

It's totally doable, and if you've read guides then I don't have anything to contribute.

considering a tube of glue is $3-7 (depending on your LBS or ordering ahead of time), this is a GREAT deal

No way dude thats the best part, wait... what are we talking about?

---

Conti sprinters get the best bang for the buck award imo. Having said that you buy tubulars to have a quality ride so if you get cheap tubs you get a cheap ride. Veloflex Criteriums are the plushyest most supple soft delightful treads I've ever donned on my wheels. Challenge makes a reasonable priced tire as well.

Oh and don't ever pay anyone to mount your tubs, learn to do it your self and embrace one of the finest traditions in all of bike racing.