I've got £40 to spend on a pair of tyres...

prj45

I do love my Vittorio's I have on now but they'd done a couple of thousand miles (without one puncture) but I'm now getting the occasional puncture through various holes cut into the tyres; the particular model of tyres I have appear to be discontinued.

Slick tyre only, clincher, 700 x 28c (28 - 622) or 700 x 25c (25 - 622). (I actually have a 28c on the front and a 25c on the back at the moment).

I do 100+ miles a week so they've got to be pretty hard wearing and tough.

What should I get (No Armadillos or Marathon pluses)?

cjcp

I've used Conti Gator Skins (23 and 25) and Michelin Krylion Carbons (23, but not 25) and been very pleased with both.The Krylions are said to be a quicker training tyre, but I've never compared them back to back.

What I did find with the Krylions was that they seemed to cut up a bit more and they were more susceptible to pinch flats. However, this was when I ran my tyres at a higher psi for the commute (110 instead of 100), so I don't know if that's the reason.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Conti ... 360028016/

Rich158

cjcp wrote:

I've used Conti Gator Skins (23 and 25) and Michelin Krylion Carbons (23, but not 25) and been very pleased with both.The Krylions are said to be a quicker training tyre, but I've never compared them back to back.

What I did find with the Krylions was that they seemed to cut up a bit more and they were more susceptible to pinch flats. However, this was when I ran my tyres at a higher psi for the commute (110 instead of 100), so I don't know if that's the reason.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Conti ... 360028016/

I'd second that. I've been using Conti Ultra Gatorskins for about 8 months with no probs and doing between 120 & 200 miles a week on them. They're still going strong with little sign of wear

prj45

But they're £40 each!

Can't bring myself to stretch to £80 for new boots I'm afraid.

Hell below zero !

No way £80!!! You should easily find Gators for just under £20 each and maybe with a little more searching much less.Michelin Krylions are brilliant,if you can find any to buy, my last pair were £15 each ,just now wish I'd bought more.
£40 max all it should cost +pp. Try Halfords I think they sell Gatorskins.

jonginge

prj45 wrote:

But they're £40 each!

Can't bring myself to stretch to £80 for new boots I'm afraid.

The link CJ gave above was for a set: 2 tyres, 2 tubes for £40 the lot

I've had similar experiences to the above posters with the Conti tyres.

prj45

JonGinge wrote:

prj45 wrote:

But they're £40 each!

Can't bring myself to stretch to £80 for new boots I'm afraid.

The link CJ gave above was for a set: 2 tyres, 2 tubes for £40 the lot

Ah, sorry I thought that might be the case but the wiggle page doesn't clearly state that.

Having reread it now I can see it's two tyres, doh!

Looks like it'll be some conti's then, cos the michelin's look impossible to get hold of.

Hell below zero !

JUST checked CJCP's Wiggle link given to you above and the price is for 2 x tyres &
you also get 2 x inner tubes as well and the lot is just under £40 . Maybe you were thinking each? No TOTAL IS £40

prj45

cjcp wrote:

IWhat I did find with the Krylions was that they seemed to cut up a bit more and they were more susceptible to pinch flats.

Pinch flats at 110psi? You mean when the tyre gets fully compressed against the rim?

I'm 22.5 stone, run on 110 psi, with 25's on the back at the moment and I've never had a pinch flat (even though I've hit the sharp edge of a few drain covers at 25 mph in my time!).

cjcp

prj45 wrote:

cjcp wrote:

IWhat I did find with the Krylions was that they seemed to cut up a bit more and they were more susceptible to pinch flats.

Pinch flats at 110psi? You mean when the tyre gets fully compressed against the rim?

I'm 22.5 stone, run on 110 psi, with 25's on the back at the moment and I've never had a pinch flat (even though I've hit the sharp edge of a few drain covers at 25 mph in my time!).

Yep, couldn't quite work it out. Happened on two occasions. Given that I've also bent one rear Open Sport rim after 400 miles (they're c*rap, don't ever buy them), and just dented quite heavily the rear rim on my CXP33, I can only think I hit sodding great bit pothole in the dark. I think the CXP33 rim was dented during a training ride a couple of weeks ago on the road out through Lower Sunbury, which is not a great road tbh.

prj45

cjcp wrote:

Given that I've also bent one rear Open Sport rim after 400 miles (they're c*rap, don't ever buy them)

I concur, they always started to crack up on me after about 500 miles and were gone after 1,000. I 've got the with bike supplied cheapo Alexrims back on the back now and have had for five months, no signs of distress at all.

Having said that I've got an open sport on the front that's holding up nicely and I'm going to wish I hadn't said that.

coffeecup

wot about a pair of Conti GP4000S???

Great price from Total Cycling (£22 each)



These made a noticable difference to my ride over the gatorskins I had before. Not sure about puncture protection as I haven't had one yet, but the blurb says they've "Vectran anti-puncture technology, tougher than aramid" (wot ever that means??!!)

coffeecup

just read your post again

700 x 28c or 700 x 25c

i'll get my coat..... :oops:

prj45

coffeecup wrote:

just read your post again

700 x 28c or 700 x 25c

i'll get my coat..... :oops:

Yeah, I might have problems with the tyre rubbing on me downtube there!

