Rant: how in hell...

[MajorMantra]

...does anyone choose new tyres? Every tyre manufacturer seems to make 20 near-identical tyres each claiming more grip and puncture resistance than the last.

It gets worse when you start reading threads on the subject - mention any particular tyre and you'll get 10 people waxing lyrical about their sublime "suppleness" and another 10 saying how they'd rather stick used condoms to their rims than use that [insert manufacturer's name] ring of s****.

Then you read the reviews on BR and the like to be told that a tyre "rolls well" but they never tell you how well or what the trade-offs are.

Since I got interested in cycling again a few months ago I've ridden 3 different road bikes with 6 different tyres and I honestly couldn't tell you much about them. Granted, I pulled about 20 chips of glass out of the Conti Ultra Race and the Spesh All Condition Armadillo on the fixed and neither had succumbed to you-know-who yet, but what's to say that wouldn't have been the case with any other tyre? I could spend anything from £10 to £50 on a new tyre and I honestly don't know what I ought to spend.

Aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrghhhh!!!*

[/Rant over, and out.]

Matthew

*correct spelling

 

[Smokin Joe]

Just get the prettiest colour.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Just get Michelin PR3's from Parkers... Bargain. God gets his from there...

 

[bonj2]

yep. get michelin pr3. but not from parkers, they're shoot.

 

[John the Monkey]

Never had any probs with Parkers myself - always found them to be nice folk, for what it's worth.

Tyres are a bit subjective, and p* resistance can come down to local conditions (some p* resistance may stand up better to flints than others, for example, which may mean that riders in areas where the council "top dresses" roads will like those). Unfortunately the only way to find out is to ride some, and see what you think - but in the absence of that, asking riders local to you can be a good place to start.

 

[beancounter]

I've made a number of orders with Parkers recently for bits for my Lemond build and they've been excellent - credit where it's due.

bc

 

[cheadle hulme]

Pro 3's from Dave Hinde 2 for £45. Don't get em from Dave Hinde though, surly in the extreme.

With tyres, money talks. The more expensive they are, the lighter, grippier and more puncture resistant it will be. And they make a nice hollow whooshy sound too.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Majormantra... I think you asked the wrong question!
The tyre choice IS Michelin PR3... the Question is where to get them.

(never been let down by Parkers I have to say and usually cheapest for Michelins IME).

 

[palinurus]

The way I do it is to pick a popular tyre and if I don't fall off or have a spate of punctures shortly after I'll keep using them until I do fall off or have a spate of punctures, at which point I'll complain about them for ever.

 

[Tynan]

I've tried a few leading contenders and settles on Luganos at £10 a pop, so I'm not sure that price is the answer

 

[MajorMantra]

Wow, 4 people recommending the same tyre, that's almost a record! I guess the nagging question is always: "but what if I got these cheaper ones instead?" I'm very susceptible to nagging questions.

Matthew

 

[fossyant]

Depends on use - both my road bikes are on Pro Race 2's - as they wear out it will be Pro Race 3's...... great tyres, light, fast, resistant to punctures, good grip in the wet (although when new, take it easy at first until the manufacturing chemicals have worn off).......

We all like different stuff, but most importantly, the choice of tyre can make a massive difference in how the bike rides and feels.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Wow, 4 people recommending the same tyre, that's almost a record! I guess the nagging question is always: "but what if I got these cheaper ones instead?" I'm very susceptible to nagging questions.

Matthew

Tyres really make a big difference to the feel and performance of a bike. 2 years ago I blew a tyre on a 3 day trip, managed to find a shop and bought a cheap Michelin to get me home, it was horrible,slow, heavy dead.
Changing to Pro-Race 2's was a revalation, light, fast, smooth, lively and confidence inspiring in the dry if a bit skittish in the wet. They cut-up a fair bit though. Eventually I bought the Pro-Race 3's ad they're even more amazing, fast, very supple, roll nicely and grip and handle with great confidence in the dry or the wet. They just feel so "Right".

 

[dessertwarrior]

I have been looking at Continental Ultra Gator Duraskin Tyres for my Spesh Tricross Comp. I want to change to 700C x 28 (from 32) as I want to have a go at Audax/Sportives this year & hope to increase my average speed (currently only 14-15 mph).

Main thing I want is to be p* resistance (the Spesh tyres have had about 5 p* in the 10 months since I bought the bike).

Anyone had experience of these?

 

[bonk man]

I use Race 2 for racing .... and some sportive stuff, they are fast, comfy and not too delicate.

Gatorskins for general club riding and Audax etc, they feel strange at first but they are comfortable and I find them reasonably fast, some folk think they are to prone to damage but I have only split one on a very bad pot hole and had few punctur*es on the lanes.

Winter tyres are Vittoria Randoneurs, tough........ but slow, they form part of my training regime, 25 year old tourer with massive tyres these are currently about 12 quid and I think they are good value.

All those budget tyres are ok but are not very inspiring, it is worth buying some pro races for best and some Gators or similar for the bad weather stuff.
A tip.... always carry an old bit of tubular tyre in the seat pack incase you split a tyre, it can get you home.