Recommend me a Thicker / Glass Proof Tyre please

buddha

My (newish) Michelin Krylions have just been cut by a few shards of glass. Most embedded in the rubber, but one deep enough to give me a puncture and 5mm cut.

Given that I live in a chavvy area, encountering broken glass on the roads is inevitable (especially as the off-license is doing a BOGOF on Buckfast at the moment). So given this environment, I think these tyres are just too thin.

Any recommendations for a tyre with similar performance to a 25mm Krylion (ie, fast rolling, good grip in the wet and lightish) but with a thicker layer of rubber/puncture protection stuff ?

Thanks.

Gussio

Take a look at the Vittoria Open Cora Evo CX's. They seem fairly p*nct*re resistant (include kevlar). I use them and have no complaint.

http://www.vittoria.com/index3.asp?lingua=en

aracer

buddha wrote:

Any recommendations for a tyre with similar performance to a 25mm Krylion (ie, fast rolling, good grip in the wet and lightish) but with a thicker layer of rubber/puncture protection stuff ?

The problem is, those features are contradictory. You simply won't get a tyre as fast rlolling and light as the Krylion which also has better puncture protection - the extra rubber / protection you're after will make the tyre heavier and slower. You'll have to choose where on the scale of performance and toughness you want to be - and it sounds as if you'll have to err towards the robust heavy and slow end.

drenkrom

You could opt for tire liners. They are easily found in MTB sizes, since they are essential for some areas such as Moab. If you can't find some in road sizes, a pair of scissors and some sewing or gluing skills should patch some MTB ones into usable road ones. Those things are really tough and they let you enjoy the grip of you original tires, albeit with some added weight. I've taken out some pretty impressive sharp objects from the ones on my XC MTB. Keep in mind that the glass will still be going through you Michelins, though.

buddha

I was just thinking of getting some tyre-liners. I already have some Mr Tuffy's on my MTB and for my tourer wheels. And the boot I used to 'fix' the cut/puncture today was a spare bit of one of these! But as you say, I'd rather the cut's not go down to the carcass.

So it does look like I will have to compromise on a thicker (and heavier) tyre. One with more/deeper rubber.

Going by the pictures, the Vittoria Open Cora EVO CX and Open Pave EVO CG do look to be more suitable. But I'll have to see one in the flesh first.

Bronzie

I found Specialized Armadillos to be bullet-proof, but as stated above, grip in the wet was suspect and they are fairly heavy. These were 2005 version, which I think have been revised to give a bit more grip, but I haven't tried the new version so can't comment on puncture resistance.

gkerr4

vittoria open corsas come up often in threads like this - as do their stablemate the 'pave' which is designed for the paris-roubaix classic where punctures occur a lot.

on the cheaper side - bontrager hardcases come up a few times. I have them in the 28 size which i used on a recent c2c ride with no punctures. they are a sweet tyre and very comfy in 28mm guise. (they do them in 23 & 25 too)

andrew_s

Try the Schwalbe Stelvio Plus.
The rolling resistance is quite good on this table.

Monty888

Specialized Mondos are good. They used to start at twenty quid per tyre. I don't know how easy it'll be to get your hands them now. My last pair came from eBay.

alfablue

I reccomend Specialized All Conditions Pro - my current set have lasted a whole year with no punctures, they are light, and they offer good grip and handling.

chopsocky

I work in a glass factory and have to deal with broken glass every day, coming and going from work, but i had more problems on the local paths due to the broken bottles from the teenage alcho's !

Anyways, after a few years experimenting, the Specilized Armadillos on my mtb have been superb. I have not had a puncture now in 10 months of use but as someone else pointed out they do feel a lot heavier when you first use them. I got a road bike last month and that has Specilized Mondos on it and so far i haven't had a problem with those either.

doyler78

Another vote for Spesh Armadillos. Done 3 years of (non winter) riding on them. Only had to change the back tyre this year as it had started to crack a bit in places but never had a single puncture. Been really lucky since I started riding again 31/2 years ago now as I have never had a single puncture (well that's put the scud on it for me - will puncture tomorrow when I am back out on the bike). I have even ridden on those newly relaid roads where they just sprayed the road with tarmac and then through those tiny stones over the top leaving the cars on the road to work them into the tarmac. Bumpy ride but not tyre probs though I wouldn't recommend doing it too often as I am sure that would cause significant tyre wear.

I have heard others complain that they wear too quicky however that isn't my experience.

andyp

gkerr4 wrote:

vittoria open corsas come up often in threads like this - as do their stablemate the 'pave' which is designed for the paris-roubaix classic where punctures occur a lot.

They are both racing tyres so aren't particularly robust. The Paves are especially well known for cutting easily.

I'd second your recommendation of the Bontrager Hardcases though - I've been commuting for a pair in London for the past 6 months and they are bomb proof.

giant_man

There's no such thing as a 'glass proof tyre' IMO.

Richie G

Funnily enough i was going to ask how people rated Michelin Krylions! I've been running Bontrager Racelite Hardcase 23's for the last 6 months (2500 miles)- had 2 punctures in that time, one in each tyre. I'd wondered if the Michelins had a similar level of protection but with less rolling resistance. Maybe i'll stick to what i know!

OllyBianchi

I had a spate of punctures last winter and put a pair of Conti Ultra Gatorskins on. The front has never punctured, but I've had 6 or 7 in the back tyre this year and have since had to bin it due to a huge slash through the kevlar side wall.
My wife has done the same 1600 miles as me on a pair of Bontranger Hard Cases and has only had one puncture, caused by a huge norfolk flint.

So I'd say go for the Bontrangers and do some exercise to get enough finger strength to get them on and off.

wpdoolan

try double tyreing

take an old set of tyres hopefully lighter summer ones and cut beads of them
use old warn out tyres then slip these inside your tyres with tube inside cut down tyres

ride feels a bit dead but no punctures

wpdoolan

try double tyreing

take an old set of tyres hopefully lighter summer ones and cut beads of them
use old warn out tyres then slip these inside your tyres with tube inside cut down tyres

ride feels a bit dead but no punctures

andrew_s

General comment :-

You aren't going to get a tyre that has similar performance to your Kyrilions, but has good glass resistance. If you could, everyone would be using them. Armadillos aren't noted for good grip or ride, Stelvio plus is quite heavy etc.
You will have to compromise somewhere, whether it's on grip, ride or weight is your choice.