Winter Tyres

slowclimb
slowclimb Posts: 34
edited January 2010 in Road buying advice
I'm sure this has been asked a million times on here, I'm even pretty sure I asked myself a while back..
But I am looking to get some more robust grippy tyres to use as the old race ones I have on at the moment are giving me the fear :cry:

Comments

  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    I wouldn't have thought you'd get more grip from a robust tyre vs a road race tyre. I think the roads are just slippy at this time of year - maybe the salt on them I don't know.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd just go with wider versions of your race tyres if you can. Theres some fearsome potholes round here after the snow and ice.
  • reba6768
    reba6768 Posts: 1,030
    I'm finding Conti' Grand Prix 4 season 25's good for this time of year.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    I am currently using Maxxis Colombieres in 700x25c. Very nice ride but had a few punctures early on, none the last few rides though. Grippier than 700x23 GP4000s and Ultremos certainly which are what I use in summer. Also have a stock of Schwalbe Stelvios in 700x25 but haven't put them on anything yet.

    Generally a race-style tyre will be the grippiest, at the possible expense of puncture protection. Any of the tyres I mentioned above are substantially grippier than my Conti Gatorskins.
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,620
    what tyre pressures are people at? i got a track pump a couple of weeks ago and pumped up to 80psi. since then i've had 3 punctures in 4 rides, which is about all i had last season when pumping with my mini hand pump
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    That sounds quite low for 25s. I run mine 100 rear, 90 front, 10 PSI lower than my 23s.
  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    You haven't said what your budget is.... if you have no budget then the new Vittoria Open Pave's are tremendous - I got a pair for Christmas and they're better in the wet than my summer tyres were (Conti GP4000s) in the dry - fast, grippy, comfortable (and I love the green stripe) but they are far from cheap.
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    I run mine 100 rear, 90 front

    Are you sure you haven't got those figures the wrong way round? Or does all that catching powerslides help your handling skills :shock:

    As for winter tyres, I'd be interested to hear what people have to say regarding the Schwalbe Durano 28mm, it looks like an excellent idea given that it also is thought to last longer than most road tyres.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    PianoMan wrote:
    I run mine 100 rear, 90 front

    Are you sure you haven't got those figures the wrong way round? Or does all that catching powerslides help your handling skills :shock:
    (!?) The rear carries more weight and hence requires a higher pressure, this is pretty basic stuff.
  • pianoman
    pianoman Posts: 706
    They should BOTH be at a higher pressure..........the only time I've broken a tube in the last year was when my FRONT tyre hit a nasty bump and I was riding forward on the drops.

    If the need for lower pressure "because of slippery conditions" REALLY spooks you, get some 28mm tyres. Most road bikes can take them.
  • sandbag
    sandbag Posts: 429
    Not tried yet but i hear great comments about the Michelin Krylion Carbon. has got good grip, excellent puncture resistance.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    PianoMan wrote:
    They should BOTH be at a higher pressure..........the only time I've broken a tube in the last year was when my FRONT tyre hit a nasty bump and I was riding forward on the drops.

    If the need for lower pressure "because of slippery conditions" REALLY spooks you, get some 28mm tyres. Most road bikes can take them.
    They are 700x25s, it's a perfectly appropriate pressure. I have never had a pinch flat at this pressure on my road bike. Conti to take an example recommends 95 PSI for their 25s, the minimum is lower, so I run -5 on the front +5 on the rear. If you run the same pressure front and back effectively one tyre is over or underinflated from optimal as they carry different loads.

    I have 35s, 37s and 26x2.1 on other bikes for wider and use 23 on the road bikes in the summer which I run 110 front 100 back. 25 works well for me on the road bike in winter.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I never run my GP4000s over about 95 tops. And the p fairy has never visited me on these. (touch wood)

    Nearest I had was an innertube just exploding whilst in the garage one night, but the tyre was perfect.
  • Tom Butcher
    Tom Butcher Posts: 3,830
    PianoMan wrote:
    They should BOTH be at a higher pressure..........the only time I've broken a tube in the last year was when my FRONT tyre hit a nasty bump and I was riding forward on the drops.

    If the need for lower pressure "because of slippery conditions" REALLY spooks you, get some 28mm tyres. Most road bikes can take them.

    Recommended inflation pressure for a Conti 4 season 25mm is 95 psi so running 100 at the back and 90 at the front seems reasonable - especially if the rider is lighter than average.
    it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    PianoMan wrote:
    If the need for lower pressure "because of slippery conditions" REALLY spooks you, get some 28mm tyres. Most road bikes can take them.

    I cant really go over 25mm with my tyres in winter - otherwise they start to rub on the guards - I need a bit of clearance with all the clag around.
  • daveydave43
    daveydave43 Posts: 200
    michelin kyrlions are £20 from CRC atm - apparently they are bombproof as you'll get and pretty nice to ride. I hope so, that's what i've just shelled out for!
    They should be good enough for training and they will last too.
    Go for the break
    Create a chaingang
    Make sure you don't break your chain
  • JAnglesea
    JAnglesea Posts: 28
    +1 for the Krylions. I ride on these all the time and seem to last fairly well and offer good grip levels.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I run my 25mm Conti 4 seasons @ 80-90 front and 90-100 rear (it varies cos I don't check them often enough) One puncture in 18 months; a thorn that would've gone through anything.

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