expensive tyres ! emperors new clothes ?

stronginthesun

just changed the original tyres on my two year old trek madone 4.5 . bontrager race which retail at approx £20 each to schwalbe ultremo zx retail at approx £40 each . cant tell the differance ! in speed handling rolling resistance ect . dont waste your money !!! any thoughts ?

Secteur

I went from durano's to ultremo's and back to durano's and could never tell the difference other than the only puncture I ever had was 1 week after trying the ultremo's.

I put my inability to tell the difference to the fact that my bike is heavy and I am still a bit fat.

I reckon racing tyres are for when you're searching for that last 1%

desweller

Not tried those two but switching from Contis Ultra Sports to the GP4000S was a revelation; I used to get 'moments' in the wet all the time on the cheaper tyres. Puncture resistance is miles better too. Don't even mention the hard cheapo tyres that came with the bike, like riding on oil for all the grip they offered.

ShutUpLegs

Try some schwalbe luganos, then cycling in tar/ treacle. There is no difference.

jibberjim

Well firstly Ultremo ZX's can be had for 20quid, (21.90 Euro at bike-discount.de ) so you're a fool for paying 40 quid for them.

The second is that the bontrager race is a fast tyre, and no you won't notice an awful lot of difference between different brands of fast tyre. Compare it to an actual slow tyre.

rpd_steve

I think its because your compairing 2 resonable tyres. To 'feel' the differance it needs to be pretty massive if you think about it - may notice 20-30 sec or so over a 10 mile TT though.

I changed from the cheap OE Specalised tyes on my steed to Michelin Pro3 Race and it made an unbeliveable differance. Havnt been using them long enough to see if my average speeds are consistently higher but they are cirtanly much more comfortable and feel great.

stronginthesun

jibberjim wrote:

Well firstly Ultremo ZX's can be had for 20quid, (21.90 Euro at bike-discount.de ) so you're a fool for paying 40 quid for them.

The second is that the bontrager race is a fast tyre, and no you won't notice an awful lot of difference between different brands of fast tyre. Compare it to an actual slow tyre.

was going by list price . paid £31 for the ultremos from wiggle seen the bontrager race for £15 in sales . same differance .

team47b

The overall weight placed on tyres and pressures make the most difference to resistance, so if these two factors haven't changed then you won't see any real difference between two different 'race' tyres.

napoleond

I notice a significant difference between cheap tyres and fast tyres. As mentioned above, quantified in races/TTs. Especially, if using a clincher, when coupled with latex tubes.

The Bontrager race may be cheaper but they are still a 'fast' tyre. The Ultremo ZX aren't the fastest Ultremo either.

You can't really make a judgement going from one medium quality tyre to another.

If you want fast try Vittoria Open Corsa CX with latex tubes, or Veloflex.

Conti Force Attack are very good but feel like hosepipes in terms of ride compared to the vittoria.

Bozman

When i swapped from Conti 4000s to Vittoria open corsa cx, there was a difference.... i don't don't know what it was but it felt good, that good that i haven't gone back to Conti.

Monty Dog

The easiest way to make all tyres, not just expensive ones feel rubbish is to pump them to maximum pressure, plus they'll probably puncture more easily too.

thegreatdivide

NapoleonD wrote:

If you want fast try Vittoria Open Corsa CX with latex tubes, or Veloflex.

Conti Force Attack are very good but feel like hosepipes in terms of ride compared to the vittoria.

Two days on the best bike this weekend and running Open Corsa Evo CX's - they are the bollocks - simple as that.

[Edit] Running 110 on the front and 115 on the back.

napoleond

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

Crankbrother

Monty Dog wrote:

The easiest way to make all tyres, not just expensive ones feel rubbish is to pump them to maximum pressure, plus they'll probably puncture more easily too.

That's just fibs .. On both counts ...

thegreatdivide

NapoleonD wrote:

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

They sure do. They sound 'pro'

Will deffo give those tubes a shot.

napoleond

thegreatdivide wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

They sure do. They sound 'pro'

Will deffo give those tubes a shot.

I mean as in the actual noise the tyres make with them in, they 'whoosh'

thegreatdivide

Even better. But I meant the Evo CX has a sound that makes you think 'peloton'. Hit a patch of quality tarmac and they make a swooooooooosh sound. Lovely.

migrantwing

NapoleonD wrote:

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

What are these tubes like regards punctures?

napoleond

migrantwing wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

What are these tubes like regards punctures?

I tend to cover them up with tyres

Been using the same two tubes for two years now. There. Kiss of death.

migrantwing

NapoleonD wrote:

migrantwing wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

What are these tubes like regards punctures?

I tend to cover them up with tyres

Been using the same two tubes for two years now. There. Kiss of death.

Ahhhh! So, that's where I've been going wrong :?

Not at all. sounds like they're excellent.

I have Durano front and rear, at the moment, but gonna try some Bontrager Race. May as well try some new tubes, too

migrantwing

NapoleonD wrote:

migrantwing wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

You need to try them with Michelin Aircomp latex tubes :shock:

They even sound ace

What are these tubes like regards punctures?

I tend to cover them up with tyres

Been using the same two tubes for two years now. There. Kiss of death.

Ahhhh! So, that's where I've been going wrong :?

Not at all. Sounds like they're excellent.

I have Durano front and rear, at the moment, but gonna try some Bontrager Race. May as well try some new tubes, too

Anonymous

I went from using Vittoria Corsa evo cx's, fabulous tyres, felt fast on 'em and had my best result racing on them at Fowlmead last year but........

I now use Deda Tre corsas which are half the price but roll and feel like the Vittorias. The only marked differences are the Dedas max inflation is 120 psi and the vittoria is 145 psi and the TPi count, but on road feel and cornering/handling I'd take the pepsi challenge on them so see the difference. Parker international sell them, nice.