Recommend tyres for racer used on UK's defective road surfaces.

[Mitford]

The current tyres are Schwalbe Lugano 700 23c and I use the bike for 20-30 mile recreational rides on country roads, many of them in a poor state of repair. I'd like to put something a little heavier on, so that I am not constantly forced out into the middle of the road by the more minor potholes and botched road repairs. I weigh 10 stone. What sort of tyre size should I look for, and can you recommend a specific tyre?

 

[MattHB]

I run with folding gatorskins. seem very up to the job and not heavy (250g?). I live rural, so we have a lot of gravel and flint on the roads, not to mention other stuff I killed an Ultremo ZX in 2 rides but the gatorskins have done about 1500 miles with not so much as a few small cuts which I glue.

 

[jowwy]

I live in rural wales and i use gatorskins - put approx 1500miles into them so far and no meetings with the fairy and no cuts to the tyres at all either

 

[Mitford]

What about size, does 700 x 28c seem about right?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I run conti gatorskin hardshells in 28mm at 100psi and weigh 50% more than you.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Bontrager Racelight hardcase in 25c, at £14 each from JE James, bargain and very durable (as fitted to Treks). The slightly larger size helps cushion against rough surfaces and potholes. Good commuting tyre. Definately consider 25c size.
For more speed (and cost) look at Michelin Pro4 Endurance, again in 25c.

 

[albion]

28mm Maratons/Marathon + sounds about right.

However for Sunday peleton type rides these could be too heavy

 

[Mitford]

That's a useful observation Albion: I'm not involved in peleton riding and it doesn't really matter how fast I go, so I'll go for the "quite comfy" 28's.

And given the weight of support for them, I'll go for Gatorskins.

Thanks everybody.

 

[Globalti]

Er... Specialized Roubaix tyres are intended for very rough conditions as the name would imply. They are very deep in section though, so not good if your frame has limited clearance or very bendy seat stays.

I had them on my very stiff 1990 steel bike and liked them a lot.

 

[ACS]

Bontrager Racelight hardcase in 25c, at £14 each from JE James, bargain and very durable (as fitted to Treks). The slightly larger size helps cushion against rough surfaces and potholes. Good commuting tyre. Definately consider 25c size.
For more speed (and cost) look at Michelin Pro4 Endurance, again in 25c.

Got to agree with FF, I run 700x28 racelite's on the commuter (rural route). Recommended to me by my LBS and he got it spot on.

 

[albion]

It is worth noting that they might help but every pothole is best avoided if safely possible.

 

[Garz]

I use gatorskins with my last pair getting nearly 4k miles before ordering another pair. I have used michelin and schwalbe's offerings but IMO the conti gatorskins edge them by a considerable margin.

 

[cyberknight]

Another gator skin user, 5000 miles a year and maybe 5-6 flats a year mainly due to a glass strewn cycle path i have to use.i would probably get less if i checked the tyres for embedded shards more often.

 

[Berties]

Conti gator skins here on my commute bike

 

[RhythMick]

28mm Maratons/Marathon + sounds about right.

However for Sunday peleton type rides these could be too heavy

+1 for Marathon. I use 25mm Marathon Plus for pure road but switch to 35mm if there's trail or rough stuff en-route.