New Tyres

[Jezston]

For a while I've been riding with the fitted 37 Continental Country Ride tyres my Kona came with on the front of my bike, with a 25 Bontrager Race Lite on the back. This has worked well for me for the last six months or so, weight and drag significantly reduced by swapping the rear tyre for the road tyre, but have still felt confident on the gritty bit of towpath with what I assume is the control the Continental has given me at the front.

However, my Bontrager has been getting some nasty puncture action recently. The tiniest bit of glass off the road ripped it up a couple of weeks back, and then a thorn a week later it's been relegated off and the other Country Ride has come back on. The weight and drag difference is surprisingly quite noticeable, and last night the Continentals have shown themselves to be not that much more effective at puncture protection either as I found myself getting a taxi back home after being locked out of work

So I'm looking at replacing both to at least get me through the winter and then maybe stick the Bontragers back on (I own two) for the summer. I'd like them to be compatable with the new bike I'm building, so I'm looking at tyres around the 28-32 range.

So, questions - Would a set a continental gatorskins provide a realistic level of puncture protection, and will they provide adequate grip for the 2 mile stretch of gritty towpath I have on my commute, especially as it gets wetter and colder? Would Conti 4-Seasons (at least one on the front) be a better idea? Although what else do they offer apart from a more grippy pattern to legitimise the 50% extra cost over Gatorskins?

Anything else I should be considering? (I've ruled out Marathon Pluses - FAR too heavy)

 

[vorsprung]

So, questions - Would a set a continental gatorskins provide a realistic level of puncture protection, and will they provide adequate grip for the 2 mile stretch of gritty towpath I have on my commute, especially as it gets wetter and colder? Would Conti 4-Seasons (at least one on the front) be a better idea? Although what else do they offer apart from a more grippy pattern to legitimise the 50% extra cost over Gatorskins?

Anything else I should be considering? (I've ruled out Marathon Pluses - FAR too heavy)

Gatorskins have reasonable puncture protection but they aren't in the same league as marathon+
Standard non-plus marathons are not as heavy, have better puncture resistance and deeper tred than Gatorskins

Conti 4-Seasons are as good, but don't last as long as Gatorskins. Plus they are more expensive. But they are faster. lighter and grippier on proper roads, in the wet particularly.

Gatorskins and Conti 4 Seasons have minimal tread, as you can see from these pictures

Riding them uphill or steering on any kind of mud would be a mistake. If your canal towpath section is gravel rather than mud, slick tyres would be fine

 

[Jezston]

The towpath is kind of a weird surface. There's a layer of concrete, upon which appears to have been covered with a layer of gritty sand and light gravel. In the wet the sand part tends to end up all over my bike and my clothes! It's certainly not 'muddy' though. Thoughts?

Looked up the weight of the standard Marathons - unfortunately they are still a lot heavier than the Gatorskins.

25 Racelites = 230g
28 4 Seasons = 250g
Wired 28 Gatorskins = 320g (may get folding 25s if suitable @ 250g each)
37 Countrywide = 635g
28 Marathons = 580
28 Marathon+ = 740g!

 

[BSRU]

The towpath is kind of a weird surface. There's a layer of concrete, upon which appears to have been covered with a layer of gritty sand and light gravel. In the wet the sand part tends to end up all over my bike and my clothes! It's certainly not 'muddy' though. Thoughts?

Looked up the weight of the standard Marathons - unfortunately they are still a lot heavier than the Gatorskins.

28 4 Seasons = 250g
Wired 28 Gatorskins = 320g (may get folding 25s if suitable @ 250g each)
28 Marathons = 580
28 Marathon+ = 740g!

You do not notice the difference after a few rides and worth it.

 

[potsy]

I have the 740g M+ wouldn't put anything else on the hybrid now,it;s not a speed machine and neither am I.
Of your other choices I would go with the 4 seasons over the gators,grip in the wet is superb and a fairly decent level of protection,not cheap though.

 

[tigger]

I'd go for one of these:

http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/c2-1023-schwalbe-tires-durano-plus.html

 

[vorsprung]

Looked up the weight of the standard Marathons - unfortunately they are still a lot heavier than the Gatorskins.

Look up the weight of a winter marathon

 

[e-rider]

continental top contacts might be worth a look

 

[dellzeqq]

The towpath is kind of a weird surface. There's a layer of concrete, upon which appears to have been covered with a layer of gritty sand and light gravel. In the wet the sand part tends to end up all over my bike and my clothes! It's certainly not 'muddy' though. Thoughts?

you'regoing to need a new chain....

 

[Jezston]

you'regoing to need a new chain....

Tell me something I don't already know

 

[potsy]

I'd go for one of these:

http://www.schwalbe....urano-plus.html

These are my tyre of choice on my other bike and would have mentioned them,but the OP wants 28-32 and they only come in 23-25's.

 

[Jezston]

continental top contacts might be worth a look

Looks like a thinner, lighter, more puncture protected version of my Country Rides. Looks good but not at all cheap!!!

Question still standing, how much grip do I need?

Thinking maybe I need to try riding home in the wet on my 25 slicks and see how I get on! Having said that I just remember seeing a guy come off his bike on a wet tarmac turn and almost go under a lorry besides him. Went over to see if he was ok (he was fine) and noticed he had the exact same tyres! So perhaps total slick race tyres aren't quite right!

 

[Jezston]

These are my tyre of choice on my other bike and would have mentioned them,but the OP wants 28-32 and they only come in 23-25's.

And not sure how much grip they offer on wet sandy gravelly towpath.

To add, I only say 28-32 because that's what I THINK I need. I'm happy to be convinced that 25s will be fine.

 

[potsy]

And not sure how much grip they offer on wet sandy gravelly towpath.

To add, I only say 28-32 because that's what I THINK I need. I'm happy to be convinced that 25s will be fine.

No you're right,not the best on the loose stuff,though I did about 20 miles of the Trans Pennine Trail on them a few weeks ago without any trouble,it wasn't wet though.

 

[Jezston]

BUMP!

I've been carrying on with the OEM Continental Country Rides my bike came with since starting this thread and have only had the one puncture so haven't been in a hurry to buy new - and my new bike has been making progress and may be finished by the end of this month! So I've been delaying purchasing new tyres until the new bike is ready.

So, think I'm almost certainly going to go with the Continental 4 Seasons. They seem to tick all the boxes with low weight, good grip and some puncture protection.

Only question I'm still asking myself is - 25s or 28s?

I think the new bike, being more roadie, would look better with 25s, but will 28s offer substantially better grip on wet roads and gritty towpaths?