Tyres for commuting bike

nic_77
nic_77 Posts: 929
edited March 2008 in Workshop
Please can you suggest some suitable tyres for the racing bike I'm going to start using for commuting...

I'm looking for something to fit the following requirements:
- 700 x 28c (do you think I'll have enough clearance on a Trek 1400 frame?)
- Cheap (about £15 each)
- Rounded profile
- Fast rolling, but with tread pattern for wet conditions

Thanks
Nic
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Comments

  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    I've spent the past year commuting on a pair of Bontrager X-Lite Hardcases and would wholeheartedly recommend them to meet most of your requirements. They don't have a tread pattern but grip in the wet has nothing to do with tread pattern according to a lot of research on this.

    In a year in commuting in London on these tyres I've had one p**ct**e.
  • elaine dey
    elaine dey Posts: 21
    After all the problems I had with Conti Ultrasports (about 1-2 punctures a week) people on the forum recommended Conti GP 4 Seasons. They are fantastic, no punctures at all and no cuts in them after about 10 weeks use. Bit more expensive but well worth it.
  • Morpeth
    Morpeth Posts: 104
    as above; Conti GP 4 Season,

    Just the ticket. Head down to Halfrauds and have a look through their rack of tyres, they tend to stock this type of thing. :D
  • huggy
    huggy Posts: 242
    Treads make no difference to road wheels, the road leaves its own tread and thats what gives traction
  • sloxam
    sloxam Posts: 861
    maxxis refuse at crc. £15, 25c and better than hardies imo
    i hate hills (cos i'm fat)

    www.justgiving.com/steven-loxam/
  • the ferry
    the ferry Posts: 258
    I think Conti gatorskins are great. I've had them on my commute bike this winter and can now fix a puncture in no time at all as I am that well practised :wink:
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    edited March 2008
    As huggy says, you don't need tread at all. Sheldon Brown has a page on it. Some tyres will however be slippier than others; Armadillos for example can be quite slippy.

    Bear in mind you probably want mudguard clearance and this may require a thinner tyre.

    I commute myself on a 23 front, 25 back, which I find absolutely fine. I have a rack and regularly carry heavy stuff on this no problem. Specialized Armadillo on the back which is up to around 15,000km now without a puncture but looking like it needs replacement, you can see the fabric in places. Front wheel is borrowed from the Trek road bike and is a Bontrager race lite.

    I can fit up to 28 on my commuter bike with mudguards, 35 without, but it has good clearances. My Trek 5000 will only go up to 25, no mudguards.

    Some suggestions:

    Armadillos - never get a puncture again, honestly. Can be a little bit slippy in the wet but nothing serious.

    Schwalbe Marathon - I did the Camino on these in 35, one puncture. I have heard the Plus variety are pretty puncture resistant and worth the extra fiver. My girlfriend commutes on the 23 or 25 variety of these and finds them very comfortable indeed.

    EDIT: My Trek 5000 will actually go up to 28, but it's close.
  • Ngalbrai
    Ngalbrai Posts: 279
    Another vote for armadillos, but having always traditionally gone for the heavier 28 tyres I have some lighter 23's and they feel much better, faster, ever so slightly harsher but I prefer the taughter feeling of 110psi as opposed to 80ish.
  • Gr.uB
    Gr.uB Posts: 145
    I surprised no one has mentioned Michelin Krylions.
    Hard wearing, responsive, very good on keeping the fairy out.
    Granted you will not get them in 28s, but as people have mentioned 23s I thought I'd put my comment on.
    TCR
    MonstaThorn
  • sloxam
    sloxam Posts: 861
    Gr.uB wrote:
    I surprised no one has mentioned Michelin Krylions.
    Hard wearing, responsive, very good on keeping the fairy out.
    Granted you will not get them in 28s, but as people have mentioned 23s I thought I'd put my comment on.
    can't get them in 25's at the mo either or i'm sure they would have been up there!
    i hate hills (cos i'm fat)

    www.justgiving.com/steven-loxam/
  • thetrotter
    thetrotter Posts: 258
    Gr.uB wrote:
    I surprised no one has mentioned Michelin Krylions.
    Hard wearing, responsive, very good on keeping the fairy out.
    Granted you will not get them in 28s, but as people have mentioned 23s I thought I'd put my comment on.

    I've used Krylions for two years now for commuting throughout the year. Don't carry heavy loads but do go down poor surfaced and debris strewn country lanes. The Kryions have proved responsive, very reliable and incredibly hard wearing. In my experience much better than either gatorskins or 4 seasons.

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