Attack/force continental tyres

Robyouth
Robyouth Posts: 19
edited May 2014 in Road general
Hi, I bought a pair of these in the box from an eBay shop after reading good reviews, I've only ridden 250 miles on them and I've had 5 punctures, 1 in the front and 4 in the back. I've ridden on normal roads with 120 psi in them. The punctures have been cut types, metal shaving, glass, ceramic etc. I normally use specialized turbo pro and don't have anything like this trouble. The rolling resistance and smoothness seem good, but I can't carry on with this failure rate. The front went with a major blow out, luckily, going up hill, but it's now scrap. Has anyone else experienced this, did I get a bad batch, or am I expecting to much.

Comments

  • stifflersmom
    stifflersmom Posts: 177
    Excellent, another thread about durability or otherwise of Conti tyres. Does the search function not work anymore?
  • foggymike
    foggymike Posts: 862
    Probably someone who works for Specialized by the sound of it :roll:
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    No, someone new to the forum who's not seen a bad review about attack/force, but felt it nesessary to write one after a terible two weeks of using them. No side wall fraying problems, just zero puncture resistance. I've now ordered a pair of schwalbes.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    Robyouth wrote:
    I've now ordered a pair of schwalbes.

    uh-oh...
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    Why didn't you just go back to the Specs you were so fond of?! Bizarre!

    Oh, and my multi-thousand mile GP4S are still puncture free. :)
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    The specialized were good commuting tyres, but I'm doing an ironman and need a lighter tyre with an amount of puncture resistance, so there's less chance of having to change a tube during the race. I've got 3 months, so I'm trying to find as tyre I can trust now.
  • foggymike
    foggymike Posts: 862
    Sorry, obviously being too cynical about a first time poster. There's nothing wrong with the force/attacks, you've just been unlucky there I think - I've had barely any punctures on the bike I use them on in what must be about 5 years. It's always the same with tyres - if someone changes brand and gets a puncture or two it's always the tyres. Loads of comments along these lines on here about all brands (especially Schwalbe! :wink: ).

    If you want a lighter tyre they will be made of less "stuff" so will be thinner and ultimately more puncture prone (on average). Maybe have a think about time lost from adding 40 or 50g to your tyres compared to the time lost fixing a puncture and the likely risk of getting one in your event? If you're worried just play it safe. Personally I'd bang on some Conti Supersonics and supersonic tubes and throw caution to the wind, but that's just me :twisted:
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    I'm trying to get a good compremise, the conti attack force were recommended for ironman, but 50 miles a puncture is not really right for the race. I'm hoping the schwalbes will be better, I just don't have much experiance with race tyres, I do remember seeing competitors dealing with punctures on my last ironman and thinking thank god it's not me. I've ordered latex tubes, to see how they compare. I'm just thinking 112 miles, I can shave minutes off, if I use the Dave berisford approach, lots of little gains add up to, one big gain.
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    As above it may be nothing to do with the tyres. It could be as simple as you running over a bunch of flints and them gradually working their way in producing successive punctures from a single incident or it could just be coincidence. A few punctures over a couple of hundred miles isn't sufficient data to know it's tje tyres - although I'd probably be tempted to jump to that conclusion too! Could be the tyres but given most users don't seem to find them particularly puncture prone it was more likely just unfortunate.
  • duckson
    duckson Posts: 961
    Used Force/Attack from April to September last year in the dry only with one rear puncture in ~1200 miles, something ripped a 5mm hole in the rear so would of done the same to most other tyres IMO.
    Just put the same Force/Attack tyres back on a few weeks ago, no problems to date and a few hundred miles.

    Nice tyres, light and roll well.
    I have 23mm GP4000S on my winter/wet/damp conditions bike, 1 puncture over winter (sliver of metal working its way through).
    Cheers, Stu
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Robyouth wrote:
    Hi, I bought a pair of these in the box from an eBay shop after reading good reviews, I've only ridden 250 miles on them and I've had 5 punctures, 1 in the front and 4 in the back. I've ridden on normal roads with 120 psi in them. The punctures have been cut types, metal shaving, glass, ceramic etc. I normally use specialized turbo pro and don't have anything like this trouble. The rolling resistance and smoothness seem good, but I can't carry on with this failure rate. The front went with a major blow out, luckily, going up hill, but it's now scrap. Has anyone else experienced this, did I get a bad batch, or am I expecting to much.

