700x28 Tyre options

jonnyboy77

My rear tyre, currently shod with Continental Gatorskin rubber is starting to look very second hand so I want to replace it. Ideally ti would have been like for like, but either they're not in stock (Wiggle, Evans, CRC etc.) or they want RRP (CS).

Do I look for an alternative (so far that has proven fairly fruitless) or does someone know a good alternative source?

I did see these at Evans: Continental Gator Hardshell 700C Duraskin Wired Road Tyre
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/con ... e-ec027255

Which are not the same as what I have on at the moment (Continental Gatorskin 700C Duraskin Wired Road Tyre) and I have no experience of variant (good or bad).

Due to the rims I'm using I can't go smaller than 700x28, and I'd rather not go up in size. I like the level of grip, feel & protection that the Gatorskin offers, but with a suitable referral I'd consider something else ...

I did some searches of the Commuting section of the forums, and when looking for 700x28 discussions, and tyre discussions the Gatorskin seems to figure highly ... so I'm not confident that I won't have to suck it up and buy these: http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueP ... CCON0033KK and maybe keep looking for a price match option!

- Jon

mpdouglas

I ran Schwalbe Marathon Supremes in 700x28 last year (I normally run GP 4000S 700x25) and they were good. No punctures, good grip and I like the reflective band all the way round the sidewall. I even ran them through the snow in Richmond Park and stayed upright over Ballet School hill where it was lying several inches deep.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/schwalbe-marath ... 5360440221

They're 310g for the 28mm variant but a little bit extra weight over the winter is good for keeping fitness levels up - it makes you feel really fast in the Spring when you revert back to spring/summer tyres.

asprilla

If you are looking at the Gatorskins then also look at the Conti 4Seasons. I find they grip much better in the wet.

Kieran_Burns

Asprilla wrote:

If you are looking at the Gatorskins then also look at the Conti 4Seasons. I find they grip much better in the wet.

+1 running these on my CX Felt. V nice

Also have 23c versions on the Madone.

jonnyboy77

Reckon I could price match CS with:

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/continental ... sting=true

on

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

?

- Jon

andyrr

I'm about to be in a similar situation to you : currently run the 4 Seasons front and back, front 25mm, rear 28mm (I bought that pairing just to see if they worked out ok when they were on very special offer somewhere). Been a good grippy tyre but over about 8 months of use it is now starting to cut up and I've suffered a couple of P*s so I' will be fitting a replacement soon.
I've regularly run the cheapest Gatorskin varient that I can get hold of but normally 25mm : the 4Seasons is a grippier tyre but softer/quicker wearing. 4Seasons is dearer normally.
Quite a few of the training/fast commuter tyres come in 23 + 25mms but don't go up to 28mm, I don't want to go much above Gatorskin weight but have found the 28mm a decent size for speed/comfort/durability.

Andy MG

I can highly recommend Schwalbe Durano Plus. The current pair have almost done 7,000 miles, mostly commuting, in the last eighteen months. I've had one puncture in the front tyre and two in the rear. They are probably due for replacement and a new pair will be going on in the next few weeks.
I've tried Gatorskin and Bontrager Hardcase tyres in the past but none got even half way towards the Duranos.

jonnyboy77

Andy MG wrote:

I can highly recommend Schwalbe Durano Plus. The current pair have almost done 7,000 miles, mostly commuting, in the last eighteen months. I've had one puncture in the front tyre and two in the rear. They are probably due for replacement and a new pair will be going on in the next few weeks.
I've tried Gatorskin and Bontrager Hardcase tyres in the past but none got even half way towards the Duranos.

I couldn't find Durano Plus in 700x28 configuration?

- Jon

welkman

I am liking the 25mm gp4seasons at the moment but they are a tight fit on the Cervelo S1 and come up big. Probably 4000 miles now with 1 puncture in all weathers, several serious decents in dry and wet (Alps and Solvenian Alps) and they have been great. Might race the 4000 tubular next season as all the fancy rubber punctures on our roads.

Stevo_666

I use Conti Sport Contacts - have been on a 700 x 32c but am now moving down to a 28. they're not built like tanks but in 4 years I've only had one punture...

