Need some new tyres for road bike

[wormo]

As title says I need to buy some new road tyres. I want more durable summer tyres as I will be using the bike for general road use. Need to learn the basics first (like unclipping ) rather than speed. Your suggestions please.

Also as around the 15 1/2 stone mark, would you go for 25 rather 23 as comfort again is more important than speed?

Cheers for the help

 

[Globalti]

I would strongly recommend Michelin Pro 3s, great tyres, very durable and comfortable. I've tried several different tyres and I like these the best. You can usually find a deal somewhere to buy them cheapish. Here's a good review: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/review-tires/michelin-pro-3-race-tire_671.html

 

[Jdratcliffe]

in the same boat and after a lot of research i have decided on the Conti GP 4000's ( my post is properly still around somewhere id link if i know how to)

 

[potsy]

I would strongly recommend Michelin Pro 3s, great tyres, very durable and comfortable. I've tried several different tyres and I like these the best. You can usually find a deal somewhere to buy them cheapish. Here's a good review: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/review-tires/michelin-pro-3-race-tire_671.html

CRC have them at £19.99 at the minute, in a variety of colours, they even do a 25 version.

I considered them before plumping for the Michelin Krylion Carbons instead, they just seemed a little tougher going off reviews plus opinions on here.
Used them for the ride yesterday and they were pretty good imo

 

[guitarpete247]

Anyone else on here also running an older setup. I've got 27" wheels that are just over 30 years old. I went for some Conti Ultra Sports £13.99 from CRC (I just missed their offer of £10). Not much more choice available for a slick tyre. Anyone know of anything else? I took off some 27" Marathon's I'd had on for the winter and will put them back on next winter.

Too much to change if I want to go for 700c's. And even for old wheels they run nice. Going good for a regular bearing re-grease every year and weekly spoke check.

 

[PaulSecteur]

would you go for 25 rather 23

Just sayin...

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/michelin-carbon-krylion-25mm-with-grey-strip-maybe-2-pairs.98663/

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Bontrager Race Lites

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/119612.html

I've been using them for a few years now and have been pleased with them, I've just ordered a replacement for the rear on my fixed, its almost two years old now and has picked up some damage.

 

[the_mikey]

I use any of these: Continental folding 23c gatorskin, continental folding 25c gatorskin, continental folding 24c grand prix, michelin krylion carbon 23c.

 

[HLaB]

I would strongly recommend Michelin Pro 3s, great tyres, very durable and comfortable. I've tried several different tyres and I like these the best. You can usually find a deal somewhere to buy them cheapish. Here's a good review: http://www.competitivecyclist.com/review-tires/michelin-pro-3-race-tire_671.html

I was warned off them by my mate who's a Cat 1 racers (did a lot of miles in them). His review they were probably the best tyre for grip and speed but they were anything but durable, cut up often.

I use any of these: Continental folding 23c gatorskin, continental folding 25c gatorskin, continental folding 24c grand prix, michelin krylion carbon 23c.

I borrowed his front wheel which had a gator skin and in 1500 miles I'd say it was a great tyre, despite reviews to the otherwise very grippy and no p'tures and rolled well. I was a bit disappointed in the current 22&24mm grand prix's after getting 9600 miles out of an old wired one; they were fast grippy tyres but each one (2x22mm&2x24mm) p'tured a bit and failed quickly at the sidewalls (iirc the longest lasting was 1400miles).
When I was looking recently for new tyres (to replace the failed grand prix's) I looked at the Pro 3's but ruled them out after talking to my mate, fancied the gatorskins but ruled them out on cost and opted for the Mitch Krylion Carbons (£23 iirc) and in just over 1000 p'ture free miles I've been very happy with grip.
Whilst I was waiting for the Carbons and to cover the failure of the grand prixs I was running a 25mm wired Vittora Rubino on the rear (the afore mentioned 23mm gator on the front) it made no difference to speed and no p'tures. For me though it wasn't the best tyre grip wise and after a few rear slide outs (fortunately collected) I speeded up my purchase of the Krylions.

 

[Globalti]

I'm interested in this whole question of tyre technology, I bought some winter tyres for my wife's Citroen C1 and during the 3 days we had snow last year I tried them out on steep icy roads and was amazed at how good they were. My understanding is that winter tyres are made with a softer rubber containing more silicon, which is how all tyres should be except that in summer they would wear out too fast, so the rubber is hardened up with sulphur or carbon, which makes normal summer tyres a compromise.

So a bike tyre is a careful mix of different compounds designed to give the best grip, the best life and an affordable price. Every tyre is different and my guess would be that a tyre that doesn't cut up easily must be a harder rubber and would therefore last longer and grip worse, especially in cold wet conditions. The opposite would be true for a softer more grippy tyre.

Anyway I find the Michelins the ideal mix of qualities; they grip well, don't cut up badly (in my experience) and ride very comfortably as well as gripping way beyond my terror limit!

 

[wormo]

Cheers guys for the advice. Threw dice in air and came down for bontrager. Paulsecteur needed other bits and bobs so purchased altogether.