Tyre help

blablablacksheep

So ive been using some continental gators on my bike and they have been doing very well but im not as impressed as i hoped id be with them.

Maybe its because ive just been very unlucky or maybe just having too high expectations.

So looking to change.

Im looking to get a good training tyre, something with some protection but not too much weight, ie must be same or less than gators.

Im looking at either
Continental GP 4 Season Folding Tyre £35
Continental GP4000 S Tyre £31
Vredestein Fortezza Tricomp £28
Schwalbe Ultremo ZX Tyres pair for £60

Or i might just buy another gator skin set of tyres and put it down to bad luck?

mr_mojo

Michelin Pro 4 Endurance?

ilm_zero7

these: Continental GP4000 S Tyre £31

blablablacksheep

See what a few more peeps say, but just spoke to someone who has the ultrmo tyres and been told they are very fast but are as thick as a balloon so useless for any training pretty much.

mhj999

ILM Zero7 wrote:

these: Continental GP4000 S Tyre £31

+1

northpole

Depends on how much p**cture protection you are seeking. Following suggestions, protection increasing from 1 - 3:

1. Michelin Pro 4 Service Course

2. Conti 4 Season

3. Schwalbe Durano Plus

Peter

ricky1980

didn't know Michelin Pro 4 is even a puncture proof tyre nor was the GP 4000s...neither tyres has any anti puncture layers (Michelin's Protek shield and gatorskin for Conti) - also these are SLICK tyres with no groove for any water withdraw from road surface so not really ideal in any moist conditions

Conti 4s is same and less than gator in the sense has same puncture proof layer but got less rubber or different compound and made lighter. not sure about ultremo in terms of puncture resistance. But Durano is known for its durability

Specialized Armadillo is another heavy duty puncture proof tyre like Durano Plus.

not sure what you use your bike for. but the fact that you have gator skin on atm means you use it for commute?

if so you will need some kind of puncture resistance therefore Conti 4s would be the choice or Armadillo Elite as Ultremo seems to be a slick tyre also.

i am just not a fan of slick on wet roads...personal thing :shock:

jumbosausage

All a tread pattern does on a road tyre is hang on to grit, glass and other undesireable bits that will cause damage (making you buy more)! The tyre is not wide enough to aquaplane like a car, motorcycle, lorry etc. The grip of the tyre comes from the rubber compound.....nothing more.
Tread is on some road tyres because quite a few people like you, expect it.
I can assure you, as will many others that good quality slick tyres work perfectly ok in wet conditions.

nawty

A recent thread on "if you could only ever have one tyre" gave an overwhelming response in favour of the Continental GP4000 S and the Conti 4s was popular too as an all year 'round option.

bendertherobot

ricky1980 wrote:

didn't know Michelin Pro 4 is even a puncture proof tyre nor was the GP 4000s...neither tyres has any anti puncture layers (Michelin's Protek shield and gatorskin for Conti) - also these are SLICK tyres with no groove for any water withdraw from road surface so not really ideal in any moist conditions

Conti 4s is same and less than gator in the sense has same puncture proof layer but got less rubber or different compound and made lighter. not sure about ultremo in terms of puncture resistance. But Durano is known for its durability

Specialized Armadillo is another heavy duty puncture proof tyre like Durano Plus.

not sure what you use your bike for. but the fact that you have gator skin on atm means you use it for commute?

if so you will need some kind of puncture resistance therefore Conti 4s would be the choice or Armadillo Elite as Ultremo seems to be a slick tyre also.

i am just not a fan of slick on wet roads...personal thing :shock:

Both pro 4 and gp 4000s have puncture protection. Also tyres don't need tread. Aqua planing on a bike would need you to travel at upwards of 100 mph

dwanes

Especially on a 23mm tyre there is so little of the tyre in contact with the road that a bit of tread isn't going to make any difference to grip.

buzzwold

Loving this post as I'm looking to upgrade my tyres from the woeful Hutchison Nitros on my Bianchi to something lighter and faster rolling.

