Cyclist0108

Just to clarify, this is relative to my WTB Nanos, which really suck on road (but in terms of the tread and width (40mm) are my closest comparison). I was still about 1 mph slower than my "personal best" on my 28mm (slick) Continental 4000 S II tires.

SquidPuppet

Au contraire.

This chat is as pleasing as the tires.

Cyclist0108

Actually, I lied, these tires truly suck and cause erectile disfunction, paranoid schizophrenia and anal hemorrhage. Nobody buy them, please. (No point in depleting a limited supply, driving up the price even further.)

SquidPuppet

Do you have any road-use-only bikes that would accommodate a smooth tread Compass tire?

Cyclist0108

You are a true Coeur d' Aleneian.

Cyclist0108

Yes, but ... I put ... I put Vittoria Corsa G+ Graphene 28mm gumwalls on instead, in a moment of doubt. (There is a thread here somewhere in which I was talked out of the Compass alternative, and I lost my resolve.)

Edit: Here we go -- Should I blow $160 on Compass 28mm Chinook Pass tires for my 1987 Bianchi?

I have a second wheelset for this bike, so when my Conti 4000 S II tires wear out, I will likely replace them with the 38mm smooth version of the Compass tires (the same ones that my wife has), or if I grow impatient, I may convert her 10 speed to an 11-speed so we can swap wheelsets.

SquidPuppet

I remember that thread. When the time comes, and if the bike will fit the 44mm Snoqualmies, you might consider them. Oddly, they are significantly lighter than the 38mm tire. I contacted Compass to inquire about the "typo" on their site. I was told that it was not a typo and that the numbers were correct. 329 grams vs 380. Compass said that they were working with Panaracer to get the 38 down to where it should be.

Cyclist0108

I could definitely get the 44mm on the front (Enve cyclocross fork). It will be really a close squeeze on the back. I was originally going to get these, then I decided to try the knobby tires instead, since I really hated the Nanos. (The Nanos also shed rubber around the bead, which wasn't confidence-inspiring.)

As for that thread, if you permit me one excerpt ...

Cyclist0108

......

verktyg 

I bought a set of Challenge 700c x 27 Parigi-Roubaix clinchers back about 2010. Could never get them to mount on any of my wheels so they just hung in my shop. A year ago I had a set of wheels built with some old Super Champion Mod 58 rims so I decided to try again. It took some work and I had to switch from Michelin 700c 25mm-28mm A2 tubes to Michelin 700c 18mm-23mm A1 tubes to get them mounted.



My all time favorite ridding tires were Clement Red Label Cotton Paris-Roubaix sewups. They were 30mm wide and I used to run them at 90psi. I have to say that the Challenge Parigi-Roubaix feel the same. I've never ridden clinchers that coast as well!

I've read a number of complaints that the casings failed on Parigi-Roubaix clinchers. The label on the rims says inflate to 95-125 psi. I think that's the problem. I run mine at 80-85 on the front and 90 psi on the rear.

ADDENDUM: Along with reports of casing failures with the Parigi-Roubaix tires, I've also seen complaints of the folding beads stretching. I picked up a goat head on a club ride last fall. I thought it was going to be a battle changing the tube. I only had to use 1 tire iron and was able to get the bead off and on by hand. So the beads on those old Challenge Parigi-Roubaix tires do stretch.

I've been tempted to pop for a set of Compass or Grand Bois 700c x ~28 tire based on all the hype I've seen about them over the past few years. I wonder if part of the praise could be coming from riders who've been running 700c x 23 tires at 125 psi and all of a sudden they experience soft cushy riding tires???

verktyg

TimothyH

I have nothing useful to add to this discussion but just wanted to thank Professor @wgscott for revisiting the pee spot lycra photo.

Glad I clicked into this thread.


-Tim-

noglider 

Well Panaracer can't be the only maker that knows how to make nice, supple tires. I have a lot of respect for Vittoria and Continental, too. I got the GP4000 SII in 28mm recently and have only ridden them once, so I can't report. The price was irresistible from xxcycle.com in France.

I've ridden a lot of Panaracer tires over the last 35 years, and I've always liked them, though none with the Compass name/design. The sidewalls are not as durable, and my observation is that Continental tires seem to be durabler, so that was another consideration.

@verktyg, the city in France is Roubaix, pronounced roo-bay.

Cyclist0108

Subsequent the the litigation initiated by Specialized, Inc., that city is now to be referred to as Robertsville.

verktyg 

DOH! I knew that... Late night typo... "Hell Of the North"

I got back to riding road bikes again in 2006. My clincher wheels had a set of ~20 year old Specialized 700c x 25 tires (measured 22mm) that were giving up the ghost. Dennis Stone recommended a set of Panaracer Pasela TGs.

I'd never ridden any clincher tires that had the bouncy feel of Clement Red Label Paris-Roubaix or Del Mundo sewups. Since then, I've used Pasela TGs in 26 x 1 3/4, 700c x 23, 25 and 28 plus 27 x 1 1 /8.

I like the feel of the 700c x 25s the best (90 psi). I put the 700c x 23s on several bikes with clearance problems. They are no match for the 25s, total different feel. The 700c x 28s are on several bikes with stiff harsh riding frames. Aside from the frames the 28's have a "clunky" feel compared to the 25s. Again, all tires at 90 psi.

My next favorite tires are the old Continental Grand Prix 700c x 23c. I have them on my more sporty riding bikes. They measure about 24mm on Mavic MA2, G40 and Super Champion Gentleman rims.


These Grand Prix tires are not as cushy as the 700c x 25 Pasela TGs but they have amazing grip and handle really well. About 5 years ago I bought 24 of them online at $12 each closeout price! I'm down to 1 or 2 new ones. The side walls are very delicate and get nicked easily. I boot them if the nick is small.

