Another visitation

daddy0

After last weeks p*******-fest I decided to invest in some GP 4 Seasons (seeing as a lot of you guys rave about them). After covering only 50 miles and the fairy visits me with a shard of broken glass. Easily fixed at the side of the road, I get to work and then home again. Just about to go to bed, literally walking past the bike in the hallway, and the thing starts aggressively hissing at me. Patch came unglued. FML.

So - are GP 4 Seasons actually any good after all, really? What are your recommendations for p******* resistant tyres?

dhope

Problem is the bike, you should buy another. I'll take the Felt if you need.

I've had 4000S and Rubino Pro recently. Both so far have been good.
The pending Inflite comes with GP 4 Seasons so will see how they turn out. Expecting much the same, they're all fine and it's just luck once you've bought a decent tyre.

porlyworly

I had Rubino Pro's on my commuter which were very good, I then built up a "best bike" and after reading good things about them, thought I'd splash out on GP 4 seasons. They have a really premium feel and couldn't fault them performance wise but they only lasted about six months before cutting up badly and had to replace. Back to Vittoria Rubino Pro and they haven't let me down. Got a pair of Ultremo ZX's to try out that came free with some Fulcrums but don't think they will see any action any time soon.

cjcp

Schwalbe Durano Pluses. As Asprilla said a number of years ago, they are part-nuclear bunker.

UndercoverElephant

I've been using Rubino Pro's for years. I've tried other tyres but I'm usually disappointed. With the racier tyres, you do need to pump them up pretty hard.

The Rookie

Having only had 2 flats in 5000miles, neither of which required a roadside stop, I'm quite happy sticking with my thicker treaded 26" slicks!

pblakeney

I doubt any tyre will give good performance and protect you from a shard of glass.
I would put it down to bad luck and continue. If the visits persist then try other tyres.

I prefer to carry a spare tube than trying a roadside repair although I do carry patches for use if the day gets multiple visits.
The patch giving way simply shows it wasn't put on correctly and was giving you a chance to fix it in the comfort of your home.

cjcp

Schwalbe Durano Pluses. As Asprilla said a number of years ago, they are part-nuclear bunker.

itboffin

Don't use glue patches at home save them for roadside emergencies, ie you've used all your spare tubes. Then at home use the good old fashioned rubber patches and leave them to bond.

spasypaddy

cjcp wrote:

Schwalbe Durano Pluses. As Asprilla said a number of years ago, they are part-nuclear bunker.

amazing tyres if you can put up with the slow ride and the heavy tyres. but as close to p-proof as you'll find in a road tyre

tgotb

No tyre can protect you against the inability to repair a puncture properly.

cookeeemonster

Panaracer tyre liners - I use them on everything that isn't marathon plus.

Used them for the last year (also after my 4 seasons started puncturing despite only having 1000 miles on them) and combined with regular checking of the tyres - every time I pump them up so once or twice a week, they've been great. I've just had my first roadside puncture in a year - previously I punctured a lot, on average once a month/6 weeks.

And the only reason this tyre punctured was because they are well past their use by date...full of cuts etc. Gonna buy some more this week.

Might try schwalbe ones - less protection but with the liners so should be ok...possibly. If not I wont do that again.

ps the tyre liners add 25g to the tyre, personally I dont notice any difference...racers might??

EDIT: Just to emphasise though, you do need to check your tyres in combination with the liners to get the best result!!

daddy0

All right all right - I do know how to fix a p******* thanks! In fact I am so good at it that I can patch a tube quicker than replace it. I guess the glue on the patch gave way after my central heating warmed it up too much, but it got me to work and back no problems.

Sorry - hit submit before I finished.

Thanks for the suggestions! I am a fan of Rubino Pros too - when I last ordered some they were out of stock so was sent Michelin Pro 4s instead which I have found to be utter pants.

elbowloh

I may have been unlucky. I used the Vittoria Zaffiros (cheap tyres) that originally came with my bike and rarely got punctures. After all the raving about GP4000s, I tried them and had no end of trouble, including sidewall splits as well as quite a few punctures.

Gone back to using the cheapo zaffiros and much better puncture resistance wise.

rower63

cjcp wrote:

Schwalbe Durano Pluses. As Asprilla said a number of years ago, they are part-nuclear bunker.

Just ordered some of these as my Dolan's rear Michelin 4 Endurance has got squared-off and very thinly-covered, and has punctured a few times recently.

surrey_commuter

The start point is that luck does not exist so if you keep getting punctures then it must be because of your tyres (unlikely now you have 4 seasons), your style of riding (ie hitting potholes) or cycling where there is more likely to be broken glass.

Best tip I had was to run your hand around the tyre before each trip to see if you have any intrusions as most punctures occur through objects slowly working their way through

rhodrich

Surrey Commuter wrote:

The start point is that luck does not exist so if you keep getting punctures then it must be because of your tyres (unlikely now you have 4 seasons), your style of riding (ie hitting potholes) or cycling where there is more likely to be broken glass.

Best tip I had was to run your hand around the tyre before each trip to see if you have any intrusions as most punctures occur through objects slowly working their way through

You mean it doesn't have anything to do with upsetting the Puncture Fairy?

