Which Tire to buy?

[Thorn Cycling]

Hi, I'm looking for a new set of tires for my road bike and am having trouble choosing one. I'm upgrading from Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slicks. Riding conditions and main choices I've been looking at are below. Thanks for the help!

Riding Conditions:
*For both training and racing, but with only 2-3 races (all crits) left in the season puncture resistance/durability is slightly more important than pure speed/low rolling resistance.
*Mild conditions (North Carolina). The roads are mostly quite nice, but there are some sections of cinder/gravel on a few of my training routes that would provide problems for a weak tire.
*weight 130-135lbs (58-61 kilos)
*Crit racing (a lot of the time on rougher roads) and training (fall/winter/spring. Not much ice on the roads around here though) will be the main uses for these tires.

Main choices I've been looking at but can't decide between:
*Continental Gatorskins; main worry is the weight/rolling resistance
*Continental Grand Prix 4000s; main worry is sidewall blow-outs. Does anyone have experience with these?
*Michelin Pro Race 3 or 4; main worry is puncturing.
*Continental Force/Attack combo; main worry is durability
*S-Works Turbo; I haven't seen many of these locally, which makes me iffy about them, but have read many great reviews. Does anyone have experience with these?
*Specialized Roubaix Armadillo Elite; main worry is rolling resistance
*If anyone can advise another good option, I'm all ears

Thanks for the help and sorry about the slightly disorderly question!

 

[User Guide]

Hi, I'm looking for a new set of tires for my road bike and am having trouble choosing one. I'm upgrading from Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slicks. Riding conditions and main choices I've been looking at are below. Thanks for the help!

Riding Conditions:
*For both training and racing, but with only 2-3 races (all crits) left in the season puncture resistance/durability is slightly more important than pure speed/low rolling resistance.
*Mild conditions (North Carolina). The roads are mostly quite nice, but there are some sections of cinder/gravel on a few of my training routes that would provide problems for a weak tire.
*weight 130-135lbs (58-61 kilos)
*Crit racing (a lot of the time on rougher roads) and training (fall/winter/spring. Not much ice on the roads around here though) will be the main uses for these tires.

Main choices I've been looking at but can't decide between:
*Continental Gatorskins; main worry is the weight/rolling resistance
*Continental Grand Prix 4000s; main worry is sidewall blow-outs. Does anyone have experience with these?
*Michelin Pro Race 3 or 4; main worry is puncturing.
*Continental Force/Attack combo; main worry is durability
*S-Works Turbo; I haven't seen many of these locally, which makes me iffy about them, but have read many great reviews. Does anyone have experience with these?
*Specialized Roubaix Armadillo Elite; main worry is rolling resistance
*If anyone can advise another good option, I'm all ears

Thanks for the help and sorry about the slightly disorderly question!

The new "standard" conti Grand prix has the construction of gatorskin with the rubber of 4000's which would seem to hit the sweet spot your looking for.There was a tyre review in cycling plus not long back so im sure the rolling resistance numbers for them are on bike radar.From the top of my head think were about 14w @ 20mph worse than the best rolling race tyre(which given the spread was pretty good for durable tyre)(think best rolling was ultremo's)

 

[Afrank]

I use Gatorskins year round, and have used them in many different kinds of races. I've raced them in crits, over gravel roads, rough roads, smooth roads, and they are a great all around tire. They are a very strong tire and last a long time, I even have one on my commuter which is riddled with tons of nicks and small holes but I still have never gotten a flat in it. I don't know much about their rolling resistance, and I've never been too worried about weight, but for a good durable tire that can be used in races The gatorskins are a great buy.

 

[avanti]

......................*Continental Grand Prix 4000s; main worry is sidewall blow-outs. Does anyone have experience with these?........................

Never had a sidewall blowout in two years on these tires - I occasionally ride them on gravel trails.

 

[ElChingon]

Main choices I've been looking at but can't decide between:
*Continental Gatorskins; main worry is the weight/rolling resistance

I use these on my beater bike or backup bike, they last long or they have for me still rolling on them but that mesh sidewall has started to come off but the tire is still good just cosmetic issue.

*Continental Grand Prix 4000s; main worry is sidewall blow-outs. Does anyone have experience with these?

