one tyre for the rest of your life , which would you choose?

p1tse

What are the deciding factors for your choices?

I'm on my first road bike and comes with Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Tyre
So nothing to compare and consider?

blackpoolkev

I have used Michelin Krylion,Vredestein Fortezza tri comp and currently Michelin Pro4 Endurance.Both Michelins are much the same but much better than the Vredesteins.The latter were noticeably less grippy on a familiar, tricky downhill,and wear out quicker.
I've noticed lots of respect for the GP 4000's.Fantasy world aside,the Contintentals are a bit more expensive,are they worth it?

mamba80

In this fantasy question - If i could only ever use one clincher tire, it would have to be the Vittoria Pave Evo 24mm.

Im a big fan of the GP4000S and it would certainly last longer than the Vitt but the Pave gives such a supple ride compared to the GP4000 which to me feels a bit wooden at about 85 to 90psi.

stinger53

+ 1 for GP4000S.

p1tse

newbie question:
is it advisable not to mix front and rear tyres on brand and model?

desweller

p1tse wrote:

newbie question:
is it advisable not to mix front and rear tyres on brand and model?

Doesn't matter. You might get some odd behaviour if you had a big difference in tyre size (e.g. 23c on the front and 35c on the back) maybe, but nothing disastrous.

alihisgreat

blackpoolkev wrote:

I have used Michelin Krylion,Vredestein Fortezza tri comp and currently Michelin Pro4 Endurance.Both Michelins are much the same but much better than the Vredesteins.The latter were noticeably less grippy on a familiar, tricky downhill,and wear out quicker.
I've noticed lots of respect for the GP 4000's.Fantasy world aside,the Contintentals are a bit more expensive,are they worth it?

Yes.

racingcondor

Bozman / thegreatdivide - I hope you keep having good luck with the Vittorias but in the mean time I'll keep them for Crit races thanks.

Got to agree with Mamba80 about the weakness of Conti's. All through the range they are too stiff in the sidewall so have an awful ride compared to some.

saprkzz

I am also a +1 for GP4000S tyres, I have been using them ever since I got my first road bike.

I also have BNIB 4 seasons, and was going to fit them for the winter, i suppose Laziness plays a part here, but have heard they can be a Bi**h to fit, can anyone back that up??

Cheers

lotus49

Trikeman wrote:

...
I don't think I can honestly say any one is faster/slower than the other - the weight difference is negligable, unless you are at the top end and wearing a polka-dot jersey, but for us (now) mere cycling mortals there is nothing to write home about.
Depending on your weight and your prefered pressures I suppose the 25 may be a little more forgiving/comfortable due to the larger volume, but you can experiment with pressures to suit your ride.

...

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Trikeman.

Thanks and yes it does. I think I'll go for the 25s as I'm fairly big (not fat but I'm over 6'2") and more concerned about comfort than speed.

gcs

Pro4's here.
Used pro 3's all last year and by the end, they looked pretty bad. Same mileage on the 4's still looking like new. Had one go, which took the sidewall out, but to be fair I think it would have killed off anything else
So I'll stick with them for a while I think

smoggysteve

nolight wrote:

You guys sure it's not the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX ??

Great tyres in all conditions, but I find they cut up a bit too easily.

Valy

GP4000s 25mm for sure.

The ZX is more supple, but I learned the hard way that it is not really suitable for winter - at least as a rear tire. Also had a pair of Vittria Evo CX in 25mm - absolutely magnificent ride quality, just sublime. Real shame than I had a rear get cut up after... 100kms and it was a write off. Front has not had anything so far, but you I find the front much less prone to punctures and it almost does not matter what you run there. Also on the CXs I had a front lock up in the rain (did not come off by some miracle), admittedly my front break cable was dry and notchy as a result so there was a big jump, but I was not squeezing 100% - seems to echo that they are not too good in the wet. Dry seems fine though.

dmclite-3.0

Deda RS Corsa tyres. Almost the same ride, TPI and feel of Vittoria Corsa CX but at a much better price. Excellent tyres.

Llinky,
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... edatyrf339

stelfc2005

would you believe it just about to order some gp4000s and wiggle tweet this deal

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gra ... es-bundle/

happy days

boogi11

stelfc2005 wrote:

would you believe it just about to order some gp4000s and wiggle tweet this deal

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gra ... es-bundle/

happy days

I ordered that yesterday on the back of this topic, mollies like a good deal,to me

ilm_zero7

stinger53 wrote:

+ 1 for GP4000S.

For me too

smoggysteve

Just occured to me, One tyre for rest of my life?

Im not going to get very far. My bike requires 2. I could try pulling permo wheelies but the front fork is gonna get a bit fragged at the traffic lights.

Hoopdriver

SmoggySteve wrote:

Just occured to me, One tyre for rest of my life?

Im not going to get very far. My bike requires 2. I could try pulling permo wheelies but the front fork is gonna get a bit fragged at the traffic lights.

When the man's right, he's right

vorsprung

Schwalbe Marathon Plus
or (old not now available) Michelin Pro Race 2

moscowflyer

How comfortable is a Conti 4000S cmpared to say a Michelin Pro 4 or a ZX Ultremo? I ride with Schwalbe Durano Plus during the winter and they're obviously quite heavy and not the most comfortable, but is the Conti as slick and comfortable to ride on as some of the other race tyres mentioned here?

alihisgreat

MoscowFlyer wrote:

How comfortable is a Conti 4000S cmpared to say a Michelin Pro 4 or a ZX Ultremo? I ride with Schwalbe Durano Plus during the winter and they're obviously quite heavy and not the most comfortable, but is the Conti as slick and comfortable to ride on as some of the other race tyres mentioned here?

The Continentals GP4000s will be harsher and less supple than some race tyres, but you gain durability and puncture protection.

This thread is essentially about a trade off between ride quality and protection since we're only allowed one tyre for the rest of our lives, I think the GP4000s gets the balance just about right.

moscowflyer

I have a pair of Ultremo ZX that I took off before riding on them (came with the bike) as I've seen many reports that they're only good for a few hundred miles. I used to really like the Michelin Pro Race 2, haven't tried the subsequent ones though.

smidsy

Well if we can only have one pair for the rest of our lives we better get them made from hosepipe to last :-)

LiamW

I have the Contis GP 4000s at the minute, but if i have to choose again then it would be the Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp. Best set of tyres i ever ridden.

keef66

saprkzz wrote:

I am also a +1 for GP4000S tyres, I have been using them ever since I got my first road bike.

I also have BNIB 4 seasons, and was going to fit them for the winter, i suppose Laziness plays a part here, but have heard they can be a Bi**h to fit, can anyone back that up??

Cheers

I've never had a problem with 4 seasons; can fit them without levers on my RS10 wheels

GavH

Conti GP4000S. Several thousand miles on two pairs; one on my Summer bike and an older pair on my Winter hack since late 2008. One puncture. Caused by overinflating the tube (tube literally split at the seams in multuple places!).

lostboysaint

Hoopdriver wrote:

Conti GP 4-Seasons (a variation on the above GP theme)

25mm GP4S

moscowflyer

lostboysaint wrote:

Hoopdriver wrote:

Conti GP 4-Seasons (a variation on the above GP theme)

25mm GP4S

Just bitten the bullet and ordered some, I'm currently running the Durano Plus so will make an almost 300g saving on weight, will be interesting to see if they're as durable.

Grill

Michelin Pro 4.