Race Tyres - Which is the best Clincher Race Tyre?

TurboCat

Hi - Some advice please -
I am looking to buy some top quality race rubber for my best bike. I am considering Michelin Pro Race 3 s - Schwalbe Ultremo R1s or Continentals ( either GP4000s or Attack/Force)

Does anyone have experience of these tyres, which are the best and are there any others to consider?

Regards

TC

Chip \'oyler

Ultremo R1s. Very light, very grippy and very fast and I've yet to puncture on a pair

Infamous

Pro Race 3s. Very light, very grippy and very fast and I've yet to puncture on a pair

chriskempton

Infamous wrote:

Pro Race 3s. Very light, very grippy and very fast and I've yet to puncture on a pair

Beat me to it!

Smokin Joe

Fortezza Tricomps. Very light, very grippy and very fast and I've yet to puncture on a pair.

giant_man

Pro Race 3s, although PR2s were better ....

Daimler

Pro Race 3's or Conti Attack/Force.
I ahve both and both are very good.
I think the Conti's edge it on durability but both grip really well and roll fast.
8)
I've also had GP4000's which are also very good tyres. Never had a single flat on them and they never cut up.

APIII

Don't think you'd be unhappy with any of them, tbh. Also consider Vittoria EVOCXII. More supple than conti's but not as hard wearing.

Mettan

I use Vittoria Diamante Pro Lites - 170g - high-ish TPI - not particularly puncture resistant, but they roll well. (Good for smooth circuit races) - for more puncture protection you could use Attack/Force for on-road races.

Chip \'oyler

Actually if you want some serious rubber get a pair of Veloflex

http://www.veloflex.it/

relanium

I'm interested in the outcome of this topic, thinking about replacing my Grand Prix 4 Season to something for the summer.

dennisn

relanium wrote:

I'm interested in the outcome of this topic, thinking about replacing my Grand Prix 4 Season to something for the summer.

Somehow I doubt that there will actually be an "outcome", other than 15 or so recommendations. But that's why this is called a forum. I'm not sure it's even possible, with all the tools of science, to determine the best.

TurboCat

...has anyone used the Ultremos since that recall last year regarding the bulging side walls?

Chip \'oyler

TurboCat wrote:

...has anyone used the Ultremos since that recall last year regarding the bulging side walls?

Yes

LangerDan

Chip \'oyler wrote:

Actually if you want some serious rubber get a pair of Veloflex

http://www.veloflex.it/

+1 the Veloflex Open Pave are nice - good grip, good ride quality,but not particularly hard-wearing. Maybe not so much of an issue for a race tyre, but expensive for a training tyre.

onthefells

pro race 3s puncture too easily for my liking....I'd go with the krylions if you want a Michelin tyre, a bit heavier but I did a 100 mile sportive at the weekend on some pretty poor roads and they were bombproof. for me the 10s of seconds you may save on a 'slightly faster' tyre will be more than outweighed by the minutes/tens of minutes a puncture takes to fix.

if however you have a team car close by ignore my above comments

pianoman

for me the 10s of seconds you may save on a 'slightly faster' tyre will be more than outweighed by the minutes/tens of minutes a puncture takes to fix.

Correct, I'd get something that you can rely on like Panaracer Extreme Evo 3's with Michelin latex tubes (got them this weekend and they feel real smooth). If you're serious about racing or TT's then you'll take the time to remove them on special occasions and fit some Veloflex Records I guess........then again what good is a tyre that's saving you 5 seconds if it doesn't get you to the end of a race?

mike ives

Fortezza Tricomps. I haven't used them for racing but I have found them to roll well, have good grip (even in rain) and have excellent puncture resistance. They can cut up a little with flints though. They do seem to be going up in price though.

leejdavies

SomeGerman magazine did a tyre test. Low and behold Conti GP4000s came out on top. Funny that. Not too sure of the criteria.

They are, however, very good. They have taken ridiculous potholes and broken glass and are yet to puncture (cue tomorrows puncture now)

Chip \'oyler

PianoMan wrote:

for me the 10s of seconds you may save on a 'slightly faster' tyre will be more than outweighed by the minutes/tens of minutes a puncture takes to fix.

Correct, I'd get something that you can rely on like Panaracer Extreme Evo 3's with Michelin latex tubes (got them this weekend and they feel real smooth). If you're serious about racing or TT's then you'll take the time to remove them on special occasions and fit some Veloflex Records I guess........then again what good is a tyre that's saving you 5 seconds if it doesn't get you to the end of a race?