    I have used them in crits TTs and road races and a euro sportive with zero issues but I don't run them at 120psi, maybe 100 frt and 105 rear, I am 77kg
    they have very thin side walls & tbh are a flimsy tire for just riding around on, high wear rate, competition only for me.
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    mamba80 wrote:
    Robyouth wrote:
    Hi, I bought a pair of these in the box from an eBay shop after reading good reviews, I've only ridden 250 miles on them and I've had 5 punctures, 1 in the front and 4 in the back. I've ridden on normal roads with 120 psi in them. The punctures have been cut types, metal shaving, glass, ceramic etc. I normally use specialized turbo pro and don't have anything like this trouble. The rolling resistance and smoothness seem good, but I can't carry on with this failure rate. The front went with a major blow out, luckily, going up hill, but it's now scrap. Has anyone else experienced this, did I get a bad batch, or am I expecting to much.

    I have used them in crits TTs and road races and a euro sportive with zero issues but I don't run them at 120psi, maybe 100 frt and 105 rear, I am 77kg
    they have very thin side walls & tbh are a flimsy tire for just riding around on, high wear rate, competition only for me.


    this. they are 20+grams lighter than the equivalent 4000s (give or take), and off centre line have very little puncture protection! if the road is free from debris they roll very nicely however. Great budget TT tyre. not great for day to day usage.
  • duckson
    duckson Posts: 961
    As stated used mine day to day, no problems in Spring/Summer at least, they have the same puncture protection belt as the GP4000S but less rubber i think so are lighter.
    Real world weight was 190g front and 204g rear for me.
    I weigh 68-70kg and 100psi front, 95psi rear.
    Cheers, Stu
  • DHA987S
    DHA987S Posts: 284
    Didn't like them in the wet, felt very skittish
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    We I've had the schwalbes on for about 180miles, no punctures, no cuts. They feel harder than the continentals but just as fast. I'm fitting latex tubes tomorrow, that should alter the feel.
  • duckson
    duckson Posts: 961
    Which Schwalble's?
    Cheers, Stu
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    Ultremo zx 23mm
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Robyouth wrote:
    I'm trying to get a good compremise, the conti attack force were recommended for ironman, but 50 miles a puncture is not really right for the race. I'm hoping the schwalbes will be better, I just don't have much experiance with race tyres, I do remember seeing competitors dealing with punctures on my last ironman and thinking thank god it's not me. I've ordered latex tubes, to see how they compare. I'm just thinking 112 miles, I can shave minutes off, if I use the Dave berisford approach, lots of little gains add up to, one big gain.

    Maybe you're overthinking it. You've admitted that you "...don't have much experience...". Put the tires on, slap some sealant into them, hope for the best, carry a spare tube or two. Spend your time training instead of obsessing about flats and you might just recognize a few minutes gain. :wink:
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    Not obsessing at all, the flats affect my training and putting sealant in them defeats the object of putting light tyres and tubes in. The reason for research is any energy saved, makes running the marathon easier afterwards, no point in making it any harder than necessary. I'm already training 25 hours a week.
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    Robyouth wrote:
    Not obsessing at all, the flats affect my training and putting sealant in them defeats the object of putting light tyres and tubes in. The reason for research is any energy saved, makes running the marathon easier afterwards, no point in making it any harder than necessary. I'm already training 25 hours a week.

    Lite tires and tubes = flats

    Slightly more rubber on the road, sturdier tube, and maybe sealant = fairly smooth sailing, generally speaking.

    Take your pick.
  • Robyouth
    Robyouth Posts: 19
    Hi all, after a few hundred miles on the schwalbes, my opinion is, they are much more puncture resistant, I've not had one, over the same roads as I ride the conti s on, grip is similar, ride seems a bit harder, so I've swapped to latex tubes. I'm very happy with the results. I wouldn't buy the attack force again, infact I wouldn't ride them, if I was given them.
  • Moonbiker
    Moonbiker Posts: 1,706
    Why not have a different set of tryes for racing & everyday training?

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