My main tire, they are great but! Just last month I was riding on a slight down hill and I was just cruising it when BAM! Front tire went instantly flat, from what I could recall I hit something but never did find what that was. It seemed I pinched just one side of the tire and it caused a side wall hole and hence the blow out. Luckily I saved it but was looking for the exit as the front started to get a bit wild on me. Again, wish I could figure out what the heck caused it as I have never had a such a blow out, other than when I cut the tire on something sharp. Nothing on the rim or anything like that as the new tire if fine or has been since.

*Continental Force/Attack combo; main worry is durability

I think these are just as good as the 4000's or its has been my experience, I just stopped buying them because I didn't like the dedicated front or rear tire feature.

 

[BroDeal]

I stopped using Conti tires because they had crappy sidewalls. I quit with the 3000 series. Maybe the 4000 series are better.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Clément Strada LLG 60tpi versions are durable, great riding, and best of all...., cheap.

 

[The Cobra]

Gatorskins are great training tyre. Very puncture resistant and will last a long time. However I wouldn't use them for racing, in the wet, they are not great at all, a dangerous lack of grip in my experience.

GP400s is a a good all round bet. They will wear quicker than the Gators but no worse than any other decent tyre, grip is good too and low rolling resistance.

Personally I use Veloflex Corsa's now. Fantastics, grip, rolling resistance and ride quality. Puncture resistance is on a par with GP4000s'. Only downside is fast wear so you're going to have to chane them more often. Depends if you are most concerned about better racing performance or better durability.

 

[Centurion]

*Continental Gatorskins; main worry is the weight/rolling resistance

Continental Gatorskins are also quite difficult to mount.

The Continental Grand Prix 4000S is my preferred choice.

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...cycle/general/home/gp4000s_testwinner_en.html

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...al/downloads/download/tourtest_gp4000s_en.pdf

 

[Boeing]

Vredestein

best I have used.

 

[nowhereman]

I'm a Big Guy, and I am dedicated to Conti Grand Prix 4000S. They've never let me down. I've tried other brands and models but I am the happiest, and most confident, when I'm riding on these tires.

 

[The Gnome]

+1 or however many on Conti 4000s...great tire and haven't had any problems with them...pretty durable as well...

 

[ElChingon]

I'm a Big Guy, and I am dedicated to Conti Grand Prix 4000S. They've never let me down. I've tried other brands and models but I am the happiest, and most confident, when I'm riding on these tires.

Wow, that's some info there nowhereman.

 

[BroDeal]

Vredestein

best I have used.

I just finished off my big batch of cheap Vreds. They worked well.

I want to like Michelin Pro Races but once they are worn a bit they seem very susceptible to nicks, cuts, and flats.

 

[ElChingon]

I just finished off my big batch of cheap Vreds. They worked well.

I want to like Michelin Pro Races but once they are worn a bit they seem very susceptible to nicks, cuts, and flats.

I do like their deeper bead, but I had a bad batch of bubbling tires and when they only wanted to replace one of the whole bad batch I stopped buying them.

 

[purpletezza]

Sounds like your climate is similar to here in Melbourne. You are pretty light so pinch flats are not and issue for you! If you pinch flat you don't have enough air in the tyre and your a not looking where you are riding.

I tried Gatorskins once but they were scary in the wet, too slippy, even in a straight line taking off at lights.

I have used GP4000s for years for racing and they feel fast pumped up hard. Pro Race 4's feel softer, rubber tends to harden faster than GP4000s. I have even run these tyres on my commuter bike and get about 3500km from a pair with the rear tyre "squaring" off and wearing much faster than the front.
For years I ran Vittoria Rubino Pro and found them good for 4500-5000km.

All of the above seemed to have a similar level of puncture susceptability.

I was recently running Schwalbe Durano(based on No1 Cycling Plus) but the treads of the sidewall came out after only a few hundred kms and one tyre bulged. Disappointed.

Currently running Hutchinson Intensive(based on No2 Cycling Plus) and have not punctured in the last few months. They feel hard to ride on and seem to be a good all round tyre. In the future it would be a toss up between these and Rubino Pro for me for a 2nd bike that commutes and rides fast occasionly.

