Whats the best tyre to use on a road bike if !!!!

sparkman
sparkman Posts: 74
edited July 2010 in Road beginners
I intend to use my road bike (Giant Defy 3) on a cycle track and canal towpath. The surface is part tarmack and part compacted gravel / stone, you guys probably no the type of surface I mean.
Anyway, I have swapped out the original tyres 700 25c, for Continental ultra sports with kevlar, sized at 700 23c.
What would you considor using for the above surfaces. ie something between a cyclocross and road tyre maybe ??
Its not exactly off road to be fair, but is harder going for the bike than a well surfaced tarmac road.
Also I know the wheel accepts 23 and 25c tyres but how wide can you go ie 28, or 32 maybe.
Thanks for any advice or pointers, :? :)

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'd have stuck with the 25s and see how i got on to be honest.

    The conti are good tyres too - but I'd prefer 25s.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    What he said!
  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    Yeah, 700x25 will help you hold onto your teeth longer and rattle all your bike bits less due to the larger volume/lower pressure.

    If you do it regularly I would go for a 700x25 with some decent puncture/sidewall protection.

    Conti Gatorskins?
    I used them on a 100miler which had around 10 miles of similar kind of track, including some pretty large stones, with no issues
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    My Vittoria Rubino's coped with about 5-7 miles of off road rough gravel road in Dalby Forest in the North York Moors.
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Conti GP 4 Season 700x25 would be really hard to beat for what you're talking about
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    GP 4 seasons tend to cut up easily though.

    Rubino's beat em.
  • Hoopdriver
    Hoopdriver Posts: 2,023
    Your Rubinos must be really something then. My GP 4 Seasons have a good 6,000kms on them, not a single puncture in that time, and while the rear is showing a bit of wear (*but not too bad, and will last the summer no worries), the front one still has lots of life left in it. They really do seem hard to beat.
    http://www.My-Bicycle-and-I.com
  • sparkman
    sparkman Posts: 74
    Thanks for all the help guys, looked around the web and decided to order Rubinos in 25c.
    Although the GPs are probably just as good. I think either tyre is a good choice to be fair, its down to personal choice me thinks :wink:
    Now if they could make a tyre that climbs a 1in 4 at 25mph whilst coasting, Thats what I call a goooood, tyre. :lol:
    Thanks again.
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    Hoopdriver wrote:
    Your Rubinos must be really something then. My GP 4 Seasons have a good 6,000kms on them, not a single puncture in that time, and while the rear is showing a bit of wear (*but not too bad, and will last the summer no worries), the front one still has lots of life left in it. They really do seem hard to beat.

    I've had GP4000 tyres as well as the black S version.

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