Tyres in the wet for my daily commute

sonicred007
sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
edited November 2009 in Road buying advice
Having skidded out last winter on my front wheel and smashed my face into the road, I'd like to ask for suggestions for a hard wearing, puncture resistent and skid-proof(ish)

It's for a spesh Langster

Look forward to your thoughts

Stuart

Comments

  • Schwalbe stelvio rain is what I use as my training tyre.Has taken care of all of the above during the last 5 months no worries.
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    I've never used foldiing tyres will they go onto my Langster wheels easy enoughj
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    +1 for stelvio rain :D
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Michelin Krylion Carbon
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  • Vittoria Open Pavé Evo!

    The only logical choice. :roll:
  • top_bhoy
    top_bhoy Posts: 1,424
    Guys,

    Could you expand upon your choice of tyre...ie type of riding, road quality, weekly mileage, wear&tear/puncutres, etc., any more information really. It would give a bit more food for thought as there has been 3 different types of tyres in as many posts. Its kind of hard to make an informed judgment without further info.

    Cheers
  • FOAD
    FOAD Posts: 318
    Unfortunately mate if you ask about tyres you will get a myriad of recommendations.

    My winter bike has 23mm Armadillos, my summer bike has 23mm Stelvio's (whilst I wait for my replacement R1's). Neither have punctured on my weekly 100 miles of commuting (country lanes in the dark mainly now), or my leisure riding, nor have I fallen off because of the road being wet, which it is all the time round here at the moment.

    Would I recommend them over anything else, nope because I have no idea if other stuff is better or worse. I do know that the tread on the Armadillos is good at whipping up small stones into the mudguards and also when I don't have guards on throws up way more water than the Stelvios, but that is about it.

    From everything I have read on here, most of the tyres that claim to be puncture proof do a pretty good job of doing that but aren't totally infallable, and if you ride over white lines whilst cornering in the wet you increase your chances of coming off, same if you try to ride like it's dry when it isn't.

    I think if you get more than a couple of people on here recommending the same tyre and they are trusted (ie. experienced posters/riders) then that would be a good place to start. However if the Giantsasquatch recommends anything to you, I would avoid like the plague. :lol:
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    I'm cycling through east London... Leyton to the West End... about 7 miles, road mostly

    Last December I hit ice/deisel and skidded out the front wheel

    Want a 700 x 25 to give me more tyre and tarmac contact
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,571
    For a commute, especially an urban one, you have to make sacrifices between price, grip and puncture protection. The Vittoria Paves mentioned above grip superbly but will be cut to shreds in a few weeks by road debris, and at £20 each this makes for an expensive choice.

    Most London commuters I know seem to settle on one of two tyres, Vittoria Rubino Pros or Bontrager X-Lite Hard Cases. I ride the latter and they are tough as old boots, puncture infrequently but aren't the grippiest tyre in the wet. Rubino Pros, which I used to ride, are grippier but do seem to flat more. Both can be found for around £12 each and should last for at least one winter. I've just binned a pair of the Bontragers after over a year of daily use and at £10 each think I got excellent value for money.
  • I'm cycling through east London... Leyton to the West End... about 7 miles, road mostly

    Last December I hit ice/deisel and skidded out the front wheel

    Want a 700 x 25 to give me more tyre and tarmac contact

    Nothing is going to stop you losing grip on ice or diesel.

    Softer tyre compounds will grip better on dry surfaces but at the expense of durabilty.
    A 25mm tyre will help provide a bit more volume and therefore comfort,but won`t make a great deal of difference to grip over a 23mm.

    If you are going to run mudguards you might be better of with 23mm to give you more clearance.
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  • davbay
    davbay Posts: 60
    Schwalbe Marathons.

    My commute 2 x per week is 13 miles through country lanes. I put 700 x 28s on my winter bike and theyre superb.

    Excellent in the wet and fast too. Last week I rounded a corner and whizzed through hedge trimmings . A large thorn got stuck in my front tyre and despite cycling another 5 miles home didn't puncture it. When I pulled it out it was quite deep but still no puncture.

    Alot of high end mountain bikes come fitted with Schwalbe tyres which suggests they make good stuff.
    Anyone else ride a Schwinn?...
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    I figured I won't stop myself on ice and deisel.. was just providing context for greater assurance

    I may even go back Spesh Armadillos - they are reknowned to be slow, which must mean traction vs rolling resistance

    Thanks for advice guys
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    davbay wrote:
    Schwalbe Marathons.

    My commute 2 x per week is 13 miles through country lanes. I put 700 x 28s on my winter bike and theyre superb.

    Excellent in the wet and fast too. Last week I rounded a corner and whizzed through hedge trimmings . A large thorn got stuck in my front tyre and despite cycling another 5 miles home didn't puncture it. When I pulled it out it was quite deep but still no puncture.

    Alot of high end mountain bikes come fitted with Schwalbe tyres which suggests they make good stuff.
    Have you got the Schwalbe Marathon Plus Smart Guard... reviews on ChainReaction from users are pretty convincing
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    Well fella I wen to me LBS and from the selection available I invested in Schwalbe Durino 700 x 25 Plus... seems like the tyre for the job

    Thanks again for the advice
  • I have Conti Grand-Prix 4 season tyres on my winter hack/commuting bike. Puncture resistant, hard(ish) wearing and roll nicely.
  • sonicred007
    sonicred007 Posts: 1,091
    Well fella I wen to me LBS and from the selection available I invested in Schwalbe Durino 700 x 25 Plus... seems like the tyre for the job

    Thanks again for the advice
    First time I've ever fitted folding tyres.. much harder than the other type... thumbs are killing me