Tubular Tire Recommendation

[JChapATX]

I'm searching for a new tire. I've always ridden the Vittoria Corsa Evo, but when Vittoria "upgraded" the tire from 290tpi to 320tpi, they changed the stem from a 40mm with a removable core to a completely removable stem to allow for extenders to be attached at the base of the tire. The practical effect of this is that it is virtually impossible to get Stan's Sealant into the tire because of the particles.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a tire that has removable cores? I've also looked for valve extenders with removable cores, but the ones I've found do not seem to fit the Vittorias.

Thanks

 

[MR_Sarcastic]

What will you be using them for??

Makes a big difference.

Criterium racing......Road racing......Training.....General riding ??????????
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[elapid]

I'll also put my hand up for the same information. Picking up my first set of tubular wheels next weekend (built by RDV and picking up from Bustedknuckle's bike shop in Boulder - excited about that!) and wanting to buy a pair of tubulars for training and general riding (ultimately the wheels will be used for the Tour of Flanders sportif next year, so the tires should be able to withstand some cobbles).

 

[JChapATX]

I use them for training and general riding.

After doing some research at the LBS this morning, I found out the following.

Vittoria manufactures tires for both Zipp and Mavic. However, the Zipp and the Mavic use the old 290tpi set up, so essentially, except for branding and dimples, the Zipp Tangente and the Mavic (whatever its called) are old Corsa Evo CX's. Both have a removeable valve core and, thus are more easily filled with sealant.

Now, to me, the Zipps do not seem to have the same tread pattern, but the LBS tells me they are old Vittorias and are as puncture resistant as the Corsa Evos. I bought 'em so I'll given 'em a whirl.

 

[kuoirad]

I'll also put my hand up for the same information. Picking up my first set of tubular wheels next weekend (built by RDV and picking up from Bustedknuckle's bike shop in Boulder - excited about that!)

Bustedknuckle's shop *is* pretty sweet, having visited it for the first time myself this week while in Boulder...

 

[Notso Swift]

I'm searching for a new tire. I've always ridden the Vittoria Corsa Evo, but when Vittoria "upgraded" the tire from 290tpi to 320tpi, they changed the stem from a 40mm with a removable core to a completely removable stem to allow for extenders to be attached at the base of the tire. The practical effect of this is that it is virtually impossible to get Stan's Sealant into the tire because of the particles.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a tire that has removable cores? I've also looked for valve extenders with removable cores, but the ones I've found do not seem to fit the Vittorias.

Thanks

Same for me

Veloflex, is absolutely my recommendation at the moment but they are dear.
Conti's in Competition, again you get what you pay for. Sprinter Gatorskin for your everyday tyres though, excellent price and performance in all conditions

What the above do not do is cut up like 14 Yo's first shave, which the Vittoria do (Vittoria have great grip but they NEED sealant and as you found you can only use a latex seal with the new valves... which are only good for holes to 1mm not 2mm



Regarding the Zipp and the Mavic
I would want to check that as at least 1 of 2 of them are made by Challange... like Vittoria made in Thailand, at least. Do not know about the other.
Consider the Vittoria factory also pumps out Lion... the one you see on $50 kids bikes, I wouldn't trust the provenance of any of them to be "the same" in fact I doubt it. That is not to say better or worse, but they will be different.
Just compare each on its own merits.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I'm searching for a new tire. I've always ridden the Vittoria Corsa Evo, but when Vittoria "upgraded" the tire from 290tpi to 320tpi, they changed the stem from a 40mm with a removable core to a completely removable stem to allow for extenders to be attached at the base of the tire. The practical effect of this is that it is virtually impossible to get Stan's Sealant into the tire because of the particles.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a tire that has removable cores? I've also looked for valve extenders with removable cores, but the ones I've found do not seem to fit the Vittorias.

Thanks

I put Stans in these all the time. I 'sacrificed' a red valve from Vittoria, cut the end off, rounded it out. When I want to put in Stan's, I put that on and squirt it in just like any valve w/o valve guts.

