wn rider

After riding a friends Burley Duet for a while, my wife and I made the leap into tandemland by purchasing a Co-Motion Mocha that we plan on riding mostly on roads but also some gravel from time to time

Bike came with Conti Sport Contact 26 x 1.6. Love the bike so far (only have about 60 mi on the bike) but have already managed to flat out. In our area, the goat heads tend to be a huge problem. I know all too well that flats are part of the game and this might be just some bad luck, but can anyone comment on their experience regarding puncture resistance of these tires?

I would also be very interested in suggestions regarding road tires that folks have found offer good puncture resistance along with a reasonable ride. I have run Bontrager Race Lite Hard Case and Bontrager Race X Lite Hard Case on my road bike and have had few flats.

For me, top priority on our tandem would be puncture resistance, with ride quality next. Price is not as important since I don't have a problem spending the money on a quality tire. Have heard some good things about the Continental Gatorskins and the Schwalbe Marathon Racer HD, but don't have any experience with either.

We are about a 310 lb team and will be doing varying rides up to 100 mi.

Thanks for any input.

WNY tandem

We use Gatorskins on our Speedster. The only flats we have had were my fault: pinch flats from hitting bad potholes!

mike

DCwom

We put on Gatorskins last season and have been happy with them, no flats yet, but I know it will happen eventually. I fretted over the best tire, and searched the old forum posts for recommendations, you will find many, but consensus is tough to find, the Gatorskins were just easier to locate and remember the name. We use them on road and rail-trail stone-dust surfaces (700x32).

scycheng

We switched to Schwalbe Kojak 26x2 last year. So far so good riding on pavement and hardpack dirt. We don't have anything thorny around here though.

mwandaw

We had good luck with our Schwalbe Marathon Racers, but our riding conditions did not include many thorns. A while ago I posted a simple review of the tires.

ksisler

wn rider; Being a conservative type rider, I would recommend that you buy the same tire you have on the bike now. That way you will know right up front how it will ride, etc. If you go off on a vision quest for some newer, cooler, better tire, you may find that road has some problems in store for you.... /K

Clarabelle

We also have a Mocha with the 26 inch Conti Sport tires. We (350 pound team) are planning a road trip this summer down the Crooked River, some of which will be isolated and on dirt roads. I too am looking for tires that are a little more "flat proof." Looked at the Gatorskins, but running at 120 psi doesn't appeal on washboard roads. Has anyone had experience with the Schwalbe Marathon HS 420? They claim to be resistant to punctures, and have a range of 55 psi to 100 psi. We are in to durability over speed.

Retro Grouch 

My experience with Schwalbe Marathons is limited but, you have to use words that only bike mechanics are allowed to say to get those tires off and back on the rim.

72andsunny

We've just switched over to them (700x32) after finally deciding that gatorskins (700x28) just aren't made for NZ roads (and the sometime lack of roads). They were not at all difficult to put on; I have not had the need to take one off yet. They ride is much smoother than with the gatorskins, though I am certain we have gotten slower (though we are pulling a baby now, and had not planned on winning any races).

Tom Spohn

Marathons are the most bullet proof. Conti GP4X have been the fastest with some puncture protection. Gatorskins are in the middle. If I lived in goathead country it would be a Marathon.