Commuting tyre recommendation...

mazcp

I'm sure this must've been asked before, so apologies up-front.
The 700x28 Armadillo all-conditions on my Sirrus are worn and have big gashes in them...I want to replace them with slimmer tyres. I don't want the hassle of different tyres for summer/winter. Can anyone recommend tyres for year-round use? I've heard good stuff about the GP4000s - anyone have them? Are slimmer tyres in general more difficult to remove in the event of a puncture?
Also a dumb question - I guess the inner tubes of the '28's can't be used on 25 or 23mm tyres, right?

Cheers.

domtyler

Hi Maz,

You will be better off changing the tubes to 19-23mm ones, else you run the serious risk of a blow out. GP4000/GP4000S tyres are great and grippy for the summer but personally I use something like Bonty Hardcases come the bad weather.
I have not really noticed a difference in getting them on and off the rim compared to 28s.
You will probably get a noticeable speed boost too due to the lower weight (i.e. rotating mass) of the new folding tyres compared to the heavy Spesh ACs.
And get a decent peaked cycling cap too.

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Porridge not Petrol
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BMW K1200R HISTORY

mazcp

Many thanks, domtyler. I knew I could rely on you for some sound advice...and I'm helmet-free at the moment, but that's a whole different topic.

domtyler

Ah come on, any topic can be converted to a helmet/rlj 'debate'!! [}:)]

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Porridge not Petrol
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BABIMAC

peejay78

i use gator skins 700:23 all year round; more responsive than armadillos, slightly more prone to punctures. it's a compromise. some people say hardcases are indeed difficult to get on/off.

although, funnily enough - the hutchinson quartz that came with my condor have been good for 2000 miles so far, which is odd. i had one concussion puncture when i hit a rock at high speed on westerham hill and darn near pooed my pants.

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winter: http://tinyurl.com/2vx78q
summer: http://tinyurl.com/2hsagv

Nilscp

I have gator skins also. Found them easy to fit, no punctures so far this year.

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Baron Munchausen?

jonnywilkinson

having got bored with using armadillos and deciding to mix it up a bit i am currently using schwalbe blizzard sports at the moment. done a couple of thousand miles on them already without a problem - but anyway, my favourite thing about them is the zippy sound they make when skidding on the fixie. childish i know

Jonny
FGG #2545 & #2983

Tetedelacourse

As before Maz, GP4000s get my vote.

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Will it be treats with Pocket and Sweets? Is that where we should go?

Tartanyak

28mm Gatorskins for me. Only one puncture since before Christmas. Are grippy enough and have done a couple of thousand miles.

BentMikey

Tetedelacourse wrote:

As before Maz, GP4000s get my vote.

And mine. I'm using them on my Langster. Lovely ride quality, great grip, you'll find them an order of magnitude better than the armadillos, except perhaps for their resistance to the faries!

dondare

I recently put a Bontrager hardcase on he back wheel and now I've got a soft 'un. So it's back to the Schwalbe Marathon Plus for me. Those things are everythingproof.

El Capitano

Tartanyak wrote:

28mm Gatorskins for me. Only one puncture since before Christmas. Are grippy enough and have done a couple of thousand miles.

Same here, mine are now over 18 months old, no punctures with this set, only one puncture with the previous set.

beanzontoast

I have stopped using Armadillos because they seemed to wear too fast for my liking. The week I decided to change I'd had 3 p******es, one of which had ripped a half inch tear across the tread.

Maybe it was bad luck, but since switching to Gators 3 months ago I've not had a single problem.

Greenbank

GP 4 Seasons for me.

[EDIT] 25mm.

Wynne G Oldman

I'm using Scwalbe Marathon's on my bike. The Marathon+'s are supposed to be almost unpuncturable. I've done 1500 miles on them so far, with 2 rear punctures, and hardly any noticeable wear.

wai

Using 25mm Schwalbe Marathon Plus. Only around 250 miles so far, but half the journey is through some quite rough canal towpath and quite a bit of broken glass.

Last time I checked, I noticed a cut across the rubber on the rear tyre that had gotten through the outer tread, but not past the inner layer.

Wolf04

Another vote for Ultragators.

arranandy

Continental Sport Contacts for me. Robust, fast rolling tyre

Hairy Jock

I have been using Coni Gatorskins year round for a couple of years now, with only one puncture. As with any slick tyre care is required when there is snow on the ground, but then you don't get any of that in the South.

GentleGiant

I use 23m Gators on my commuter and 23m GP4000's on my best bike. I've previously used Schwalbe Blizzard sports and they were great, but I find them difficult to get hold of.

I don't agree with Dom Tyler about having to change your tubes if you're going to narrower tyres. I've use 28-32 tubes in 23m tyres with no problems.

And Peejay, if you're reading this, it's a Percussion puncture not a Concussion.