Puncture resistant tyre

Twelly

Quick one...

Recommend me a good puncture resistant tyre for my Allez. I am struggling to get further than 10 miles with out a puncture at the moment and it is just so soul destroying when every morning is an epic, expensive mission to get to work when I get a puncture half way. Under £20 for one tyre would be nice.

Before anyone says, I have been through the current tyre with a fine tooth comb and cannot find any debris, my LBS has done the same. Changing the tyre is the final option.

I currently have 'Specialized Espoir Sport, double BlackBelt, 60 TPI, wire bead, 700x23c'

I'm a MTBer so forgive my ignorance regarding road rubber.

In order of priority (high to low):
Puncture resistance
Price
Speed
Grip
Comfort

ToeKnee

There must be plenty of threads here about tyres ... perhaps you can search for the names people recommend?

I am happy enough with my tyres (25mm Specialized All Condition Armadillo) and have had four fairy visits this year (a tad short of 3k miles)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec001821

A friend swears by (Continental Gatorskin):
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/con ... 5-ec004883

Another with (Schwalbe Marathon Plus) although they say the tyres are lifeless:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sch ... e-ec001798

Evans currently have £10 off when you spend over £50 (code SUMLB10).

I have heard that 25mm tyres are more resistent than 23mm and can be faster.
Also, your position in the road might be contributing to your problem - don't ride too close to the kerb/gutter.

Going back to the Specialized Espoir Sport (which I have never used), have you matched the hole in the tube to the tyre to ensure the problem is with penetration rather than rim tape/spoke or a pinch?

Phew ... no mention of the P word.

Twelly

Thanks for the suggestions, will check them all out.

I have searched the forum and you are right, there are a hell of a lot of threads regarding tyres. I don't have a spare 10 years to wade through them and find one which is best for avoiding 'the P word'

The tyres have done 600 miles with no problems but I have now had 9 rear flats in the last month.

Rim tape changed twice
Different brands/sizes of tube
Different pressures tried
Checked the tyre so carefully it's ridiculous - my last session was over an hour long with my housemates jewellers magnifying glass light and a pair of tweezers...
Have lined up the holes with the tyre and they seem to be coming from all over, completely random.

So I'm changing the tyre!

Thanks for the advice.

Gizmo_

Wow. You must be unlucky. I've done 400 miles on mine without a single p*ncture.

simona75

If you're looking for out and out puncture resistance I'd go for armadillo. They don't roll that great resulting in quite a hard ride but they are bulletproof even in the wet. I tend to use Gatorskins on my good weather bike and armadillos on my horrid weather bike. Guess which one I have used most of this year :-)

Hoopdriver

Schwalbe Marathon Plusses are probably the ultmate puncture resistent tyre - famously so. You put them on and take them ff again when they've finally worn out, about 20,000 miles later

ghilder

I am currently using Specialized Infinity 28 700c about £13 from J E James Cycles not one puncture approx 800 miles.

tremayne

Gators aren't that p proof. Nice tyre though. The Schwalbe is a pig of a tyre - very p resistant. I've had both and will be staying with sch-you-know-who

bendertherobot

If you want speed try the excellent Michelin pro 4 endurance, basically new krylions

northpole

Simplest solution is choose a different route!!

Armadillo are robust to say the least.

I would be tempted by the Krylion if you can get hold of old stock, or, failing that, Pro 4 Race Endurance as a balanced compromise between robustness and having a bit of livliness from the tyres.

Not sure what weight you are but do try to maintain a high pressure, particularly in the rear tyre.

Peter

houndlegs

I've got bontrager hardcases on my trek and they have had a bit of a slamming and not one p thingy.
A quick search had them at £14 At jejames.
I've no idea how they compare to the others mentioned but they've done me proud.

