M+

[martint235]

Well today I had 3 visitations from the fairy. Ok it was wet but even so, 3 visits all in different places on the tyres (2 front, 1 rear) so I'm thinking of moving to M+ for the Giant as I now have two road bikes.

I've heard different things about them from being heavy etc to the fact that at least two people whose opinions I hold in very high esteem run them as commuting tyres. So how much are 25mm M+ going to slow me down compared to 23mm Luganos (not a racing tyre you'll note)?

 

[potsy]

Nice bike Martin, will look even better once you put the 25mm M+ and guards on

Strangely enough, those things will happen just after I start wearing armwarmers!

Armwarmers on standby?
Sorry but you knew it was coming

 

[martint235]

Armwarmers on standby?
Sorry but you knew it was coming

Desperate times with the fairy but not desperate enough to wear armwarmers!!!

 

[potsy]

Joking aside, why don't you try the Durano+?
Come in 23's and are decent puncture wise, not saying they are as good as M+ of course, but they are much lighter.
If you do go for M+ I doubt you'd lose more than 1/2 - 1mph average speed anyway

 

[jayonabike]

I use Continental 4 seasons on 2 of my bikes. 2 punctures in over 6500 miles last year in all weathers (and to be fair the size of the flint I pulled out of the second puncture I don't think any tyre would have stopped it) They grip well in the wet too. Might be worth thinking about.

 

[martint235]

I used Conti 4 Seasons last winter and they are too high maintenance. You have to continually check them for flints and when I did get punctures on them I resented the fact I'd forked out £30+ each on them.

Luganos and Rubinos might puncture more often but they only cost around £10 plus they either puncture or repel the flint, they don't hold it and let it work through. Thanks for trying to help though Jay, I just doubt I'll go back to 4 seasons.

 

[Panter]

Quick thought here, probably no good, but I have a pair of my old 28mm M+ that I haven't got round to taking down the tip yet.
They're pretty much worn out (or at least one is) but certainly have a little life in them if you wanted to try them out to see how they ride?
Only reason I took them off is that my commute is through very muddy, flint strewn country lanes and these were starting to pick up splits after 4000 miles of abuse. With the state of the roads I ride on, I need my tyres in top condition as I detest punctures (managed to destroy a pair of Gatorskins in just 400 miles commuting!!!)

Anyway, they're 28's not 25's but if you ever find yourself down this way, and want to give them a whirl, please let me know

 

[SquareDaff]

No difference whatsoever - you'll adapt your effort accordingly! The only thing I've noticed is that they "feel" a little unstable when you lean the bike sufficiently to take the tyre off the "main tread". Whether that will disappear over time I don't know. Mine are quite new (around 500miles) - no punctures yet!! (touch wood)

 

[martint235]

Quick thought here, probably no good, but I have a pair of my old 28mm M+ that I haven't got round to taking down the tip yet.
They're pretty much worn out (or at least one is) but certainly have a little life in them if you wanted to try them out to see how they ride?
Only reason I took them off is that my commute is through very muddy, flint strewn country lanes and these were starting to pick up splits after 4000 miles of abuse. With the state of the roads I ride on, I need my tyres in top condition as I detest punctures (managed to destroy a pair of Gatorskins in just 400 miles commuting!!!)

Anyway, they're 28's not 25's but if you ever find yourself down this way, and want to give them a whirl, please let me know

Cheers for the offer Panter but I think 28s are a step too far! I'm nervous enough about moving to 25s!

Just off to the LBS to see what he's got. This is probably a knee jerk reaction to such a bad day yesterday but we'll see.

 

[ianrauk]

Cheers for the offer Panter but I think 28s are a step too far! I'm nervous enough about moving to 25s!

Just off to the LBS to see what he's got. This is probably a knee jerk reaction to such a bad day yesterday but we'll see.

It is, you're just a lazy long oaf who doesn't check his tyres after every commute..

 

[benb]

I've got M+ on my Spesh Crosstrail, and haven't had a single puncture since I fitted them 2 years ago.

They may roll a little heavier and slower, but I doubt you'll notice a huge difference, and they're certainly faster than stopping to fix a puncture!

 

[Herbie]

Well today I had 3 visitations from the fairy. Ok it was wet but even so, 3 visits all in different places on the tyres (2 front, 1 rear) so I'm thinking of moving to M+ for the Giant as I now have two road bikes.

I've heard different things about them from being heavy etc to the fact that at least two people whose opinions I hold in very high esteem run them as commuting tyres. So how much are 25mm M+ going to slow me down compared to 23mm Luganos (not a racing tyre you'll note)?

M + great tyres....whats your rush?

 

[Panter]

No problem, hope you get sorted out one way or another.
My experience of switching to M+ was that I dd find them slower going, but only slightly, and that was mitigated by the time saved repairing punctures.
Interestingly, I'm now running them in a 25mm flavour and they seem to be harder work than the 28's but I did change frames at the same time which I suspect has more to do with it
I do like riding on the M+ though, once up to speed they feel reassuringly stable and they're surprsingly grippy (IMO) for such a hard wearing tyre.

If my commute wasn't so "gnarly" then I might look at an alternative but as it stands now, I wouldn't commute on anything else, they're just so bloody tough!

 

[BSRU]

I have a pair of brand new, still with tags on, 25mm M+ tyres in my house. Bought them for my road bike but by the time the bike arrived I saw the error of my ways and bought Rubino Pro 3's . The main problems I had with M+ tyres, apart from not a nice ride/poor in the rain, is pulling away from traffic lights/junctions is noticeably slower.

 

[martint235]

Well had a chat with the LBS. I've now got 25s Marathons fitted. They are slightly lighter than the M+ but lacking sidewall protection. However, every puncture I've had has been through the main tread of the tyre rather than the sidewall so took the risk!