A number of places that I ride have separation cracks in the asphalt, just wide enough for a narrow tire to go into. I've never had a sidewall nick in any of my Pasela TGs. I found that the Pasela treads have slightly more wrap over onto the sidewalls than the Coni Grand Prixs. I think that's the reason why.

This holds true for a number of other 700c x 23 style Continentals that I have too.

Continental Gatorskins have a thread mesh layer over the sidewalls that protects the casing but that comes with a lot of trade offs.



I bought a bike a while back that had a new set of these Continental 700c x 23 DURASKIN +K tires. They're the worst riding modern bike tires I've ever been on, hard as rocks even at 85 psi.



They'll last forever because I'll never ride them again! Worse than Specialized Armadillos!

My next tire purchase is probably going to be some 700c x 32 private labeled Panaracers that have been discussed in this thread.

verktyg

u235

I have the Race and the TCS light Nano. Yes they aren't the best on road. My experience with 700 38+ on my all purpose "gravel" bike is Nano, Speedride, Overide, and SportContact. The Nano hands down feels slower than all of them on road but none of those have thread like the Nano. They have their place.

Cyclist0108

The only other ones I have tried are Clement XPLOR MSO (120 TPI, 40mm) and USH (120 TPI, 35 mm). Those ride significantly better than the Nano on road, but the Compass is in a different category.

noglider 

Wow, I'll try them next time I'm buying that size. I think it will be a while, because I'm about to put my previous commuting tires on my gravel bike. They're Vittoria Voyager Hyper, 37mm, and I think they'll be good.

SquidPuppet

I can only speak from my own experience here. My recent Compass purchase was the 559 x 54mm Rat Trap Pas Extra Light. On my rims they measure exactly 54mms. They replaced Ritchey tires that were 100% bald slicks and measured exactly 54mms. A fairly even head to head competition. They Ritchey tires sucked up big bumps just fine and had phenomenal cornering grip. They didn't transmit any weird vibrations either. Not a bad tire all. I liked them very much. The Compass tires suck up the big bumps just fine too. No big difference between them and the Ritchey tires. Where the Compass tires shine is their insulating characteristic from all things small, rough and annoying and, rolling resistance and speed. Transitioning from perfect pavement to crappy chip seal goes unnoticed. Cracks, stones, debris, man hole covers, etc... if I hadn't seen them I probably wouldn't have known I ran over them.

Speed! Here are the results of my highly sophisticated rolling resistance test.

54mm slick vs 54mm treaded tire. Same bike, same weather-ish, no wind, one full water bottle, me in same clothes. Yeah, I know, it's a Super-Lab.

I've done this route a bazillion times on my usual single speed ride down to the lake. When I leave my house the road is flat for 1/4 mile, then it's downhill for 1/3 mile, then flat, then a brief uphill run. When I hit the flat section I'm going about 30 mph. I know exactly where the bike has slowed enough (specific mailbox) that I can begin pedaling (without spinning out) to build up momentum for the approaching uphill section. with the Ritchey tires at 40psi rear and 35psi front, (can't go lower, they become lethargic) that point is approximately 100 feet before the uphill section begins. With the Compass tires inflated to 35psi rear and 30psi front, it was futile to begin pedaling at my usual marker. In fact, the bike continued to roll the extra approximately 100 feet and even went a short way up the hill before I could meaningfully contribute by pedaling. I didn't need to build up some momentum for the hill because my bike carried enough speed to take me part way up it.

Is that due to the supple casing and sidewalls, or the lighter weight, or both? I dunno. But it's real.

The compass tires feel more stable at high speed and MUCH more nimble at low speeds. They actually feel "skinny" when going very slow, like through parking lots and crowded parks and beaches.

The Ritcheys had superior cornering grip, which I miss. I really wish Compass would offer a slick version of all their tires.

Where is my check Jan? I've been pounding this keyboard for months, years, and still no check dammit.

rumrunn6

just found a review by her for the Comnpass Elk Pass tires. quite the rake on her front fork! that must add a bit of comfort

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2015/...lk-pass-tires/

6th pic down

Cyclist0108

At risk of going all gender-binary on you ...

noglider 

She's short and needs a shallow head tube angle to keep the reach of the bike short. A shallower angle requires a longer rake of the fork.

Cyclist0108

Just to update a helpful update, the tires still do not suck.

Cyclist0108

@noglider

I think I have a little bit better understanding of what is going on.

Briefly, I have a commute home that involves about 2000 ft of climbing over 11 miles, a little over 1/4 of which is off-road (and slow and hard). The best way to summarize this is that I take no obvious performance hit overall with these tires, vs. my 28mm (slick) Conti GP4000sII tires. However, with the Contis, I am faster on-road but slower (and more cautious) off-road. The Compass tires (and my Clement XPLOR and the Nanos) are better off-road than the slicks, which isn't a surprise. I don't enjoy riding (my) gravel with the Contis. But of those other tires, only the Compass is comparable on-road, and in fact are so pleasant to ride that I could easily live with the small performance difference relative to the Contis on-road (but don't have to, because I have two wheel sets).

The only reason I could see not wanting the Compass knobbies for my commute is if they get flats easily. Time will tell...

u235

I ride one bike on mixed terrain, road, gravel, dirt and easy singletrack and want one tire for that between 38 and 45. One ride of 50 miles in gravel might be followed by a 50 mile road ride. I really liked the SpeedRide and recently switched to the Overide to compare and as a bonus both are cheap, The SR is like $22 and I got mine for $14 each. I do get a lot of small slices and I must be harder on tires? I don't know how much if any better rolling vs.comfort vs durability they could be than two I mentioned but they are on my radar.

ThermionicScott 

Aww, yeah! Been looking forward to pics of those RTPs mounted up!