After much deliberation...

[Mortiroloboy]

I decided to go for the Specialized Armadillo all condition in a 25c, helped by advice from one of the old hands who rides the 23c all year round, and the fact that the more I looked at those chunky old Schwalbe Marathon pluses, the more I disliked their appearance.

I hope my choice has paid off

 

[domtyler]

Dreadful tyres in my experience, hope you get on better with them than I did.

 

[Mortiroloboy]

In what way Dom? are you saying they aren't very 'P' resistant, they handle badly...What, are you telling me I just wasted £44 of my hard earned?

 

[cookiemonster]

I decided to go for the Specialized Armadillo all condition in a 25c, helped by advice from one of the old hands who rides the 23c all year round, and the fact that the more I looked at those chunky old Schwalbe Marathon pluses, the more I disliked their appearance.

I hope my choice has paid off

Awesome choice!!

I've been using them for ages and have had no problems and no, you haven't wasted your hard earned imo.

Shame you had a bad time with them DomT

 

[Mortiroloboy]

Phew, TFFT, I was a tad annoyed though when I discovered that the wheels wouldn't turn because the tyre was stuck on the inside of the full mudguard, so I'll just have to get a set of race 'guards, there just isn't enough clearance under the calipers to move the 'guards any further away from the wheel.
Not really a fan of race blades as they don't stop cr*p getting up into the calipers, still they are better than getting cyclist's stripe, or spraying your riding companions with muddy water and road grime, which is very bad form..

I haven't ridden them yet, I hope I don't have the same experience as one Stateside blogger who said he felt like he had garden hose wrapped around his rims

 

[Cathryn]

I have armadillos (nimbus) and 2500 miles on, not a puncture and no issues at all. I'd buy them again very happily.

 

[Chuffy]

"OK people...time for a reality check, there are men women and children dying in the Congo, no food no where to sleep and you're worrying about a locker tyre FFS"

...as I believe someone once said.

 

[Crackle]

"OK people...time for a reality check, there are men women and children dying in the Congo, no food no where to sleep and you're worrying about a locker tyre FFS"

...as I believe someone once said.

Touche

 

[Mortiroloboy]

point taken, but tyres are rather important Any way, did anyone else see that Congolise guy pushing his wooden bike along the other day laden down with all his worldly goods? it was quite bizarre, sort of carved out of trees with a wooden wheel and carved handlebars, very clever.

 

[Chuffy]

point taken, but tyres are rather important Any way, did anyone else see that Congolise guy pushing his wooden bike along the other day laden down with all his worldly goods? it was quite bizarre, sort of carved out of trees with a wooden wheel and carved handlebars, very clever.

Coming to a Hoxton loft apartment in the near future...

 

[Chuffy]

These are quality tyres in my opinion, I have had these now on my Langster now for about a year and a half. They have never punctured, ride well in the wet, and are quick. I have the 23c, good choice of tyre.

Oh dear.....
Do I hear the spiteful tinkle of fairy wings?

 

[Maz]

Dreadful tyres in my experience, hope you get on better with them than I did.

+1
Awful tyres in my experience.

 

[mr Mag00]

i have a brand new pair sat in garage wont fit through frame

 

[John the Monkey]

Mb, are these going on your SCR?

I've had no problems running 25C tyres on my SCR2, which should be the same frame...

 

[Mortiroloboy]

Yes on the SCR, no problem with frame clearance on their own, but the Tor-tec full blades fouled the tyres, so I had to change them for a pair of Tor-tec race blades. The SKS ones I tried weren't any good as the rubber bit at the back of the guard, caught on the down tube and gear/brake cables.

So far I have found the Armadillos to be OK in the wet. and if they hold up over winter may consider getting a pair of 23's for the best bike ( I hate p*nct*res)