New tyres

joelsim
joelsim Posts: 7,552
edited May 2013 in Road buying advice
by Joelsim » Sun May 12, 2013 11:22 pm
I need a new set of tyres, my requirements in order are:

Puncture proof - most important thing by far
Comfort
Grip
Speed

What would you recommend? I have some ultra gatorskins at the moment which haven't given me any problems, but they aren't the most comfortable or grippy.

Comments

  • paul1000
    paul1000 Posts: 190
    Conti gp4000s, end of.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    If I was to revise my list of priorities to the following, would you still say the same?

    Puncture proof
    Puncture proof
    Puncture proof
    Puncture proof
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    If that's your priorty then give up looking. It's a rubber tyre.
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    Yes I know, and if I get a puncture whilst out and about with my kids that's fine. If I get one on my commute then it is a pain in the arse. My new bike doesn't have quick release wheels. I carry a spare tube for eventualities but this is by far the most important thing, minimising visits from the puncture fairy.
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    Schwalbe Marathon Plus - the smallest they come is 700x25c but I guarantee you will never get a puncture!
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
    Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
    Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
    Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
  • pkripper
    pkripper Posts: 652
    If not gp4000s, then gp4 seasons might be more applicable in the 25mm guise
  • northpole
    northpole Posts: 1,499
    Conti 4 Season are more robust than GP4000s however, neither should be considered pun**ure proof.

    The Marathon and Spesh Armadillo tyres are the extreme bullet proof contenders. Harsh ride quality is likely but pun**ures are likely to be fended off.

    A friend runs with Schwalbe Durano Plus tyres and rates them extremely highly for durability and resistance to the deflationary pixies - they are likely to provide an improved ride quality, but I am only surmising when saying this. The same person tried GP4000s and threw them in the rubbish bin after a few months tube replacement intensive activities! I don't think he has suffered any such issues with the Duranos.

    Peter
  • bisoner
    bisoner Posts: 171
    There must be a similar thread somewhere in the forum archives which repeats what we are all saying. Still, here is my input.

    There are plenty of tyres which will be more puncture proof (Durano's spring to mind) but after going from a basic Conti tyre to a Michelin PR3 there is no going back in terms of ride quality. I could waffle on but I'd always go for something like a GP4000s as a compromise tyre (I know some people call it a race tyre) or if I am feeling brave, a set of Veloflex Masters, which are lovely to ride. I would also add I ride much lower pressures nowadays, around 95-100psi, rather than 120psi and that has certainly helped with the volume of punctures and ride comfort. We have flints a plenty in Hampshire so that can savage any tyre but I have to say I don't get too many punctures on the whole.

    Oh, and get 25mm tyres if you can.
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    I've gone back to 25mm Durano's as I got fed up of punctures on Conti's.
  • warrerj
    warrerj Posts: 665
    If your main concern is puncture proof run any tyre you want and add some stans fluid to the tube ;-)
  • Michelin Pro 4 Endurance
  • Sprool
    Sprool Posts: 1,022
    can't you get slime inner tubes for road bikes? I know they're a MTB thing and they add a lot of weight but they will help endure punctures better if that's your number one priority.
  • W12_Lad
    W12_Lad Posts: 184
    Only a beginner but I share your views on punctures so stuck Durano plus' on my first road bike since a kid, in November. About 750 miles - Zero punctures. Decided to go a bit more "sporty" on my new "summer" wheels and pumped for GP 4 seasons - Zero Punctures in about 300 miles. Unfortunately I don't have enough experience to give a proper review on ride quality suffice to say that the new ones feel better but they are better wheels and placebo will be lurking anyway.
    Hope that helps a bit.
  • W12_Lad
    W12_Lad Posts: 184
    I may as well add, I started riding my mountain bike for fitness (mostly on the road) about 4 years ago and, after too many punctures, put marathon plus' on, and after maybe 1500 miles, I've had no punctures.
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    I run Marathon Plus on my station hack and my Alfine hubbed bike. The former because I don't want to do any maintenance and the latter because changing a tube with an Alfine is a pain. I've never had a puncture with either, although they are my least ridden bikes.

    M+ are bombproof. Immediately following WW3 it's what the surviving cockroaches will put on their bikes. However, they are heavy, the hard rubber can be sketchy in the wet and they can feel like you are riding wooden wheels.

    Durano+ are the road bike equivalent. Lighter and better grip (also slick) but they are still heavier and more wooden than other tyres, but a massive improvement on the M+. I used to have them on my fixed. Again, no punctures in the winter I used them (approx 3,000 miles) before I sold the bike.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I've got Gatrorskin Hardshells on my commuter, which *touchwood have been stunning for 2 years. I was just wondering whether there was anything a little more comfortable and grippy with the same level of protection from the pixies really. Otherwise it is another set of Gatorskins.

    I know what you mean about wooden wheels...and my new bike is a single-speed which doesn't have quick release wheels which makes it even more important to minimise the number of p*******.

    Bianchi-Pista-Sale_02.jpg
  • antonyfromoz
    antonyfromoz Posts: 482
    get some Stan's tape, convert your wheels to tubeless and use some proper tubeless tyres after adding some Stan's or another latex to the tyre. Schwalbe have just released some tubeless tyres that are meant to be much nicer to ride on than the Hutchinson ones that have almost been the only option up to now. Why compromise ride quality if you don't have to? http://www.notubes.com/Road-Tubeless-C78.aspx
  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    I ran tubeless for a year; Fulcrum Racing 1 with Hutchinson Fusions. Got to say that I found it disappointing.

    I didn't have any less punctures that I did normally and the tyres weren't great. Bit of a faff really.

    Also, the blow back when inflating the tyres meant that it completely gummed up my track pump with sealant.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
    Race - Fuji Norcom Straight
    Sun - Cervelo R3
    Winter / Commute - Dolan ADX
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    If you're desperate to avoid punctures at all costs then the Gatorskin Hardshell is ideal. However the GP4s is a nicer tyre and seems to be just as impervious (and yes, I realise I've just roused the puncture fairies by saying that!)
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • joelsim
    joelsim Posts: 7,552
    I went for some Rubino Pro in red (yes I know). As it's my leisure bike rather than my commuter!
  • ademort
    ademort Posts: 1,924
    gabriel959 wrote:
    Schwalbe Marathon Plus - the smallest they come is 700x25c but I guarantee you will never get a puncture!

    +1
    and no they will never puncture.
    Ademort
    ademort
    Chinarello, record and Mavic Cosmic Sl
    Gazelle Vuelta , veloce
    Giant Defy 4
    Mirage Columbus SL
    Batavus Ventura