Winter tyres

Cyclum

Do you normally swap your road tyres for something with a bit more grip in the wetter months? If so do you have any recommendations?

Grill

I used Conti GP 4 Seasons last winter. Great tyre.

lakesluddite

Grill wrote:

I used Conti GP 4 Seasons last winter. Great tyre.

Second that. Used all Autumn, Winter, Spring and wet summer days, and only one p******e (due to small shard of glass) the other day.

drlodge

Grill wrote:

I used Conti GP 4 Seasons last winter. Great tyre.

Third that, I have these on my Condor winter/wet weather bike (25c).

SoSimple

Can you 'fourth' it?

2000+ miles- including Ride London this month and no issues. Will be replacing them like for like when they wear out.

lostboysaint

Grill wrote:

I used Conti GP 4 Seasons last winter. Great tyre.

That, except that I use them all year!

Monty Dog

Fatter tyres, less pressure - Schwalbe e.g. Durano Plus are the 'flavour' in these parts due to the ridiculous expense of GP4 Seasons - 35 quid for a 'training' tyre.

kajjal

lostboysaint wrote:

Grill wrote:

I used Conti GP 4 Seasons last winter. Great tyre.

That, except that I use them all year!

Same here as I am too lazy to change them in the summer

luv2ride

Vote here for the Michelin Pro 4 Endurance in 25mm, currently on my winter bike. Previously swore by Michelin Krylion Carbons (think the Pro 4 Endurance were the new version).

That said I've just put some Vittoria Randonneur Pro 2's on my cross bike in 32mm (come up more like 30mm) and they're really good on rubbish roads, very grippy and very comfy (and hold speed really well). I reckon 28's or 30's may be the new "sweet spot" for winter riding, if you have the clearances.

shipley

I bought a cross bike for winter use last year and got puncture after puncture on the schwalbe tyres. Swapped them for 28mm gatorskins and never had a flat since.

They are my winter tyre of choice.

LegendLust

Monty Dog wrote:

Fatter tyres, less pressure - Schwalbe e.g. Durano Plus are the 'flavour' in these parts due to the ridiculous expense of GP4 Seasons - 35 quid for a 'training' tyre.

Durano's are brilliant - tough, roll well and very grippy

funkyg

LegendLust wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

Fatter tyres, less pressure - Schwalbe e.g. Durano Plus are the 'flavour' in these parts due to the ridiculous expense of GP4 Seasons - 35 quid for a 'training' tyre.

Durano's are brilliant - tough, roll well and very grippy

I've recently put a set of Durano's on mine too. Good in the dry, have yet to try them in the cold and wet but they were recommended to me as a good all year round tyre.

CHRISNOIR

funkyg wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

Monty Dog wrote:

Fatter tyres, less pressure - Schwalbe e.g. Durano Plus are the 'flavour' in these parts due to the ridiculous expense of GP4 Seasons - 35 quid for a 'training' tyre.

Durano's are brilliant - tough, roll well and very grippy

I've recently put a set of Durano's on mine too. Good in the dry, have yet to try them in the cold and wet but they were recommended to me as a good all year round tyre.

Used Durano tyres last winter and they were amazing - roll brilliantly and didn't get any p*nctures.

holiver

I have the Michelin Pro4 Endurance on at present. All seems good so far but they have not covered a winter yet.

The Vittoria Rubino Pro Tech might be worth a look too. They say it has a "wet grip" compound and reinforced sidewalls.

Moonbiker

Vredestein Fortezza Senso from ribble if I was buying atm:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... redtyrf610

But I already have loads of tyres spare atm as I keep buying them all the time when i see cheap/discounted quality ones :oops:

thegreatdivide

Vittoria Rubino Pro Tech 28mm at 70psi.

drlodge

lostboysaint wrote:

Grill wrote:

I used Conti GP 4 Seasons last winter. Great tyre.

That, except that I use them all year!

That's why they're called 4 seasons ;-)

I bought a cross bike for winter use last year and got puncture after puncture on the schwalbe tyres. Swapped them for 28mm gatorskins and never had a flat since.