I was going to say something similar, but felt it would be tempting fate. The tyres I use are nothing special (Giant P-SL2 folding in 28mm flavour, chosen for being super cheap at £7, rather than for their puncture protection), but in 4750 miles of riding this year, they've only let me down once. I do however religiously check them for shards regularly (whilst sacrificing goats, and praying for the health of the PF)

I know that having said this though, I'll now have a puncture within 7 days.....

pblakeney

I am on my 5th 4 Seasons after wearing 3 out.

3rd at the back, 2nd at the front. One visit.

I would put it down to route or luck.

surrey_commuter

Rhodrich wrote:

You mean it doesn't have anything to do with upsetting the Puncture Fairy?

I...

Not upsetting the Puncture Fairy is not luck

bendertherobot

There are 3 tyres that you can pretty much relax about:

M+
Durano Plus
Vittoria Randonneur Pro 2

tgotb

bendertherobot wrote:

There are 3 tyres that you can pretty much relax about:

M+
Durano Plus
Vittoria Randonneur Pro 2

Unless it's wet. I'd feel anything but relaxed if I had to ride a bike with Marathon Plus tyres in the rain...

thepeopleschamp

Quick question for those with Marathon Pluses - Are they still really hard to fit?

I've never owned them but have been looking into them and reviews and youtube videos from a couple of years ago show them to be a right ballache. I commute rurally and don't fancy being stuck in the pitch black on a country lane dicking about with tyres for 1/2 hour if I puncture.
Or does anyone use Marathon GreenGuard and know if they're basically the same but easier to fit?

I run GP 4 seasons now. I've done less than 1000 miles, wear is fine, but they're sliced up all over the place with little nicks & keep puncturing due to bits of glass getting in.

dhope

ThePeoplesChamp wrote:

Quick question for those with Marathon Pluses - Are they still really hard to fit?

I've never owned them but have been looking into them and reviews and youtube videos from a couple of years ago show them to be a right ballache. I commute rurally and don't fancy being stuck in the pitch black on a country lane dicking about with tyres for 1/2 hour if I puncture.
Or does anyone use Marathon GreenGuard and know if they're basically the same but easier to fit?

I run GP 4 seasons now. I've done less than 1000 miles, wear is fine, but they're sliced up all over the place with little nicks & keep puncturing due to bits of glass getting in.

I don't have them, but pretty sure they're a bitch to fit.
I'd go for Durano Plus on a road bike commuter. They're pretty awesome

Kieran_Burns

Surrey Commuter wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

You mean it doesn't have anything to do with upsetting the Puncture Fairy?

I...

Not upsetting the Puncture Fairy is not luck

Stop saying the 'P' word! :shock:

Hot potato, orchestra falls, pluck will make amends!

vimfuego

"I don't have them, but pretty sure they're a ***** to fit.
I'd go for Durano Plus on a road bike commuter. They're pretty awesome"


+1 to that - I run Durano plus on the road commuter and the MTB when commuting on that. Been using them for about a year now and you can't really fault them

*leaves office and gets a visitation within 30 seconds*

bobinski

bendertherobot wrote:

There are 3 tyres that you can pretty much relax about:


Vittoria Randonneur Pro 2

I cannot agree with that after this morning. I ran over a piece of metal in the road when coming through Herne hill this morning. Instant deflation of the front tyre. I traveled some distance with traffic behind me before i came to a stop. The front tyre was pretty ripped apart over a 2 inch area. Ok, a freak event i suppose but just saying

bendertherobot

bobinski wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

There are 3 tyres that you can pretty much relax about:


Vittoria Randonneur Pro 2

I cannot agree with that after this morning. I ran over a piece of metal in the road when coming through Herne hill this morning. Instant deflation of the front tyre. I traveled some distance with traffic behind me before i came to a stop. The front tyre was pretty ripped apart over a 2 inch area. Ok, a freak event i suppose but just saying

Umm, you ran over a piece of metal which ripped the tyre apart and you think it might be because the tyre isn't tough?

bobinski

Actually, made a great noise.

bendertherobot

I did that once with a pair of Ultremos. Doing about 45. Double gash. It was interesting.

gabriel959

ThePeoplesChamp wrote:

Quick question for those with Marathon Pluses - Are they still really hard to fit?

I've never owned them but have been looking into them and reviews and youtube videos from a couple of years ago show them to be a right ballache. I commute rurally and don't fancy being stuck in the pitch black on a country lane dicking about with tyres for 1/2 hour if I puncture.
Or does anyone use Marathon GreenGuard and know if they're basically the same but easier to fit?

I run GP 4 seasons now. I've done less than 1000 miles, wear is fine, but they're sliced up all over the place with little nicks & keep puncturing due to bits of glass getting in.

you said it... "if I puncture". I have only had one puncture with them in 7000km (still going strong) and that was because I run them at really low tyre pressures so they are absolutely fine in the rain, it is the gravel they can't deal with.

That said I am going with Durano Plus next time as I won't be taking the road bike down the bridleway any longer due to owning a CX bike now.

Crouching Peeky

I've done over 5,000 miles on GP 4 Seasons, although now onto my second tyre at the back the front has done all those miles and still going strong. I've had 3 punctures in that time and all 3 have been due to hitting pot holes as opposed to the tyre being penetrated.

I wouldn't consider putting anything else on my bike now.