New tyres

allen

I need to get some better tyres after 2 punctures in 3 rides . I am looking to replace my conti tyres without even kevlar with something better. The priority is puncture resistance but I dont want zero grip either. I have little time for riding so want to spend time doing that not sat at the roadside !

Any thoughts ?

roger_merriman

tires do seem to be a compromise, now you could fit marthon plus tires, but they weight 1kg each. grip and punture proof are high but they are slow tires. i love them on my big heavy hybrid but they would seem a shame on a racer, i'd try a training tire? should still be quick with out being too fragile.

jed1978

my maxis tyres are good

usually ride at 110 psi

helps prevent punctures

faaj

i remember i was in your position a while back. I ended up getting the conti ultra gatorskins. Pretty good so far with 0 punctures and durable sidewall. However i've heard from some people that they dont last long. ( I havent had time to test them in the long run yet)

Others worth looking at are the Vittora Rubino Pro's (or theres another version which i forgot which has a sidewall mesh added on to it). Also Armadillo elites ive heard are meant to be good and almost 'bombproof', however they are more expensive.

The first two you can get two tires for around low £20-25 if you look hard enough of the net.

topdude

Bontrager racelight hardcase, not too expensive around £15 each, fairly light, good grip, and pretty tough.

Anonymous

I must just be lucky but since putting some better rim tape on I havent had any punctures over about 500 or so miles so far, front tyre is the stock one I got and the rear was a Continental Ultra Sport, now replaced with a cheaper tyre but both going fine and some of the roads round here are really bad.

JWSurrey

My current favourites are my Conti GP4 Seasons (25c) on the winter trainer.
Much improved grip over the GP4000, and very similar to the GP4000-S grip.

The 4000-S (and 4000) have a Vectran breaker (canvas), which is supposed to be as good as Kevlar, but lighter.
Never had a puncture with either GP4000 or GP4000-S, or GP4 Season., though the soft tread on the 4000 and 4000-S develops superficial cuts in the surface, and I regularly check to ensure I haven't picked up glass splinters.

Are you definitely puncturing due to ingress of foreign bodies, as opposed to pinch-punctures, which would be relieved by higher pressure? You could always run a wider tyre if you want to increase grip.

As already mentioned, Schwalbe do some industrial-strength tyres! They do weigh a lot, and because it's rotating mass, makes more of a difference than you may bargain for.

allen

Are you definitely puncturing due to ingress of foreign bodies, as opposed to pinch-punctures, which would be relieved by higher pressure?

Its definately thorns and yesterday a small piece of grit going through. I asume that some sort of kevlar barrier will do quite a bit to relieve the problem. I am toying at the mo with the Conti 4000, 4000s or gators or may be the specialised all conditions

Any thoughts

st68

i have been using conti 4000 for over a year with no probs an im very happy with them

northpole

Armadillo's will provide maximum puncture resistance but, from my experience, least enjoyment!

It really is a balance that has to be struck between bullet proof and feel.

So far, I've been extremely impressed with Michelin Krylions as a sweet spot between the two.

Peter

fizz

I had conti 4000 that I only got one puncture on caused by a pinch flat due to massive pot hole.

I've changed to Conti 4000S now and not had any trouble ( touches wood ) yesterday was a puncture fest on the tour of wessex and I never had any trouble, but there were lots of people who did puncture.

I dont know if its luck or the fact that I run quite high pressures and I dont tend to sit in the gutter where the gravel and flint collects.

big manc

Im using hutchinson fusion 2 kevlars couple of months in not a single puncture

babyshambles

i'm about to imbark on my first road bike and punctures are something i've worried about. should i stick with what the manufacturers provide and then adjust accordingly or put bullets on immediately as i really dont wanna be mending a puncture every ride?

Alibran

babyshambles wrote:

i'm about to imbark on my first road bike and punctures are something i've worried about. should i stick with what the manufacturers provide and then adjust accordingly or put bullets on immediately as i really dont wanna be mending a puncture every ride?

I thought about replacing the tyres when I bought my bike, but in the end decided to stick with the tyres that it came with, and see how I got on. Two months and about 800 miles in, and they're going fine, but I'll give it another 1000 miles or so before I decide it was a good choice. If they start to puncture before then, I'll put some tougher ones on, otherwise I'll replace with something similar when they start to wear out. I ride on some pretty rough roads here in Cornwall, but I do try to be careful about exactly where on the road I put the wheels!

Rich Hcp

I use Vittoria Rubino Pros

The kevlar stops the stones and thorns.

I only had a problem when I hit a pothole and blew the tube, the tyre got me home (with a new tube fitted) but the sidewall had gone...

Replaced it and it's all fine now

JWSurrey

If you're choosing between Conti 4000 and 4000-S, then I'd definitely go for the 4000-S, as they have noticably better (IMHO) grip, and get less superficial cuts.
I suspect the 4000 are more puncture resistant than the Gators, judging by previous threads I've read, but then last year there were lots of negative threads about Conti as a whole!!

Babyshambles - I'd stick with the tyres your bike came with, and see how you get along - I was paranoid when I first got back in to road biking last year/2 years ago, but it's probably not as bad as you imagine.

I suspect most punctures occur when the tyres are reaching end of life, or haven't been inflated enough.

My wife rides Vittoria Rubinos, and they seem to be a very good tyre at a good price, if a little thin on tread - although I prefer Contis as they visually appear more robust - not sure if they really are..... She's only suffered a single puncture in 2 years of riding pretty much every weekend, including the first 6 months when she used to ride on flint tracks and bridleways (you should see the state of the hub bearings)!