Tires?
 

I'm new to fix riding and just got some wheels. I'm need to get some tires for basic road use. I want something fairly low profile, but they need to hold up to NYC riding. I've got Alex DH-22 rims. Any suggestions?

Oh yeah, the price point is important........

Thanks.

I've been happy with my Conti Gatorskins here in Minneapolis. I had a few flats when I first got them, but that was before I had a floor pump and could get them up to 100psi. Now that I'm running them at the higher psi, I haven't had a flat in a few months. I'm running 25s.

Dunno if that helps or not, but definatly get something with kevlar, and make sure they are filled near the max psi...

Do you suggest Kevlar belt, bead, or both?

belt, bead, and vest, depending on the neighborhood.

Conti grand prix they are fantastic tires.

Specialized Armadillo. Heavy, painfully high rolling resistance, bulletproof and a bargain at $30 apiece (and of course cheaper if you can find them on clearance).

Do you all ride 25's or 23's?

23's dude

I use Specialized Armadillo for messen. These tires will last you a very long time.

I'm starting to have second thoughts about Armadillos. I have been riding various Armadillos exclusively the last couple years. There is no question that they are about as flat-proof as they come. I've had one flat in thousands of miles.

However, I suspect that the construction of the tires is not as durable as it should be. My first set wore out after about 2500 miles. The tread was OK. What happened was where the tread and the sidewall join the tires developed cracks running all the way around eventually separating from the sidewall. You could literally pell off the entire tread like it was a big rubber band exposing the protective belt underneath. These were Turbo Armadillos (25c).

Anther newer pair of the All-around Armadillos is starting to show signs of the same cracking after only 1500 miles. I'm worried that these may do the same thing as the Turbos.

I have a set of Hemispheres on a ATB wich have at least 2500 miles and as yet do not show signs of this problem.

I keep my tires inflated to the recommended pressures so it's not a 'run flat' issue. I suspect that in the manufacture of the tires, the outer tread layer is not bonded (or insufficiently bonded) to the protection layer and inner tire layer below. The only connection seems to be at the edges. There may be too much movement of the outer layer causing the edges to eventually come apart. I do know that the two tires I examined showed no indication of being bonded to the layers below. It would be interesting to check a brand new tire, but I am unwilling to blow $30 to chop up a new one!

I may try some Continental Gatorskins next to see if they are any more durable than the Armadillos. I am sad about this though because I have had such great flat protection with Armadillos and have recommended them many times on bikeforums.

yeah it seems like any valuable fixed tire discussion should always be a comparison study of x vs. armadillo. :)

I just go with cheapo Conti Sport 1000's. I get them for about 15 bucks each, although I'm sure you can find them cheaper online.

Wire bead, and decent tread that LASTS - I don't feel dollar bills comming out of my wallet each time I skid.

Victorria Ronandoleurs have been great here in Chicago. Lots of glass and many ****ty roads.

Gatorskins .... 25s. Big enough to handle the ****y roads yet still light and fast enough not to pull. I have dug shards of glass out of these and they are still going strong.

I rode gatorskins, thought they were pretty wooden, but ridiculously durable. Lost tread off the back pretty quickly.

Right now i'm on the blue vredestein fortezzas, kevlar bead, 23c. I just did the night ride on them, rough streets, lots of gravel, and they felt great. No f*ats after two solid weeks.

continential grand prix 3000.

23s
Panaracers on now - been holding up very well.
Picked up a Vittoria something or other as a back-up.

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

I ride on these and they've been great. Riding on 28s seems to me like the way to go in the city, and these are pretty narrow for 28s, so they don't look goofy or anything. The price is right, definitely.

coloradocyclist.com has vredestein fortezza's on sale right now for 30 dollars. i have a set of them and love them. they're the one of the grippiest tires i've ridden. i've commuted on them for well over a year and have held up super well. plus, you can pump those suckers up to 145 psi. they make a great track clincher. i also have some of the conti attack/force tires and love the way they feel too. very responsive, but spendy.

i just bought a bunch of tires from the bicycletiresdirect site. they have the good vreds for real cheap right now. i got some of those and also some gatorskins and grand prix tires too. its nice to be all stocked up on tires. usually i wait til i see red threads comming out.. then i ride a week more and try not to skid on em.