RowCycle

Gatorskins. Fantastic at not getting punctures.

arthur_scrimshaw

Hoopdriver wrote:

Schwalbe Marathon Plusses are probably the ultmate puncture resistent tyre - famously so. You put them on and take them ff again when they've finally worn out, about 20,000 miles later

I've had no visits in 3000 miles, however they are hard work, very heavy compared to my road bike tyres (ultremo zx's ) as you would expect but for a commuter it's what I want.

donkykong

buy some specs and spot the thorns before ya hit them.

ricklilley

I started getting a lot of punctures in the Specialized mondos that were originally on my 2010 Allez.

Recently fit a pair of Vittoria Rubino Pro Techs, and have had no problems since (done between 300 - 400 miles so far). They are lighter than the mondos too. And currently £26 each on CRC.

cookeeemonster

like some of the others above I started getting a load of punctures in my supposedly puncture resistant specialized tyres that came with my bike, so I changed...to durano plus - no punctures since and they are great to ride on in comparision

sparkins1972

I have found Schwalbe Durano Plus to be virtually bomb proof - I lose a bit of rolling prowess with them but I reckon 20 seconds off a ride is better than losing 10 mins. Not cheap however.

loukest

My own experience of Gator S's is pants. I've had two, both have developed tears, one was nowhere near the contact point of the type, nor the rim, it was part way up the wall and no, my brake blocks are not set up incorrectly. I'm sure there must be something in them as many people do speak very highly of them.

I've had Bontragers on two bikes for over a year and I know this is hard to believe but I have not had one single puncture. I have ridden the bikes in the South East while living down there and for the last year in Yorkshire, both of which areas have their share of bad roads. I have recommended these to friends, one has had some on for about 8 months without a puncture, the other less and has had one puncture. I think I have racelite xxx on one and racelite 4seasons or something on the other. Evans seems to be the best bet for most Bonty products......

spoinged

I've Been using Specialized Borough CX Armadillo Elite's but the wall has started to split and now need replaced. However now discontinued everywhere and looking for a replacement. Tempted by the All condition Armadillo Elite but not sure if it's grippy enough for the rougher stuff on my commute. 20 miles a day on mixture of canal towpath, Cycle Path, farm track and mud. Don't want to go nobbly's.

robcretro

I've done 4000 miles on michelin krylions with no punctures, just bought another pair so if you search google
you can probably find some.

northpole

They weren't good for generating repeat business - they last too long!!

TOM14S

Another big fan of krylions here, thousands of harsh road miles and no probs.
There's a review here that rates krylion top, so did cycling plus.
http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/article/bes ... 011-32761/
Michelin krylion are now "superseded" by pro 4 endurance which are marketed as an improved replacement.... Anyone any first hand opinions of the endurance compared to krylions yet?

letap73

houndlegs wrote:

I've got bontrager hardcases on my trek and they have had a bit of a slamming and not one p thingy.
A quick search had them at £14 At jejames.
I've no idea how they compare to the others mentioned but they've done me proud.

+1

Retired one of these after 7 years on a back wheel - not one single puncture from them!

AllezGaz

Never had an issue with the espoir tyres on my Allez, 1200 miles + without puncture!

DrDavros

I too would like to know what people think of them - bet they're not as good as the Krylions!

I've been running a set of Pro4 Endurance (25s at about 80psi) most of the summer. My entirely unsupportable opinion is that they're marginally better than the Krylions - they seem to roll a little better, are a little more supple (they mount on the rim very easily) and feel more secure on fast descents. I can't comment on how they perform in the wet because I avoid rain whenever possible!

I ran the last set of Krylions for about 18 months with only one ***cture. By the time they came off, they were a little cut up and getting very square. The Pro4s still look almost as good as new. I'd highly recommend them.

lostboysaint

Gatorskin Hardshell or GP Four Seasons.

essjaydee

Had Krylions on mine and dobne approx 2000 miles without a P******* 8)

But then had a rear flat on a Friday which wrecked the tyre, and then on monday had a front flat. Replaced tube and on inflating noticed the sidewall was 'rippled', and it flatted another tube. Tires looked fine for wear and didn't notice any 'rippling'.

Seems strange they both went within a few days, and makes me wonder how old they where when I bought them as can only think the rubber had deteriorated when they where being stored