Commuter tyres - which one!

The Rookie

I've been very happy with my WYB Slickasuarus tyres, only had one visit from the fairy in about 900miles (long thin piece of glass), however they are getting close to needing renewal (bought used), I want something at least as tough, but preferably a little lighter.
Choices on the table are
Conti Gatorskin - lighter than the WTB's
Schwalbe City Jet - heavier
Schwalbe Kojaks - very light.
Schwalbe Marathon racer -same weight at the gators
Panaracer Pasela TG - same weight at gators

So anyone got any comments on rolling resistance and PF resilience?

Simon

DaveHudson

One tyre that never seems to get a mention is the Michelin city pilot, I've done two late winter/spring seasons (feb to april) on them along the side of the a12 after it was resurfaced. The route glistened with glass at some points and did not have one visit from the PF.

I run city jets in the summer as they are loads lighter and faster but almost every tim it rains I get a *p*.

Heavy but bombproof imo.

The Rookie

OK thanks, the pilot city isn't available in a size to fit mine (26" x 1.50" or narrower) and are frankly HEAVY.

Simon

simon_e

The Beginner wrote:

I want something at least as tough, but preferably a little lighter.

Decent protection costs grammes. However, I don't think lightweight tyres are a big deal for commuting.

Having tried 26x1" All Condition Pros (~300g) on my old Kona over a lumpy route along the lanes I went back to the heavier, wider City Jets and found no increase in rolling resistance but a definite increase in comfort. And remember that wider tyres roll better, according to Schwalbe.

I've only had 3 p-words in 4 years and thousands of miles on my City Jets. They're not quite glass- or bombproof but they are a good compromise. Some people swear by Gatorskins, others the Marathon series. Wiggle customer reviews are a good place to start.

Twostage

I run the marathons (accidental pun there) and I've had a couple of visits (on the same trip) but the route I do is strewn with glass and thorn laden twigs. No tyres are going to be perfect but they roll quite fast and this morning I ran over the neck of a bottle and it pinged out of the way.

Moodyman

The Conti Sport Contact comes in 26 x 1.6, though Conti tyres are narrow so it's more like a 1.5.

Excellent grip, very fast and decent puncture protection - comes with 12 months guaranteed replacement if it gets punctured. You also get new tube with every tyre bought.

Twostage

Twostage wrote:

I run the marathons (accidental pun there) and I've had a couple of visits (on the same trip) but the route I do is strewn with glass and thorn laden twigs. No tyres are going to be perfect but they roll quite fast and this morning I ran over the neck of a bottle and it pinged out of the way.

Footnote: picked a sliver of glass out of the front tyre tonight. Rubber was cut but the tyre was intact.

simon_e

Moodyman wrote:

The Conti Sport Contact comes in 26 x 1.6, though Conti tyres are narrow so it's more like a 1.5.

Excellent grip, very fast and decent puncture protection - comes with 12 months guaranteed replacement if it gets punctured.

That 'guarantee' is not much help when you're stuck at the side of the road. I read too many bad reviews on this forum to consider Sport Contacts.

phillipjohnson

They aren't on your list but I would recommend the Specialized Armadillo Elite Pro CX tyres... really nice ride

nigglenoo

Also consider Panaracer Pasela Tourguards, quick, light, comfortable and puncture resistant, but do get a bit stained on the sidewalls:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=53956

or Vittoria Rubino Pro Slick? Don't have any experience but they do look quick and light:

http://www.nextdaytyres.com/Tyres/Vitto ... x?ID=12411

The Rookie

Thanks for the suggestions, I really want those with experience of the tyres please.....

Simon

dSIco

I use Geax Roadsters in 26 x 1.5. Have commuted with them for 12 months with no punctures.

They are noticably faster rolling than my 2.1 mud tyres and seem very durable. The tyres still have some of the new tyre nobbles on them even after a year (600 miles or so)

The Rookie

Yousers, those Geax are 650g each, not as bad as the 1Kg Michelins, but I was hoping to go a little lighter than my current 500g!

Simon

nigglenoo

OK actual experienced tyres:

Panaracer Pasela TG: light (400g for 26x1.5" folding), quick, smooth riding, all round good grip on road. Sidewalls do discolour and other people say the sidewalls are weak (I have not had that problem). EDIT: one puncture from a big thorn on a country road in about 2500 miles.

Conti Sport Contact: Heavy, slow, harsh ride but do seem solid and tough, grip fine and not had any punctures with them myself.

EDIT 2: just looked up the Contis: 500g so not that heavy to be fair, and the lightest I have found so far are those Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks at 385g, but no mention of puncture protection.

The Rookie

Thanks the Pasela TGs are on my list.

Simon

chilling

Schwalbe Marathon Plus.