Interesting upgrade in Cycling Plus this month suggested the following in order of upgrade with 3 being the best

1. Hutchinson Intensive
2. Michelin Pro 4 Service Course
3. Schwalbe Ultremo ZX (apparently the DD variant adds additional toughness)

Now I know that Cycling Plus always favour the racing solution so I'm torn between 1 and 2 as I think option 3 is too race oriented.

Looked at Contis but write ups vary.

Final bit of advice, have you checked the websites of Wiggle, Evans et al. The reviews can be helpful.

cougie

GP4000s by far. They've not let me down in years.

(crosses fingers)

rich164h

buzzwold wrote:

1. Hutchinson Intensive
2. Michelin Pro 4 Service Course
3. Schwalbe Ultremo ZX (apparently the DD variant adds additional toughness)

Now I know that Cycling Plus always favour the racing solution so I'm torn between 1 and 2 as I think option 3 is too race oriented.

The Michelin's are equally as race orientated though. No idea about the Hutchinsons.

Rob Noall

Motivated to reply after long time lurking because I am in same position looking to replace Gatorskins on Winter bike/commuter. I also have experience of running Ultremos on my best bike for last 2/3 years.

FWIW my experiences do not support the Conti fan club which often contributes to questions on tyres. For summer racing/fun I think the Ultremos ride better and grip just as well as Conti 4000S. Ultremos might not be quite as durable and I have had the coloured versions crack up/perish where the coloured compound breaks away from the black. But the all black version is the best to my mind.

The Gators have done a good very good mileage but for grip they scare me after Ultremos and they have had more than their share of punctures which rather defeats the alledged merit of riding them. So for winter the choice for me is either Conti 4 season or Durano and experience leans towards Schwalbe.

At the price below the faster tyre (and slightly greater risk of a puncture!) of the Durano S looks pretty compelling!!

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k373/a ... black.html


Robin'

the_cyclist_of_catan

Three of us riding on Gatorskins earlier this week managed to suffer 4 p's between us. And I'd already had two a couple of days before . Half thinking of switching to Marathon Pluses!

wallace_and_gromit

The Cyclist of Catan wrote:

Half thinking of switching to Marathon Pluses!

The nuclear option! I've got a pair of those babies on my run around bike and I suspect they'd survive a nuclear explosion. They do take a while to rev up to speed, though...

I've got some Vredestein Fiammante DuoComps on my winter bike. I won them in a raffle at the LBS and they are not the prettiest tyres out there, but they roll and grip well enough. ~£18 each at Wiggle. Just shy of 300g each, but seemingly impervious to punctures. I've ridden one and a half winters on them (3000k so far) with no breaches. In fact, there seems to be no sign of wear at all. Other than the looks, the only downsides I've encountered are that they are quite hard to fit and feel a bit skittish in low temperatures.

TOM14S

IMO Michellin pro 4 service course or endurance depending on level of puncture protection required. I've tried lots. the same people on this forum go on about conti's 4000, 4000s 4seasons, gator skins etc. half of them have probably not even tried other tyres.

cougie

I've used marathon pluses on an adventure race where most people rode mtbs. They handled offroading and rocks no bother. Great tyres if you need that kind of protection.

paul1000

Gp4000s all day long, had to throw away two ultremo zx' due to eggs and splits

buzzwold

Sifting through thread brings me to the conclusion that apart from individual preferences the manufacturers appear to be making products that are not consistent in different users hands. I specifically refer to the product dissing between the Contis and the Schwalbe supporters.

I only want something that lasts well, doesn't need to be changed to meet seasonal requirements (which given last 12 months' weather patterns is every other week), and rolls faster than the rubber bands currently attached to my hoops. All at a decent price.

smidsy

buzzwold wrote:

I only want something that lasts well, doesn't need to be changed to meet seasonal requirements (which given last 12 months' weather patterns is every other week), and rolls faster than the rubber bands currently attached to my hoops. All at a decent price.

You and the rest of the planet. The manufacturer that brings out one tyre that fulfills all that will be the only one left making tyres - so do not hold your breath.

Realistically you need to compromise to get a one tyre fits all or accept that you will run different tyres in winter and summer.