Why would Veloflex Records not get you to the end of a race? They have puncture protection. I never punctured with them. The only problem with them is they wear pretty quick, so you only really get one racing season out of them

blackhands

How about Vittoria Pave?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... ITTTYRF290

Superb tyre fast and good in all conditions.

Chris James

Smokin Joe wrote:

Fortezza Tricomps. Very light, very grippy and very fast and I've yet to puncture on a pair.

I like them lots too. As a bonus they seem to wear pretty well for a race tyre.

incog24

Vittoria open corsa's (320tpi) with latex tubes are supposed to be great. I've tried Ultremos and Pro 3s and personally much prefer the ultremos. They 'feel' faster and inspire more confidence cornering.

Tubs are better though .

racingcondor

I ride GP4000S as my every day tyre and raced on them over the winter. Love them but they're pretty rough compared to PR3's or Vittoria CXII's. Just put the Vittoria's on and I'm loving the speed and feel of them, I think more than the PR3's I have in the cupboard from last summer.

Latex tubes all round for my race wheels.

must-tri-harder

Over the past 18 months I've gone through one set of Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick, one set of Michelin Pro Race 3's, one set of Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp and finally right now a Vittoria Rubino Pro 3 rear and Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX 3 front. *

I've only every had puncture problems with rear tyres excessively worn due to turbo trainer use but that's my fault .. apart from that as long as you pump them up hard new tyres always seem fast to me ?!

Clearly the best made (and most expensive) tyre out of the box is without question the Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX 3, it also rides like a dream, however as i dont have a spare wheel i thought i would use my noodle and got the Rubino Pro 3 for the rear as it is cheaper, harder and hopefully will last a bit longer.

When i purchase my new set of race wheels (hurry up bonus and either WH7850-CL or Carbone SL) i will be sticking on a pair of Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX 3's, no question.

The michelin's were good new but wore quite quickly and show every nick in the grey tread which just makes you nervous, vredesteins were like bullets but had poor grip on some of nastier short sharp hills round here in the wet so i soon lost confidence in them.

* White wherever possible, not that they ever stay white for long.

pianoman

Why would Veloflex Records not get you to the end of a race? They have puncture protection. I never punctured with them. The only problem with them is they wear pretty quick, so you only really get one racing season out of them

So you'd suggest getting a pair, using them just for races and WHOOPEE there goes half a minute off my 10m TT time compared to Panaracer Evo 3's? Might be worth it after all. Though it would have to be the 2010 version with the nice graphics - can't stand the old-style ones with the goofy logos.

inseine

I've just gone back to Conti Force/Attack after getting fed up of p***turing on Pro3race. A flat every other ride seems about average and they cut really easily. They ride nicely though. Contis feel a bit more 'wooden' but i went a whole year on a set and wore them down to the canvas without a flat.

must-tri-harder

note to self (and others): no matter how expensive the tyre, it's still up to you to steer around the big sharp rocks in the middle of your path during the lovely wednesday evening time trial you've been looking forward to all day

i've just destroyed that 2 week old open corsa evo cx i was drooling about earlier, one fooking great rock and it's all over, another £35 down the pan, awesome.

RonB

inseine wrote:

I've just gone back to Conti Force/Attack after getting fed up of p***turing on Pro3race. A flat every other ride seems about average and they cut really easily. They ride nicely though. Contis feel a bit more 'wooden' but i went a whole year on a set and wore them down to the canvas without a flat.

+1. Maybe partly down to good luck but I use these all yr round these days.

relanium

Have we come to any conclusion which might be the "Best Clincher Road Tyre" or is it down to my own opinion and try them out.

Can not decide which to upgrade to from my Grand Prix 4 Season.

Choices, choices, choices.....
Continental Grand Prix Attack and Force.
Continental GP4000S.
Pro 3 Race Tyre
Schwalbe Ultremo R1.

I didn't put "Vittoria" tyres down as their rather heavy compaired to some race tyres.

bigmat

I've just changed from Continental GP 4000 to Vittoria Diamantes. The Vittorias definitely seem to ride faster*, are quite a bit lighter and so far I've had no issues with punctures or cuts or anything, so on first impressions they seem quite durable. They are also a far more comfortable ride - I've got them pumped to slightly higher pressure than the Continentals but the ride seems a lot smoother.

* Have recorded 2 of my 3 fastest ever times round my regular circuit since I changed the tyres.