Conti are another good choice for tubulars as are Veloflex(big $). I don't personally like FMB or Dugast..cold vulcanized, meaning the tread is just glued on, not 'vulcanized, melted on' ala Veloflex, Vittoria, Conti and probably Clement.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I'll also put my hand up for the same information. Picking up my first set of tubular wheels next weekend (built by RDV and picking up from Bustedknuckle's bike shop in Boulder - excited about that!) and wanting to buy a pair of tubulars for training and general riding (ultimately the wheels will be used for the Tour of Flanders sportif next year, so the tires should be able to withstand some cobbles).

?? Missing something. Wheels built by RDV and you are picking them up at the shop?

Confused.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

?? Missing something. Wheels built by RDV and you are picking them up at the shop?

Confused.

elapid is going to Ft. Collins from Canada for a work related something. I built a set of wheels for him but am not able to meet him up there. I will be in Boulder next Thursday, and since I'm still entirely unfamiliar with getting around the ghettos of Boulder (still using GPS) your shop was the most logical place to meet. Probably should have asked if ok before the discussion spilled out on the boards.

 

[elapid]

?? Missing something. Wheels built by RDV and you are picking them up at the shop?

Confused.

Sorry for the confusion as well. I haven't been to Boulder for a long time so it will be good to return. I've never been to your shop and I love bike shops, so that'll be cool. And you could probably sell me some nice tubular tires to boot!

 

[Bustedknuckle]

elapid is going to Ft. Collins from Canada for a work related something. I built a set of wheels for him but am not able to meet him up there. I will be in Boulder next Thursday, and since I'm still entirely unfamiliar with getting around the ghettos of Boulder (still using GPS) your shop was the most logical place to meet. Probably should have asked if ok before the discussion spilled out on the boards.

No problem at all, just didn't know anything about it...

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Sorry for the confusion as well. I haven't been to Boulder for a long time so it will be good to return. I've never been to your shop and I love bike shops, so that'll be cool. And you could probably sell me some nice tubular tires to boot!

Sure, Conti and Vittoria, next thursday, May 24th?

 

[elapid]

Sure, Conti and Vittoria, next thursday, May 24th?

Yep. Should be there mid-afternoon. See you both then!

 

[MR_Sarcastic]

"Conti are another good choice for tubulars as are Veloflex(big $). I don't personally like FMB or Dugast..cold vulcanized, meaning the tread is just glued on, not 'vulcanized, melted on' ala Veloflex, Vittoria, Conti and probably Clement. "

Back in the day, all the high quality tubs were "hand made" (glued on treads). When I first started racing, you could buy an Italian, hand made CX for $30. There was a HUGE difference between those, and the ones you buy now.

99% of the tubs, you buy now, are only one step above clinchers, in road feel.
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[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Back in the day, all the high quality tubs were "hand made" (glued on treads). When I first started racing, you could buy an Italian, hand made CX for $30. There was a HUGE difference between those, and the ones you buy now.

99% of the tubs, you buy now, are only one step above clinchers, in road feel.

You also have to consider that "back in the day" clinchers had an absolutely terrible ride, up until about the early 90's. Tubulars haven't gotten worse, clinchers just got better. But in the end a clincher is still a clincher, even when mounted to wide rims and high tpi counts they still will never have the ride feel of a tubular.

 

[MR_Sarcastic]

If you grab a modern CX, it feels "stiff", even without any air in it. The old CX's (even the ones that were made in Thailand, the first few years), were very flexible. Modern vulcanized tubs work OK, but there is a big difference in "feel" between the two. Back in the day, One tire that Vittoria sold was the Special Pro. It was made just like the modern ones are. Vulcanized tread and latex tube. It was $5 cheaper than a CX, and on the road, it felt "different" then the CX.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

If you grab a modern CX, it feels "stiff", even without any air in it. The old CX's (even the ones that were made in Thailand, the first few years), were very flexible. Modern vulcanized tubs work OK, but there is a big difference in "feel" between the two. Back in the day, One tire that Vittoria sold was the Special Pro. It was made just like the modern ones are. Vulcanized tread and latex tube. It was $5 cheaper than a CX, and on the road, it felt "different" then the CX.

I hear you, and it wasn't just the CX, the whole top line up was like that. I had a couple pairs of the early versions of the Pavé, same thing. Veloflex and Dugast are probably the best riding tubulars at the moment, FMB could round out the top three, but I've seen too many of their treads come undone.

