tyres for sportive

speedy641
speedy641 Posts: 89
edited October 2008 in Workshop
Anyone got tyre recommendations for my first sportive next weekend over Exmoor?

Comments

  • davelakers
    davelakers Posts: 762
    Michelin Pro Race 3.

    Fantastic tyres.......
  • floosy
    floosy Posts: 270
    someones going too...so it may as well be me...

    "round black ones"... :)
  • toontra
    toontra Posts: 1,160
    davelakers wrote:
    Michelin Pro Race 3.

    Fantastic tyres.......

    +1

    a serious case of small cogs
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    Check out the Continental test of its own and competitors' tyres by typing "resistance fighters" into Google

    Their GP4000S unsurprisingly comes out the winner. But look out for the two Schwalbe offerings

    the Ultremo is really light and grippy and in my informal tests-feel by backside, confidence in corners, p*ncture resistance, is the best tyre I've used, I would save it for best though.....because they are.......

    ......very closely followed by the Schwalbe Stelvio Rain-simply the most comfy 23mm I've ever used. I would disagree with the grippiness measurement on the Continental test-they are simply superb, tougher than the Ultremos, and cheaper

    I loathe the Michelins-very hard ride, and am not confident of their cornering-maybe I don't lean the bike over enough, see the test
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway
  • andy_wrx
    andy_wrx Posts: 3,396
    Brand new tyres take a mile or two to rough-up a little and clean-off lubes used in the moulding process before they gain their ultimate grip levels.

    I'm not sure I'd fit brand-new tyres and then do a sportive on them first time out, particularly if it's wet...
  • speedy641
    speedy641 Posts: 89
    Thank for all the advice everyone, very useful. I have heard other good things about the Schwalbe tyres so will plump for them - thanks Ken



    Take your point re; new tyres Andy, I'll 'run them in' a little before next Sunday


    ...just have to hope the legs work now........ :?
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    get '25's if they will fit ok

    your body will thank you for the extra comfort by the half-way mark!
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    speedy641 wrote:
    Thank for all the advice everyone, very useful. I have heard other good things about the Schwalbe tyres so will plump for them - thanks Ken



    Take your point re; new tyres Andy, I'll 'run them in' a little before next Sunday


    ...just have to hope the legs work now........ :?

    See you there

    FWIW, the Rain tyres, are good in the dry, OK in the wet-and probably 24's-rather than the stated 23s

    You can get them in 25s which are great-try Spa Cycles which were the cheapest last time I had to buy any
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Depends on the course and conditions - the Alps in July is very different from Flanders in April. If you can fit 25mm, try them - negligible weight difference, but the bigger air pocket and more rounded carcass gives you a bigger 'footprint' when cornering. I'd choose 25mm run at lower pressures in the wet too. ProRace 3 are great tyres, but but like most light tyres do cut easy. If you want to know how good UltraRemos are, watch last years Milan-San Remo descents - there are three riders who crash - all from Gerolsteiner riding Scwalbe tyres - nuff said.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Ken Night
    Ken Night Posts: 2,005
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Depends on the course and conditions - the Alps in July is very different from Flanders in April. .
    I have the utmost respect for everything Monty dog writes-spot on as usual
    The Alps in July and a great road surface on Col D'Ornon.................

    ColDOrnon.jpg

    I don't tend to use the Ultremos except when conditions are good, they are light and the side wall is, well, as thin as you would expect for a very light tyre
    Monty Dog wrote:
    If you can fit 25mm, try them - negligible weight difference, but the bigger air pocket and more rounded carcass gives you a bigger 'footprint' when cornering. I'd choose 25mm run at lower pressures in the wet too. .

    I worked out some time ago, you get 20% or so more air in a 25mm. So it makes sense to use them on a long ride

    FWIW I rode Vittoria Pave tyres (24mm) for sportives and most of the time I run my everything bike with 28mm Gatorskins-and may be using that bike on the Exmoor Beast



    Monty Dog wrote:
    If you want to know how good UltraRemos are, watch last years Milan-San Remo descents - there are three riders who crash - all from Gerolsteiner riding Scwalbe tyres - nuff said.

    Nothing to say of the other seven or so teams using Ultremos. Was it just the tyres :twisted: ?

    Here's a rainy TdF 2008 stage finish won by one of our favourite riders ...................well known for using Ultremos

    1164718_600x416.jpg
    “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best..." Ernest Hemingway
  • Grifcp
    Grifcp Posts: 283
    What a great shot that is!!

    I've had great success with Krylion's in winter, I thought 4 seasons were pants. For a summer sportive I'd probably go with Pro races but next weekend I'd go for Krylions no contest. I've read some very positive comments about the 2nd generation Ultrimos as opposed to the first ones which weren't so hot. I'll certainly be giving them a go at some point.

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