All-round training/race tyre

mattpage

I need new tyres soon as mine are starting to wear.

Any suggestions for something that can do it all?
I'm after something mainly as a fast training tyre, but also for a few events.

Needs to be:
Durable and not prone to punctures. Need to last a long time, 2000 miles+
Good in the wet. Although its coming into Spring/summer, it is the UK after all.
Light (to a point, anything under 250g is fine with me)

Any suggestions or am I asking too much?

softlad

I would look closely at Conti's new 24mm Grand Prix tyre - meant to be pretty good. The other alternative would be their Grand Prix 4 season, which I use all year round.

Is that 'the' Matt Page, or a different one..

maddog 2

do a search - I posted a thread the other day which was v. similar

GP4000s, GP4Season, ProRace3, Vred Tricomp, Rubino Pros are all on the list

giant_man

ProRace 2 or 3s, both faultess and very durable tyres, excellent!

gabriel959

You should add Michelin Krylions to the list. They are supposed to be the best but difficult to find.

giant_man

They're not the best but they're pretty good. Just had one winter on them, no punctures in a few months. You can get them of course. I actually have one pair still in case, for sale if anyone's interested. Red 700 x 23s actually.

For an all round tyre, and indeed all year round tyre, the ProRaces are very hard to beat.

gabriel959

giant mancp wrote:

They're not the best but they're pretty good. Just had one winter on them, no punctures in a few months. You can get them of course. I actually have one pair still in case, for sale if anyone's interested. Red 700 x 23s actually.

For an all round tyre, and indeed all year round tyre, the ProRaces are very hard to beat.

Good to know, I am getting some new wheels, probably Mavic Aksiums and am looking at some really nice fast and grippy tyres with puncture protection.

Do you reckon the Pro Race 3 are better than the Kyrilions then? From where did you buy them by the way? Might be interested in your red pair if the price is right.

Monty Dog

ProRace3s are race tyres and not really durable enough for year round use in the UK IME. I have 6 bikes and currently running amongst other things: ProRace3s, Krylions, GP 4 Seasons, GP4000s, Gatorskins and some Vredestein Fortezzas. Krylions are probably the best compromise followed by the Fortezzas. GP4Seasons are durable but feel 'dead', Gatorskins and GP4000s cut too easily and whilst the ProRace3s are fast and grippy in all conditions, they cut too easily. It does depend on the road conditions in your area, but we have a lot of tiny, razor-sharp flints in these parts that shred tyres.

giant_man

Yes PR3s are race tyres but durable enough to ride all year round. Doesn't matter about what country you ride in(!) just very very good tyres.

I know riders on PR2s who ride on them all year round, winter included, and swear by them. My experience is that they don't cut too easily, far from it, and I don't care what you put them up against, my opinion is that they can't be beaten. Gatorskins are ok when new and develop problems when they start to wear and also if under inflated. I wouldn't bother with the Fortezzas or GP4 seasons.

ademort

I would go for the Michelin Krylion carbons, this is the first winter in 30 years that i have not experienced a puncture and the first winter with the Krylions they have been fantastic tyres up to now. Pro race 3s are race tyres and cut up very quickly in the winter months.
Ademort

Mettan

mattpage wrote:

I need new tyres soon as mine are starting to wear.

Any suggestions for something that can do it all?
I'm after something mainly as a fast training tyre, but also for a few events.

Needs to be:
Durable and not prone to punctures. Need to last a long time, 2000 miles+
Good in the wet. Although its coming into Spring/summer, it is the UK after all.
Light (to a point, anything under 250g is fine with me)

Any suggestions or am I asking too much?

GP4000s are often viewed as "Durable" race/training tyres - for out and out racing clinchers many peeps use other tyres (Pro Race 3's, Ultremo's, Open Corsa CX's etc), but if "durable" performance is a big part of your requirements then the 4000s seem well regarded.

mattpage

softlad wrote:

Is that 'the' Matt Page, or a different one..

Never met anyone else with my name

Thanks for all your suggestions. I like the look of the Ultremo DD, but I guess they are pretty new so not many people are using them yet.

I'd rather go for something tried and tested, so will take everyones suggestions on board.

nferrar

I used last year's model Ultremos over the winter and was really impressed, still trying to decide between the DD and R model for this year though. Still a fair bit of mileage left in my front one (a few small cuts but they got a fair bit of abuse), had to scrap the rear though after a crash (not the tyre's fault!)

mattpage

Narrowed my choice down a bit now.

Vittoria Open Pave Evo CG
Schwalbe Ultremo DD

Not sure about the green colour of the Pave's though

Lagavulin

I don't think they look too bad...



Great ride but I've only recently bought them myself so couldn't comment on their longevity.

softlad

mattpage wrote:

Not sure about the green colour of the Pave's though

they won't stay green for long...

Its a good all-round tyre - I used to race and train on them in the 90s...although to be honest there didn't seem to be as much choice back then...

mattpage

Lagavulin wrote:

I don't think they look too bad...

Eeek!
Just ordered the Schwalbe's after seeing that picture

Lagavulin

Glad to of been of assistance.

Shame they don't do these tyres in a more suitable colour to match/contrast your frame as they seem a very nice tyre. I think the "One Step Photo Fix" in Corel Paint Shop Pro X2 has done them a disservice.

akkers

I use Pro 3 tyres and cant agree they are an all round tyre....they cut way too easy, and when grit gets in, your asking for slow flats.

Conti 4 seasons or 4000 are far more robust and I would go for them as an all year round tyre with Pro 3 for best conditions....yes they are top notch racing tyres, but not effective at all in less than good conditions ime

mattpage

I went for Ultremo DD 25c in the end.

Bit unsure of them because they are new out, but time will tell.
Very early impressions are that they come up quite narrow for a 25c, they are fast and not as comfortable to ride than the tyres they replaced. I'm OK with that, as I only want them for Spring/summer which will include the odd Sportive.

I just hope they are durable!