They are my winter tyre of choice.

Gatorskins are the work of the devil. Horrid ride and slippery as hell when wet.

Crouching Peeky

I use GP 4 seasons. Always felt I have plenty of grip in even extreme wet weather. Only punctures (three) in 5,000 miles have been due to hitting potholes at speed.

Coach H

After being a long time Krylion Carbon user, got one GP4S last winter due to the overwhelming love for them on here and concerns that the Pro4 Endurance were not direct Krylion replacements.

Result: hated the GP4S. Felt like hosepipe in comparison to Krylions and felt like less grip for some reason even though it didn't actually step out at any point. Fortunately got a tyre killing flint slash that sent the GP4S in the bin to be replaced by a Pro4 Endurance. Normal service was then resumed.

Personally cannot see what all the fuss about GP4S is all about and now firmly recommend Pro4 Endurance for Winter

All in 25mm, by the way

rolf_f

Another vote for Duranos here though not the Plus version. Standard or even the S are fine for winter use IME.

ai_1

Coach H wrote:

After being a long time Krylion Carbon user, got one GP4S last winter due to the overwhelming love for them on here and concerns that the Pro4 Endurance were not direct Krylion replacements.

Result: hated the GP4S. Felt like hosepipe in comparison to Krylions and felt like less grip for some reason even though it didn't actually step out at any point. Fortunately got a tyre killing flint slash that sent the GP4S in the bin to be replaced by a Pro4 Endurance. Normal service was then resumed.

Personally cannot see what all the fuss about GP4S is all about and now firmly recommend Pro4 Endurance for Winter

All in 25mm, by the way

I'm fairly happy with GP4S at the moment but may need replacements this winter and I wouldn't rule out trying the Pro4 Endurance. Just wondering how they come up on size? I know the Pro4 Service Course in 25mm is actually much bigger (reportedly 27-28mm in reality) so just wondering if the Pro4 Endurance tyres are similarly oversized? I'd probably be perfectly happy to put big tyres on my winter bike but would like to know what I'm buying!

smoggysteve

I have a winter bike fitted with open corsa's for wet weather.

If its dry no matter the time of year I will take the summer bike running either tubular corsa cx or if on clinchers schwalbe one

Coach H

Ai_1 wrote:

Coach H wrote:

After being a long time Krylion Carbon user, got one GP4S last winter due to the overwhelming love for them on here and concerns that the Pro4 Endurance were not direct Krylion replacements.

Result: hated the GP4S. Felt like hosepipe in comparison to Krylions and felt like less grip for some reason even though it didn't actually step out at any point. Fortunately got a tyre killing flint slash that sent the GP4S in the bin to be replaced by a Pro4 Endurance. Normal service was then resumed.

Personally cannot see what all the fuss about GP4S is all about and now firmly recommend Pro4 Endurance for Winter

All in 25mm, by the way

I'm fairly happy with GP4S at the moment but may need replacements this winter and I wouldn't rule out trying the Pro4 Endurance. Just wondering how they come up on size? I know the Pro4 Service Course in 25mm is actually much bigger (reportedly 27-28mm in reality) so just wondering if the Pro4 Endurance tyres are similarly oversized? I'd probably be perfectly happy to put big tyres on my winter bike but would like to know what I'm buying!

Yes. I haven't measured them but the Pro4 Endurance look to be as much like a modelling balloon as the Pro4 Service Course (25mm) on my Summer bike. They are definitely a bigger volume than GP4S in 25mm

KINGGARY

4 seasons for me every time, gatorskins i found to be lifeless with poor grip.
I know the 4 seasons aren't cheap, but when your stood at the side of the road in the freezing rain you may wish you had paid the extra!
In fact I'm just looking to buy some now for this winter If anyone has seen any good deals ?

luv2ride

Coach H wrote:

Ai_1 wrote:

Coach H wrote:

After being a long time Krylion Carbon user, got one GP4S last winter due to the overwhelming love for them on here and concerns that the Pro4 Endurance were not direct Krylion replacements.