Initialised

I've been using these in a 28mm:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... 1#features

Three punctures (one front, two rear iirc) in ~4000miles, wet grip is good. They came with the bike and I thought I'd be wanting to replace them pretty quickly but they are durable and ended up staying on, I'll probably run them into the ground then get the smaller 23mm Roubaix Pro or the Elite with red stripes.

jedster

I couldn't find Durano Plus in 700x28 configuration?

THat's funny - I have them on my commuter - best commuting tyre I've found in the 8 years I've been cycle commuting

jonnyboy77

jedster wrote:

I couldn't find Durano Plus in 700x28 configuration?

THat's funny - I have them on my commuter - best commuting tyre I've found in the 8 years I've been cycle commuting

Not that funny ... I still can't find them in that configuration, care to share your source?

Thanks

Jon

asprilla

jonnyboy77 wrote:

jedster wrote:

I couldn't find Durano Plus in 700x28 configuration?

THat's funny - I have them on my commuter - best commuting tyre I've found in the 8 years I've been cycle commuting

Not that funny ... I still can't find them in that configuration, care to share your source?

Thanks

Jon

According to Schwalbe they don't do them in that size in the UK.

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/road-race/durano-plus/

mpdouglas

Here: http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k372/a ... -wire.html

jonnyboy77

mpdouglas wrote:

Here: http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k372/a ... -wire.html

Well spotted. I'd tried bike24 but not seen bike discount before. As it turns out I am going to try the GP 4 Seasons, Cyclesurgery price matched it from £46.99(!) down to £32 ...


Conti GP 4S by jon_rice, on Flickr

I'm still tempted to try the Durano plus at some point, though I did notice they're twice as heavy as the GP4S?

http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle ... ason.shtml
Tyre Code Dimensions Weight Rec. Inflation Pressure (psi) Max. Inflation Pressure (psi) Colour Bead SRP
GP 4 Season 0100177 700x28 28-622 250g 95 115 All Black folding £46.95

http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires ... urano_plus
Art.No. ETRTO Size Performance Colour Compound PSI Weight EPI Load Tube Price
11100176.01 28-622 700 x 28C SmartGuard Black-Reflex Dual 85-115 530 g 67 85 kg 17, 18 $58.85

I imagine this is partly down to folding vs wired construction?

I'll see how the GP4S goes, it will have to be good to justify the increased price over the Gatorskins!

- Jon

asprilla

Good job I'm wearing my orthopedic insoles as I stand corrected.

jonnyboy77

Asprilla wrote:

Good job I'm wearing my orthopedic insoles as I stand corrected.

No I think you were right ...

matt@theforce

Durano's can be bought from ChainReactionCycles http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schw ... -prod45443

I've started running the 28c Durano Plus's (changed from 33x Maxxis Raze), they aren't hugely heavy & are nice to commute on, hugely grippy so far (some wet weather high speed rides through the Peaks) and great for mixed surfaces too

starside

I got some Bontrager race lites. very good, 600 miles on them and know punctures so far (touch wood)

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/bontrage ... 40573.html

jonnyboy77

Managed to fit the GP4S over the weekend, it was a tighter fit than I expected but no major issues. First ride out on Weds to see how it fairs ...


Rubber ... by jon_rice, on Flickr

Rubber ... by jon_rice, on Flickr

Rubber ... by jon_rice, on Flickr

Initialised

Very nice, looking more road worth than the top contacts. But... You should line the valve up with the (c) symbol on the tyre so when they puncture you can find the tooth quickly. It's easy to forget, I did yesterday when fitting new rubber, had to take it off and refit the tyre.

jonnyboy77

Initialised wrote:

Very nice, looking more road worth than the top contacts. But... You should line the valve up with the (c) symbol on the tyre so when they puncture you can find the tooth quickly. It's easy to forget, I did yesterday when fitting new rubber, had to take it off and refit the tyre.

The Top Contact Winters are fitted to some 26" rims, they have been used on the MTB and the commuter in snowier times!

Not sure I get the lining up of the (c) symbol and the valve?

- Jon