Michelin or Conti's

Spender1330

I would appreciate your educated advice dear forum members.

I have approx £60 for a new pair of tyres, and reckon it has come down to:

Michelin Pro3 vs Continental 4000

Any thought, advice, votes?

FYI. I live out in the sticks so there is quite a bit of gravel on the tarmac, and we have all manner of roughness to the edges of the roads. I ride to train for triathlon, so its not commuting, there is some (not much yet - though am working on it) speed and a fair amount of downhill descents.

flasher

Not tried the Michelin's but am very happy with the Conti 4000s, I doubt there's a lot between them, get the coloured ones which match your bike, although all black for me

kafkathedog

I had the pro3 tyres. IME they cut up pretty quick if the roads are rough.

Hell below zero !

These are what I would Buy, Michelin Krylions, reviews here http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/wheel ... px#reviews

Tom Butcher

I'm happy with the Michelins - funnily enough I've found them very resistant to cuts so far - possibly just luck.

Simon Notley

If you get Contis, make sure you get the GP4000S, not the standard GP4000, they are a much better tyre thanks to the 'Black Chilli' rubber compound. I use the contis, but I'm sure teh mitchelins are similarly good.

Anonymous

Not tried the Michelins, have used Conti GPs for a while but recently changed my winter/trainer to Vittoria Open Pave. Very very impressed indeed with the Vittorias. I will be swapping to Vittorias of some sort on all my bikes now.

That said, the Contis were fine and I've heard good reports about the Michelins.

Basically, you won't go far wrong whatever you choose!

Spender1330

Thanks to all who posted - wasnt expecting so many replies already this morning. Am ready to part with the cash.

The winner was: Conti GP4000S - cheers to you all.

bompington

Just bought some Contis myself - looks like their first run will be the Etape C, so I certainly hope they're good (looks like wet weather grip might be the most important factor...)

Gazzaputt

Scwalbe Ultremo R. Just like to add another thought.

James_London

For the use and budget you describe, Vittoria Open Evo CX (cheap in the 2008 290TPI version or 320TPI and more puncture resistant 2009 version). If you've ridden Michelin and Conti, these will be a revelation. Not that either are bad tyres but the VIttorias (and other high TPI tyres like Veloflex, Challenge etc) feel fantastic, especially with latex tubes.

NapoleonD - The Paves are superb, I agree, and on all my bikes for the winter, despite the shocking green colour! IMO the only acceptable non-black tyres!

Anonymous

I like the green because it's what da pro's use

maddog 2

big fan of the PR3s. Supple, grippy and not had any issues with reliability.

Just bought some Ultremo Rs so I'll see how they compare.

davbay

Wouldn't buy anything other than Scwalbe Blizzards - amazing tyres.

alfablue

I think Schwalbe Blizzards are now branded as Lugano's I believe - good tough budget tyres ideal for training. Don't like Conti's - like putty. Michelin's have a strong following, not read anything bad.

bazbadger

I've recently put VIttoria Open Pave's on my P-X Pro SL. The ride they give is superb and they inspire a lot of confidence in wet / damp conditions. Wiggle had them on special offer - hence snapping them up, The bike originally had Swalbe Stelvio's - which were frankly scary in anything execpt bone dry conditions.

I really like the green too!

Anonymous

We will prevail and convert all to Open Paves

ademort

I use Michelin Krylion carbon on my work bike, almost 7 months now without a puncture, excellent tyres. I had Michelin Prorace3s on my good bike last year, they were great in the summer but cut up very badly once the bad weather came.I had Schwalbe Ultremo Rs on my good bike this year, only managed 1000Kms on them, They developed bulges in the walls of the tyres. Never seen anything like it, so binned them. This week i bought some Continental GP 4000s so hope for a big improvement on the Schwalbe Ultremo Rs.
Ademort

TheStone

PR3 every time for me. Oddly the Krylions kept puncturing (maybe bad luck).

Didn't like the GP4000 at all, but not tried the GP4000S which sounds like a very different tyre.

guilliano

I've had no problems with the Michelin Pro Race 3s that came on my bike. Loads of grip, even in the wet and no probs with cutting up or side wall shredding even after being forced into a couple of kerbs by bast.... sorry, drivers with poor eyesight.

HonestAl

I've used the race 3s for a few months and have had no problems with them at all, and they're not cut up at all. Put a pair of Open Paves on another bike and burst 2 inner tubes - presumably I'd pinched the tube when I put them on. Odd, I've never had this problem ever before (however given that the tyres come with very explicit instructions about how to fit them I guess it's something recognised by Vittoria as a potential challenge to dolts like me). Now they're on and I've ridden a few miles on them on wet roads, they seem to further improve the ride of my PX Ti Road Pro.

So both Race 3s and Open Paves get thumbs up for me.

sward29

Another vote for gp4000S'. Haven't used the Pro race 3's but used to use the Pro Race 2's before I got fed up with sliding around all over the place as soon as the road was wet. Found them more unnerving than any other tyre I've ever used. Also found they cut easily.

Done 2500 miles on the same pair or GP400s' and have only had 2 flats. They've still got loads of wear left in them according to the wear indicators. They don't feel as close to tubs as Vittoria CX's do or Shwalbe Stelvio's which I used before the Pro Race 2's, but I reckon they may offer better puncture protection.

My mate who uses CX's reckons they offer the same protection as a third hand condom.

STEFANOS4784

I was reading through this and decided not to post as it's just one experience however after reading the post above......

Whilst out today( on my bike with PR3's) i slowed for a roundabout and as it is in a kind of dip, when i saw it was clear i stood up to sprint up the slight incline on the other side and felt the back tyre slide, i was clear of any white paint so it wasn't that. it didnt slide much but still i have conti GP4000's(regular) and even though they are on my 'winter' bike, never experienced any problems. In conclusion i will get GP4000S' next time