Result: hated the GP4S. Felt like hosepipe in comparison to Krylions and felt like less grip for some reason even though it didn't actually step out at any point. Fortunately got a tyre killing flint slash that sent the GP4S in the bin to be replaced by a Pro4 Endurance. Normal service was then resumed.

Personally cannot see what all the fuss about GP4S is all about and now firmly recommend Pro4 Endurance for Winter

All in 25mm, by the way

I'm fairly happy with GP4S at the moment but may need replacements this winter and I wouldn't rule out trying the Pro4 Endurance. Just wondering how they come up on size? I know the Pro4 Service Course in 25mm is actually much bigger (reportedly 27-28mm in reality) so just wondering if the Pro4 Endurance tyres are similarly oversized? I'd probably be perfectly happy to put big tyres on my winter bike but would like to know what I'm buying!

Yes. I haven't measured them but the Pro4 Endurance look to be as much like a modelling balloon as the Pro4 Service Course (25mm) on my Summer bike. They are definitely a bigger volume than GP4S in 25mm

Just measured my 25mm Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres (on Mavic Ksyrium Equipes) - the trusty vernier callipers say they come up at 27mm, so the extra volume probably helps with the nice ride.

ai_1

Luv2ride wrote:

Coach H wrote:

Ai_1 wrote:

Coach H wrote:

After being a long time Krylion Carbon user, got one GP4S last winter due to the overwhelming love for them on here and concerns that the Pro4 Endurance were not direct Krylion replacements.

Result: hated the GP4S. Felt like hosepipe in comparison to Krylions and felt like less grip for some reason even though it didn't actually step out at any point. Fortunately got a tyre killing flint slash that sent the GP4S in the bin to be replaced by a Pro4 Endurance. Normal service was then resumed.

Personally cannot see what all the fuss about GP4S is all about and now firmly recommend Pro4 Endurance for Winter

All in 25mm, by the way

I'm fairly happy with GP4S at the moment but may need replacements this winter and I wouldn't rule out trying the Pro4 Endurance. Just wondering how they come up on size? I know the Pro4 Service Course in 25mm is actually much bigger (reportedly 27-28mm in reality) so just wondering if the Pro4 Endurance tyres are similarly oversized? I'd probably be perfectly happy to put big tyres on my winter bike but would like to know what I'm buying!

Yes. I haven't measured them but the Pro4 Endurance look to be as much like a modelling balloon as the Pro4 Service Course (25mm) on my Summer bike. They are definitely a bigger volume than GP4S in 25mm

Just measured my 25mm Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres (on Mavic Ksyrium Equipes) - the trusty vernier callipers say they come up at 27mm, so the extra volume probably helps with the nice ride.

That's good to know. Thanks for the info guys.

Cyclum

Thanks. I'm currently riding on Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres - standard tyres that came on the bike. Reviews for the tyres imply they are supposed to be quite grippy, although not in my experience, so would changing them help in wet weather or should I simply try to slow down a bit (or perhaps both)?

Moonbiker

Good guide here:

http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/buyers-gu ... tyres.html

You will probably notice an improvement in handling if upgrading from Zaffiro too a more pricey tyre as they will be more supple/higher tpi.

d_o_g

Another one for Duranos here. Used the Plus's last winter, using the standards at the moment, although I suspect I will go to the plus's for winter.

Miles better than Gatorskins, which is what I used to use, and not ridiculously expensive like GP4's.

DKay

Luv2ride wrote:

Just measured my 25mm Michelin Pro4 Endurance tyres (on Mavic Ksyrium Equipes) - the trusty vernier callipers say they come up at 27mm, so the extra volume probably helps with the nice ride.

I've got 25mm Pro4 Endurance currently fitted to both of my bikes at the moment. I think they're an excellent tyre.

Fitted to Fulcrum 7s, they measure 26.4mm wide.
Fitted to Shimano RS11s, they measure 26.6mm wide.

Measurements taken by my digital vernier calipers.

964cup

Vittoria Pave here - clincher and tub. Brilliant tyre.

Schwalbe Winter Marathons if it's properly snowy.