Tyre choice help

marcusww

Looking for some 23 tyres that have a similar amount of puncture protection to my old shredded tyres being specialized espoir elite which has double flak jacket - whatever that means? Any ideas?

Wirral_paul

Plenty to choose from - but any reason why you wouldnt consider 25mm tyres? The evidence is suggesting that 25mm tyres are marginally faster rolling, more comfy, and importantly - less prone to pinch punctures.

Whats your budget for a pair?

Sprool

I want to see the evidence!

Wirral_paul

Sprool wrote:

I want to see the evidence!

Nothing definitive as yet it seems (anyone got other links?) but plenty of pro's / pro mechanics are moving to wider tyres. Anyone who has tried 25mm tyres will i'm sure confirm they are more comfy (higher volume / can run lower pressure)

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/giro-tech-rise-of-the-25c-tire_218011

Gizmodo

Sprool wrote:

I want to see the evidence!

I can't give you evidence, but I can quote an article in a cycling magazine that I'm currently reading:

Schwalbe product manager Marcus Hachmeyer says studies into tyre behaviour have unconvered some surprising things; 'If you comare tyres with different widths but identical specs - same compound, same rounded profile, same inflation pressure - one can say in terms of rolling resistance: the wider the faster!'

'Wider tyres are faster' echoes Wurmback at Continental. 'A 24mm rolls faster than a 23mm, but a 25mm tyre rolls even faster than that. In fact our GP4000s tyre is around 7% faster in a 25mm than a 23mm version.'

The reason goes back to the issue of deformation.

Cyclist magazine, 007, May 2013, page 90.

slowbike

quite simply - the Conti GP 4 seasons or GP4000s for anything on the road - they do them in 23 or 25mm. Wiggle have an offer on the 4000s at the moment so I've just bought a spare set.

marcusww

Wirral_Paul wrote:

Plenty to choose from - but any reason why you wouldnt consider 25mm tyres? The evidence is suggesting that 25mm tyres are marginally faster rolling, more comfy, and importantly - less prone to pinch punctures.

Whats your budget for a pair?

£40 - £60 I have read that the 25's are faster also but are 23's faster of you pump them up harder? I looked at the conti tyres but just need to know if the 4 season or 4000s have better or worse puncrure protection than the specialized Espoir Tyres - I am trying to do one Sportive per month this year and would rather have tyres with good protection as to out and out racing light weights.

garyk72

I've got Schwalbe Dyrano S on my bike and they seem to run very fast and no issues with p#######s yet!

smidsy

Marcusww wrote:

Looking for some 23 tyres that have a similar amount of puncture protection to my old shredded tyres

This statement would suggest you actually need something with better punture protection

Continental Gatorskins are very good for that as are Scwalbe Marathon plus. The former give a better ride.

smoggysteve

Schwalbe Ultremo ZX DD - 1 puncture in over 7 months now. Some of the routes I ride have some terrible patches of grit and debris and I have no problems with them. So long as you keep the pressure in them over 100psi you will have plenty of life out of them.

VTech

I have viewed several of the above mentioned tyres but they often come in various options.
If there was a best tyre for speed and reliability, puncture resistant etc what is it ?

smoggysteve

There isnt one, every tyre has its good and bad points, what you may gain in puncture resistance you may lose in grip or rolling resistance. You have to look at what suits your type of riding. If you go places where its always clear and dry there is little need for treaded tyres. I love Ultremos, but they do cut up a bit easy. I babalnce the pros and cons and decide I like the feel and take the cut risk. If you are happy to lose performance in favour or reliability then find an alternative.

Bordersroadie

smidsy wrote:

Marcusww wrote:

Looking for some 23 tyres that have a similar amount of puncture protection to my old shredded tyres

This statement would suggest you actually need something with better punture protection

Continental Gatorskins are very good for that as are Scwalbe Marathon plus. The former give a better ride.

I'm a longtime fan of Gatorskins for my winter/commuter bikes but a word of warning, do not buy them in 23c, they give a rock hard ride, way worse than the 25c version and almost unacceptable for long rides on anything but supersmooth roads. Mine are relegated to turbo duty.

VTech

This is key for me, I would prefer a softer ride myself and maybe go for the 25's.
Ive seen a lot of info on the continental but there are several options, folding etc.
im after a blend of soft ride, speed and puncture resistant, im not asking much ?

slowbike

I've yet to puncture my gp4 seasons - 23mm in 1500 miles - that's on all sorts of terrain. They have been really grippy too - commuting in the wet and on muddy single lane tracks - I drew the line at snow though

VTech

Slowbike wrote:

I've yet to puncture my gp4 seasons - 23mm in 1500 miles - that's on all sorts of terrain. They have been really grippy too - commuting in the wet and on muddy single lane tracks - I drew the line at snow though

They are the folding type ?
Im not sure why but these really put me off, ive no idea why though.

slowbike

Yup. Easier to get on and off - I believe they are lighter too.

I chose them because so many had said they were good - both for grip in the wet and longevity. I know they're a little more than other tyres, but if you buy them less often ...!

I had the specialised armadillo ones previous and they lasted about 1000miles before deteriorating..
I've just got some 4000s's on order as they're on offer ATM if you get a wiggle on

VTech

Thanks. Ill get some. You on 25's ?

slowbike

No. I've stayed with 23s for the moment

VTech

I guess your a serious cyclist but would you think the 25's would be more comfortable for a "newbie" ?

slowbike

I wouldn't say I'm a serious cyclist - I've just had 23s up till now and find them comfortable enough.
I've ridden a pair of other brand 25s on the cx bike and that was ok too - I'm just wearing those ones out so I can throw them away - got the cx tyres on it at the moment though!

FergySteve

I went with Continental Gatorskin 23s to replace my Vittoria Zaffiro Pros that came on my bike from new. I bought the folding ones as opposed to the wired ones, as I always seem to have trouble getting tyres on :oops: Yet to puncture them and the folding ones really were a lot easier to put on.

VTech

FergySteve wrote:

I went with Continental Gatorskin 23s to replace my Vittoria Zaffiro Pros that came on my bike from new. I bought the folding ones as opposed to the wired ones, as I always seem to have trouble getting tyres on :oops: Yet to puncture them and the folding ones really were a lot easier to put on.

Thanks, I think ive made my mind up. Only thing im unsure about now is width,

slowbike

go for the 25mm ...

VTech

You da man, cheers, ill get a pair.

VTech

Sorry to bother you again, are these the ones ?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gra ... road-tyre/

slowbike

Yup. Or these

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gra ... road-tyre/

Which is what I've just bought.

VTech

You are so helpful, cant thank you enough.

slowbike

VTech wrote:

You are so helpful, cant thank you enough.

Just a ta would do ....

Don't go overboard!!

VTech

Slowbike wrote:

VTech wrote:

You are so helpful, cant thank you enough.

Just a ta would do ....

Don't go overboard!!

Cant even thank people on here without a negative

smidsy

VTech wrote:

You are so helpful, cant thank you enough.

Apparently you have, who would have thought it