Funnily enough I purchased some armadillo 28C's and they rubbed on the back of the bracket of me front mech (as well as the little cross beam int he back triangle). I figured the tyres would soon wear down, but what actually happened is they wore a groove into the metal!

In the meantime I've ordered a pair of 28C gaterskins (would've like 25C but none in stock), so I'll let you allknow how I get on.

bornagainbiker

I managed to bag a pair of Conti GP 4 season with vectran for £41

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1094

cjcp

prj45 wrote:

Having said that I've got an open sport on the front that's holding up nicely and I'm going to wish I hadn't said that.

Yep, my front rim has been fine too. But there's probably much less stress on it. The chap I have asked to build me some new wheels said the Open Pro rim is much stronger. They were the wheels I previously commuted on, but, because I wanted some sportif and race wheels built too (ok, the CXP33s are nowhere high end - just something for my level), I opted for the cheaper Sport rims. Won't try to cut that corner next time. :roll:

The CXP33s have actually proved to be a great commute wheelset. I'll probably use the Open Pro for sportives beause I don't see myself racing much at all next year, and continue to use the CXPs for the commute.

Anyway, have srayed a bit OT here!

prj45

Well, I've had these going for a few days now.

Loving them, very nice ride.

I've four "Issues" (two of them about the conti inner tubes, not the tyres)

1. the inner tubes supplied leech air quite badly, lost nearly 30psi three days (down from 110 to 85ish) over the weekend. I still pump every other day though so not a prob

2. Yellow dust caps?! Erurch!

3. If I make the tread pattern symetrical on both tyres then the front labels are one way round and the rear labels the other, maybe this is as planned though (I do like to line my labels up with the valves)?

4 There is a tread pattern, on the sides sure but surely when you're cornering is when you need more grip, not less?

laughingboy

coffeecup wrote:

wot about a pair of Conti GP4000S?
... the blurb says they've "Vectran anti-puncture technology, tougher than aramid" (wot ever that means??!!)

"Master, I am Vectran, tougher than Aramid. By summoning me, you have earned three wishes..."

lost_in_thought

Is that you laughing boy, or did you just have it in your archives?

laughingboy

lost_in_thought wrote:

Is that you laughing boy, or did you just have it in your archives?

If I looked as girl-thrillingly pneumatic as that, my moniker would be He-Man, not laughingboy.

Bassjunkieuk

Hmm, interesting read............I'm thinking about replacing my tyres as I've noticed that my SM+'s rear tyre has worn down the tread and is almost a slick on the central area :shock:

Like the OP I probably do on average 100 miles a week on my commute, all on-road. I choose the SM+'s last time as they came quite highly rated for puncture resistance, but was warned they are quite heavy. Not quite sure when I replaced the last set but it was during the summer so I reckon I've put over 1000 miles on the current set and haven't had any problems yet asides from the wear on the rear. Front is still looking good and it has only been over the last few weeks with the colder conditions that I've had a few sketchy grip times including a couple of wipeouts - both on ice patches so un-avoidable really.

The gator's look like a good bet, especially given the price and the huge weight saving on the SM+'s!

Hopefully if I can persuade the wife that I really do need a new set of wheels (Mavic Aksiums) which would be an ideal time to shood them in new rubber............and get new brake blocks!

cjcp

prj45 wrote:

1. the inner tubes supplied leech air quite badly, lost nearly 30psi three days (down from 110 to 85ish) over the weekend. I still pump every other day though so not a prob

PRJ - it's stating the obvious, I know, but they shouldn't do this. I went for this deal and have not had this problem with the tubes.

cjcp

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Hopefully if I can persuade the wife that I really do need a new set of wheels (Mavic Aksiums) which would be an ideal time to shood them in new rubber............and get new brake blocks!

BJUK - if you can, it's worth stretching to handbuilt Mavic Open Pros for the commute. I found them brilliant; a great all-round wheel.

Bassjunkieuk

cjcp wrote:

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

Hopefully if I can persuade the wife that I really do need a new set of wheels (Mavic Aksiums) which would be an ideal time to shood them in new rubber............and get new brake blocks!

BJUK - if you can, it's worth stretching to handbuilt Mavic Open Pros for the commute. I found them brilliant; a great all-round wheel.

Thanks for the advice CJ, just had a quick google and they look really nice but I'm not sure I could quite go that far. I'm sure GregT was running on Aksium's and if he can ride them around town and not have a problem I'm sure I'll be fine with them! Still it's gonna be a while yet (unless Santa is generous!) before I get them..........

laughingboy

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

The gator's look like a good bet, especially given the price and the huge weight saving on the SM+'s!

For what it's worth, although I haven't compared them to Marathon + tyres, I have Gator skins, and am very pleased with them. Trouble free riding so far...

vorsprung

Panaracer Paselas

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b0s142p573

Also you might like to look here for your old vittorias


http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ProductLi ... ootCatID=1

ribble seem to do a lot of end of line stuff