Michelin Pro Race 3 CHEAP!

CRAIGO5000
Posts: 697
Just before Xmas I snagged a bargain set of Kyserium SL SSC's so I'm adding lightweight butyl tubes and some light folding clinchers. With that in mind, I just ordered some Pro 3 Light tyres from Planet X as they have them going cheap at £15 each since the Pro Race 4 is out. I've since found that for £2 more you can buy the Pro 3 Race? Google has nothing on any differences between the light and race versions and the marketing descriptions are minimal at best. Does anyone know any real world differences between the two? From what I can gather, the Pro 3 Light seems to have a puncture belt and different compounds of rubber on the shoulders. It also appears to be 10 grams heavier. Is that it? If that's correct, I'm glad I opted for the puncture belt version at the expense of 10 grams.
Ribble Stealth/SRAM Force
2007 Specialized Allez (Double) FCN - 3
2007 Specialized Allez (Double) FCN - 3
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I would not bother with the Pro 3 when there are great offers available on the much better Pro 4's eg
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Kits ... elID=85815
Peter0 -
Dont the pro 4s wear quite quick because of the tyre shape?0
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northpole wrote:I would not bother with the Pro 3 when there are great offers available on the much better Pro 4's eg
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Kits ... elID=85815
Peter
In what way are Pro 4's much better? I've never used them, but I've been using Pro 3 for years so I'd be interested to know how they compare.More problems but still living....0 -
Iam going for a pair of the pro 3 lights i think. Difference wise perhaps you'll get a longer life compared to the race versions or its just that anti puncture strip. Any of the pro tyres they do will be very good though
Cheers for the heads up, Great deal on those0 -
The Planet X Pro 3 Race are OEM (ie no retail packaging), they therefore come "loose" in the plastic postal bag, but they are a very good deal.Colnago Addict!0
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In what way are Pro 4's much better? I've never used them, but I've been using Pro 3 for years so I'd be interested to know how they compare.
I have had mine two or three months and have only used them for commuting but I have found them to be far too good for the task! It's been yonks since I had Pro 3's but I found them to be terribly prone to cuts and p**ctures compared to the other tyres I have used - they were lovely rolling tyres. The 4's provide a lovely ride quality and whilst the service course model may be heavier than the Pro 3 (I haven't checked the stats) Michelin seem to have used a much more cut resistant construction which provides me with much more confidence in them. I weigh 13 - 14 stone, so lighter folks may not suffer the same quantum of cut/ p**ctures on Pro 3's which I experienced.
I'm seriously tempted to replace my long running Conti Attack/ Force tyres with the Pro 4's - especially after the recent deluge of p**ctures I have recently experienced!! As a stop gap, yesterday I stuck on a pair of Conti 4 Seasons I had sat on the shelf unused but, from previous experience, they don't possess half the ride quality of the Pro 4's in my opinion.
Peter0 -
3,000 miles on my last set of Pro4. Zero punctures. Already bought a new set for next summer. Grip is the same as the Pro3 but they don't cut nearly as easy.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0
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Well I got them through today and they weigh sod all! 190grams compared to my Rubino's wired beaded which weigh 300grams each. Quality of the tyres is absolutely crapola though. If I'd have bought these for £40 a pop I'd have threw up on the spot. One blew up on inflation (only got to 60psi) and lacerated in two places - I thought my rim had popped! The other looks like a blind man made it where the two stripes of different coloured rubber compound join. One side of the soft compound rolls over all over the shoulder and the side opposite has nothing of the softer 'cornering' compound to lean on. This tyre also has a slice in it.
I think the second tyre blew as it was badly damaged during production but not evident until I started to get some air into the tyre. At which point, the innertube came through the slice and KABOOM!. The slices seem to be at the point where the tyre is joined together?
I now don't want to use Michelin tyres now. If this could happen on the road, I don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a tyre that has peeled itself away from it's own carcass. I have Continentals on the Winter hack and think I'll get some race Conti's as quality seems higher on those.