 

[Notso Swift]

I don't personally like FMB or Dugast..cold vulcanized, meaning the tread is just glued on, not 'vulcanized, melted on' ala Veloflex, Vittoria, Conti and probably Clement.

Big call to dis the FMB, I wouldn't suggest it because it is a real specialist product, they are expensive, you need to seal the sidewalls, natural side walls only, poor puncture protection, they are a connoisseurs product
As for vulcanisation - That is why you age them! The rubber is designed to cure over time with the air, the glue cures and the bond to the case is better

I can't say much with Dugast availability is zero in Aus and I don't even know anyone who uses them (and we do not have much CX where they are huge)

To the OP my only warnings with Conti's is they are ******s to get on, even after stretching

 

[Bustedknuckle]

I hear you, and it wasn't just the CX, the whole top line up was like that. I had a couple pairs of the early versions of the Pavé, same thing. Veloflex and Dugast are probably the best riding tubulars at the moment, FMB could round out the top three, but I've seen too many of their treads come undone.

See above, 'cold vulcanized'...glued, not chemically attached ala Veloflex, Conti, Vittoria.

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Big call to dis the FMB, I wouldn't suggest it because it is a real specialist product, they are expensive, you need to seal the sidewalls, natural side walls only, poor puncture protection, they are a connoisseurs product
As for vulcanisation - That is why you age them! The rubber is designed to cure over time with the air, the glue cures and the bond to the case is better

I can't say much with Dugast availability is zero in Aus and I don't even know anyone who uses them (and we do not have much CX where they are huge)

To the OP my only warnings with Conti's is they are ******s to get on, even after stretching

Contis are much better, yep, still gotta stretch them but not like they used to me. Comp 22s and Sprinters.

'Age them? At $150+ per tire for FMB and Dugast, not many of us can have some 'aging' in the humidor awaiting the time when they are needed.

Overhyped, IMHO. I use tubies every day, a mix of Vittoria and Sprinter and they work really well, ride well, durable.

 

[blutto]

Contis are much better, yep, still gotta stretch them but not like they used to me. Comp 22s and Sprinters.

'Age them? At $150+ per tire for FMB and Dugast, not many of us can have some 'aging' in the humidor awaiting the time when they are needed.

Overhyped, IMHO. I use tubies every day, a mix of Vittoria and Sprinter and they work really well, ride well, durable.

...have not had good luck with Vittoria tubies ( could be just bad luck or a propensity for flats...who knows )...that being said just love Veloflex Carbons, Criteriums and especially the Roubaixs....have been using Conti Sprinters for training for decades and it was/is an awesome indestructable tubie for that purpose...recently tried the Conti's with the Vectran...wow...very nice change...not quite Veloflex smooth and grippy but pretty darn close...

...so, for those special racing days would recommend Veloflex but for everything else the new Conti's are perfect ( especially the 25 mm Comps )...really really nice...

...as for the Conti mounting issues..just pre-stretch them and then no problemo...

Cheers

blutto

 

[MR_Sarcastic]

I hear you, and it wasn't just the CX, the whole top line up was like that. I had a couple pairs of the early versions of the Pavé, same thing. Veloflex and Dugast are probably the best riding tubulars at the moment, FMB could round out the top three, but I've seen too many of their treads come undone.

Yep, it was the CX, CG, CL, and the CS in smaller sizes

Way back in the day, riders could even buy treads to replace the worn out ones, if the caseing was sound.

I've never used Veloflex, but I was under the impression the they still glued on the treads.

 

[JChapATX]

So I rode the Zipps for 2 months and flatted the rear today. I noticed the tire was cut last night. Tried superglue, but that didn't work. Flatted on my ride this morning as expected.

The rubber just seems soft.
Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will look at the Conti's or the Veloflex. I'm still searching for something that will be durable.

 

[ElChingon]

So I rode the Zipps for 2 months and flatted the rear today. I noticed the tire was cut last night. Tried superglue, but that didn't work. Flatted on my ride this morning as expected.

I suspect sabotage! Oh wait, wrong section

Hope there's no rule of posting racing in the Gear section

 

[simo1733]

I just bought a pair of Veloflex Criteriums.I haven't ridden them yet, but they were very easy to fit which is a good start.