Winter tyres or year round?

[Bexon30]

I've been running on Durano plus tyres for two weeks now. Most rides are in cold rainy conditions and descending I feel confident in these tyres. I even set a pb up my local climb yesterday so they can't be that bad at all. I'm looking forward to using them most of winter. Having appreciated reading this thread I just thought I'd share that for anyone thinking of a tyre to choose.

 

[richwagmn]

I'm a big fan of CX tires at ~25psi pressure. They roll relatively well where it's hard packed, but don't sink in too much where it get chewed up. But if you get off the beaten path, it's still game over. However, that said, by the sounds of others' tire recommendations, I'm dealing with a bit more 'winter'.

Yep, my "winter" tires have these studded things on them since all precipitation is frozen. Riding any normal tire on roads that may have ice on them is a gamble I won't take anymore.

 

[Hawkwood]

I've been running on Durano plus tyres for two weeks now. Most rides are in cold rainy conditions and descending I feel confident in these tyres. I even set a pb up my local climb yesterday so they can't be that bad at all. I'm looking forward to using them most of winter. Having appreciated reading this thread I just thought I'd share that for anyone thinking of a tyre to choose.

The Duranos sound interesting. I wonder how they stand up to flints, these are the downfall of most tyres in Kent, especially when it's wet? On one wet summer ride I punctured a lightish Challenge tyre, while my mate puctured both his Gatorskins, this was on one corner!

 

[Aapjes]

Almost nothing can come through the belt under the thread of a Durano Plus. Sidewalls protection is some of the best there is, but the sidewalls are always the weak spots on 'tough' tires.

 

[Hawkwood]

Almost nothing can come through the belt under the thread of a Durano Plus. Sidewalls protection is some of the best there is, but the sidewalls are always the weak spots on 'tough' tires.

I'll give them a go when my current tyres wear out. I will be impressed if they resist flints.

 

[King Boonen]

I'm still on the Grand Sports. Had a puncture because I was lazy and didn't check the tyres for a day, some glass I picked up worked it's way in there. Otherwise they have been fine so far, good grip too! ******ed my ankle a couple of days ago by dropping a box full of books on it so it'll be a while until I'm back out...

 

[avanti]

It occurred to me on my ride today that tire pressure is important when discussing winter tire use. I reduce my pressure in the winter.

 

[79pmooney]

BustedKnuckle mentioned Vittoria Paves. They are my prefered winter and fixed gear tire, but I do not use them for commuting. They're great plus is the ride and the adhesion to the road, wet or dry. The drawback is that the tread wears fairly fast and they cut easily.

That said, I learned a great trick for doing A-1 cut repairs that last as long as the tire and ride like new. Glue big Dacron sailcloth patches inside the tire with old fashioned contact/rubber cement, the stuff that comes in a can with a brush and solvents you never want to breathe. For big cuts I run the patches bead to bead and a couple of inches past the cut n both directions. Talc (or baby powder) both the patch and everywhere there is glue. (It is contact cement. Don't and your tube may be permanently attached to the casing.)

Go to a sailmaker and ask for a scrap of Dacron sailcloth suitable for (in England) a Firefly dinghy or (in the US) a Flying Junior. He'll know exactly what you are talking about. The Dacron doesn't have to be one of those, but that will give him a good idea of what you want. These patches will last as long as the tire. You may have to re-glue the edges after removing the tire but that's easy.

Ben

 

[winkybiker]

BustedKnuckle mentioned Vittoria Paves. They are my prefered winter and fixed gear tire, but I do not use them for commuting. They're great plus is the ride and the adhesion to the road, wet or dry. The drawback is that the tread wears fairly fast and they cut easily.

That said, I learned a great trick for doing A-1 cut repairs that last as long as the tire and ride like new. Glue big Dacron sailcloth patches inside the tire with old fashioned contact/rubber cement, the stuff that comes in a can with a brush and solvents you never want to breathe. For big cuts I run the patches bead to bead and a couple of inches past the cut n both directions. Talc (or baby powder) both the patch and everywhere there is glue. (It is contact cement. Don't and your tube may be permanently attached to the casing.)

Go to a sailmaker and ask for a scrap of Dacron sailcloth suitable for (in England) a Firefly dinghy or (in the US) a Flying Junior. He'll know exactly what you are talking about. The Dacron doesn't have to be one of those, but that will give him a good idea of what you want. These patches will last as long as the tire. You may have to re-glue the edges after removing the tire but that's easy.

Ben

Christ, that sounds like lot of trouble.