I just need to tell Planet X on Wednesday now and try and sort this mess out.Ribble Stealth/SRAM Force
2007 Specialized Allez (Double) FCN - 30 -
Can't comment on the failures, but in your OP you have it backwards. The Pro 3 Light is AFAIK an ultra-lite version of the Pro 3 Race, with LESS puncture protection. Its official weight is variously given as 180 or 185g, vs. 200g for the Pro 3 Race.
My experience with the Pro 3 Race is similar to those above - very nice to ride, but also quite prone to cuts. I would never buy the Light version as I'd expect it to be even less durable.0 -
Wow, never seen that before! Really not good.
I got some of these recently but havent fitted them yet(from Ribble not Planet X) will have to go an d check to see if mine are OK.
I've used the standard pro race 3 for 5 years and they are my favourite, and IMO best, all round tyre.Mañana0 -
So you bought unpackaged OEM tyres at a bargain price and they weren't up to snuff? Imagine my surprise...
That said you should send them back for new ones or a refund. Defects happen, you should see the Conti GP4000 thread on Weight Weenies...
BTW- MajorMantra is correct. Pro 3 Race is 200g.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0 -
Grill wrote:So you bought unpackaged OEM tyres at a bargain price and they weren't up to snuff? Imagine my surprise...
I've bought stacks of OEM kit over the years, including tyres, never one single problem. I don't think problems should be 'expected' with OEM.
I wouldn't be happy having to deal with this, all the admin of packing them up, sending them off, waiting for refunds. Poor show if PX are knowingly sending this stuff out, but I imagine it's just a bad batch that they don't know about.0 -
I didn't know they'd be turning up as unpackaged? (they were packed up for transit but not in oem packaging) I bought them from Planet X and the ad never mentioned this? Also the RRP is much higher that the £15 advertised. It's not like they are made by ACME tyres, Michelin are a good brand in tyres and when RRP's are higher elsewhere, you'd think the exact same tyre is going to be on offer.
I really want to like them too, they look like they'd perform great while air is in them and they are obviously very light but puncture protection and overall surface quality is awful! Perhaps the Race version as mentioned above is worth paying the extra £2 for. As there is no info on the web for any of them when I ordered, then obviously I'm buying blind.
GP4000, Ultremo's or Corsa EVO's next...Ribble Stealth/SRAM Force
2007 Specialized Allez (Double) FCN - 30 -
There's a very good chance that PX bought these as a bulk purchase on the cheap. I've seen it happen in other industries and it's generally unsent OEM shipments mixed with factory seconds and returns, Would certainly explain the inconsistency with the received product.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0
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i got a stem with broken bolt through the post today from Planet X...a bit dodgy, and also tried to fit the stem on to see if the angle and length was right...guess what the stem was too thin...the headsets were loose. so wherever PX got those, they are crap as the stuff is way out of tolerance.
on the subject matter, I bought Pro4 instead of Pro3 as fair few people say P4 is more durable and rides as well. Got them from CYC and its great quality, so I don't think it's a typical issue from Michelin that your tyres appear to be damages straight out of packagingRoad - Cannondale CAAD 8 - 7.8kg
Road - Chinese Carbon Diablo - 6.4kg0 -
pb21 wrote:Wow, never seen that before! Really not good.
I got some of these recently but havent fitted them yet(from Ribble not Planet X) will have to go an d check to see if mine are OK.
I've used the standard pro race 3 for 5 years and they are my favourite, and IMO best, all round tyre.
Me too.'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.0 -
Iam fitting my pro 3 lights now and they dont have any problems. Got the first up to 80psi atm and about the do the rear. Paid for them yesterday (planet x) at 1pm and got them today. Pretty shocking to see those cuts!0
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Also given the weight difference between the race & light (10g?) it could be safe to say that they are pretty much the same tyre0
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Got mine on and just got back from a quick 10 or so mile ride and they are very good so far
CRAIGO5000.. give Planet x a call and get them to replace that tyre for another. Bad luck for sure but its totally worth it if you get an undamaged pair. Email them the pics you have taken and ask them to send another so you can just bin the bad one0