Not sure about the racers, but I've been on Marathon Pluses for a few year, probably around 14K miles. I can count the punctures I've had on one hand. Commuting 15 miles a day into Central London.

They are by no means the lightest tyres out there, but we are commuting not racing so getting from A to B marginally slower isn't really an issue, Getting there without a puncture on the other hand.......

Unfortunately now that you've posted this question, whatever you choose you'll be getting a puncture in the first week anyway.

richk

Marathons are my commuting tyre of choice - just don't fancy trying to fit M+ or I'd probably go for those.

pastryboy

I used a marathon plus on the rear all winter and got zero punctures - it doesn't roll well but I've no idea why people say it's hard to fit - it was easy.

Been using normal marathon for two weeks and first commute in the wet and it punctured from a small stone - not impressed.

pastryboy

I would recommend these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-randon ... n=products

I do several thousand miles on them with zero punctures. They are absolute hell to fit though.

craker

City Jets for me ... on my rarely used shIt bike they've been on for about 4 years with nary a punct*&e. That does include 2 months commuting this winter, last winter and lots of trailer towing.

jeremyrundle

I don't know if they will fit your bike but I have just bought continentals, not cheap, £25 each, but they arethe best tyre I have ever used.

digifant

I use Continental Ultra Gatorskin 26"x1.5" and 700x28 on my bicycles, never had a flat.

But has anyone tried the Michelin Pilot Sport?
The thread design looks good, scotchlite on the sides.
..They are heavy and made in Thailand

shouldbeinbed

pastryboy wrote:

I would recommend these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-randon ... n=products

I do several thousand miles on them with zero punctures. They are absolute hell to fit though.

+1 to the radonneur. Mine are wider ones, recently fitted (4-500 mi) on my cx but they've been spot on, grippy but ready to roll and no big deal to fit. They replaced marathons on the same rims and they feel more lively and less draggy on the road than the schwalbes did.

No evil p's with either.

knightrider3000

Panaracer t serv 1.75 the best commuter tyres in the world!!

The Rookie

Hmm the worst if you read my posts and that the max width my frame will ake is 1.50" perhaps?

Gatorskins and radonneur's seem to be getting most votes!

I need to research the Radonneur's weight seems in doubt though, both 510 and 450g according to the same page on wiggle!
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-randon ... ping.co.uk

Simon

simon_e

The Beginner wrote:

I need to research the Radonneur's weight seems in doubt though, both 510 and 450g according to the same page on wiggle!

Don't bother, just get the tyres. The wider the tyre is the heavier, but 60g is nothing. You're commuting on them, not entering a championship hill climb!

Didn't you want good puncture resistance? That brings weight, so live with it (or go on a diet).

noiseboyfeetman

I run with the Continental Ultra Gator Duraskin Road Tyre Black 700x23 and never had a puncture, find them an excellent commuter tyre.

the_hundredth_idiot

I've always been very pleased with the (700x25) Gatorskins on my bike. Only three punctures in thousands of miles (and I'm pretty sure the third was because I made a pig's ear of fixing the second).

One warning - they are an absolute pig to get off and back on again (at least they are with my wheelset) - I've got the hang of it now but had a frustrating road side experience the first time it happened. To my eternal shame, I had to take my wheel to the LBS to get them to fix it as I'd snapped all my tyre levers.

The Rookie

Simon E wrote:

The Beginner wrote:

I need to research the Radonneur's weight seems in doubt though, both 510 and 450g according to the same page on wiggle!

Don't bother, just get the tyres. The wider the tyre is the heavier, but 60g is nothing. You're commuting on them, not entering a championship hill climb!

Didn't you want good puncture resistance? That brings weight, so live with it (or go on a diet).

Sorry I disagree, the gatorskins are the same as the lighter weight, so as everyone says they give the same protection that rules the raddoneur out (if it's at the heavier weight), why carry more weight for the same protection?

EDIT, just checked Vittorias website, and the heavier weight is right, so gators are currently in pole position.

Simon

XmasTreeOnWheels

I run with Marathon Plus tyres, 26 miles a day round commute to/from London, and zero punctures. I ignored any comments about tyre weight, as with the amount of stuff I have to carry in my bulging hi-viz rucksack, not to mention my vast array of front and back lights, a few hundred grams here or there in the wheel department is going to make absolutely no difference to me! And when it's cold and dark and chucking it down with rain in the winter I just imagine what it would be like to be changing a lighter tyre at the roadside when I just want to get home!

The Rookie

OK thanks for all the inputs, but I have decided I'll be ordering some Gatorskins, not much weight penalty over the lightest tyres yet good protection, wiggle seem best priced (haribo's ahoy) not sure if I'll get two or just replace the harder working rear for now!

Simon