 

[kuoirad]

Clément Strada LLG 60tpi versions are durable, great riding, and best of all...., cheap.

Any reason not to go with the 120tpi ones? They don't seem to be much more expensive.

 

[Giuseppe Magnetico]

Any reason not to go with the 120tpi ones? They don't seem to be much more expensive.

Mileage. Less tpi means more rubber. The 120tpi versions have a ride rivaling tires that are twice as much money and 300tpi+, but for putting in the junk miles the 60tpi are great. These new Clément road clinchers remind of a ride similar to Michelin, which is a good thing.

 

[dsut4392]

For years I ran Vittoria Rubino Pro and found them good for 4500-5000km.

I concur on the Rubino Pros lasting well - I wish mine would hurry up and wear out so I have a decent excuse to put some GP4000's on! Longevity between the two seems on a par, but I much prefer the Conti rubber, gives me more confidence in corners.

 

[biker jk]

I can also recommend the Vittoria Rubino Pro 3 as a training tyre. I get around 5,000km from them. No worse puncture protection than the Gatorskins I have on one of my bikes but better grip and lower rolling resistance. I race on Schwalbe Ultremo ZXs but wouldn't recommend them as a training tyre as they will cut up quickly, puncture and probably survive less than 2,000km.

 

[kuoirad]

Mileage. Less tpi means more rubber. The 120tpi versions have a ride rivaling tires that are twice as much money and 300tpi+, but for putting in the junk miles the 60tpi are great. These new Clément road clinchers remind of a ride similar to Michelin, which is a good thing.

Cool. Thanks for the simple explanation.

 

[Thorn Cycling]

Thanks for the great advice everyone! I ended up going with the most popular choice, grand prix 4000s. Thanks everyone!

 

[Strathlubnaig]

As stated above .... vredestein fortezza tricomp .... great tyre, works well on sh***y Scottish roads in all weathers. Had Contis on a new Focus and got a puncture second time out, swithced them out for the Fortezzas right away.

 

[richwagmn]

Been riding GP4000s for years. I love them. I get decent wear and the ride is excellent. They are pricey but you can find them at a decent discount if you look.

Never had any problems with them.

Hi, I'm looking for a new set of tires for my road bike and am having trouble choosing one. I'm upgrading from Vittoria Zaffiro Pro Slicks. Riding conditions and main choices I've been looking at are below. Thanks for the help!

Riding Conditions:
*For both training and racing, but with only 2-3 races (all crits) left in the season puncture resistance/durability is slightly more important than pure speed/low rolling resistance.
*Mild conditions (North Carolina). The roads are mostly quite nice, but there are some sections of cinder/gravel on a few of my training routes that would provide problems for a weak tire.
*weight 130-135lbs (58-61 kilos)
*Crit racing (a lot of the time on rougher roads) and training (fall/winter/spring. Not much ice on the roads around here though) will be the main uses for these tires.

Main choices I've been looking at but can't decide between:
*Continental Gatorskins; main worry is the weight/rolling resistance
*Continental Grand Prix 4000s; main worry is sidewall blow-outs. Does anyone have experience with these?
*Michelin Pro Race 3 or 4; main worry is puncturing.
*Continental Force/Attack combo; main worry is durability
*S-Works Turbo; I haven't seen many of these locally, which makes me iffy about them, but have read many great reviews. Does anyone have experience with these?
*Specialized Roubaix Armadillo Elite; main worry is rolling resistance
*If anyone can advise another good option, I'm all ears

Thanks for the help and sorry about the slightly disorderly question!

 

[QuickStepper]

Vredestein

best I have used.

Agree with that. I like the Vredestein's very much, but they are hard to find in Southern California. I also very much like the Michelin Pro 3's, smooth, supple, and quick, but they cut up quite easily if you encounter any glass, and they also seem to wear out much faster than either Vredesteins or the Continentals. I used to ride only Conti GP's, love them. Sidewalls never punctured, but they would tend to get frayed a bit more than any other tire I had used. Have not tried the 4000's but have heard good things.

I'm using the Vittoria Corsa Open CX clinchers right now and they are very nice. Puncture resistant and great all-around tire.