Road tyres

[Haz]

Looking for some 700C road tyres.
Any advice on which ones to get? Is it worth forking out for the top brands or is there no difference from cheaper tyres? Folding or non-folding? Clinchers or tubular? I'm really not bothered by the weight, since my fitness will be the limiting factor for speed, but preferably something which will resist punctures and that will be ok in the rain.
So far the brands available seem to be continental, schwalbe, vittoria, michelin, maxxis and then there are lots of unbranded ones floating around too.
Also inner tubes - is there any point getting expensive ones when you can get a pack of 6 fairly cheap?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Hacienda71]

It depends what you want from the tyre. Speed, longevity or a compromise between the two.

 

[HLaB]

There' a massive difference on tyres, p'ture protection, rolling, grip, etc You'll probably want something like schwalbe marathon plus clinchers if you are more interested in p'ture resistance than weight.
Inner tubes are much of a muchness though, if you like the price of them and they are the correct valve (presta or schrader) by them.

 

[cyberknight]

unless you have high end wheels your liable to need clinchers, tubs have a different rim profile as the tyres are glued on.

 

[Part time cyclist]

I would recommend continental gatorskins hard wearing, and pretty good puncture protection I also use slime filled inner tubes

 

[biggs682]

planet x have good offer on Vittorio at moment the seem ok to me

 

[billy1561]

I would recommend continental gatorskins hard wearing, and pretty good puncture protection I also use slime filled inner tubes

I agree with conti gatorskins but not with slime filled tubes. Just makes them heavier imo and can be a right mess to top up the inflation.

 

[MattHB]

I didn't get on with gatorskins, they gripped like wet sludge in the wet and cut VERY easily. I run 28mm conti 4 seasons on both the roadie and the CX in the winter, they're simply amazing.

 

[musa]

Another part of cycling where its individual and not universal

I run conti gatorskins since i started cycling. I just bought the hardshells todsy which im fitting. My last pair few punctures and ive done 100milers far snd few Brighton and back twice so about 5k miles in total

They dont cut as easy as others but small holes with a lot of glass flints in them after a few thousand miles

 

[Canrider]

To echo the above, you're going to hear 11 opinions from any 10 cyclists you ask. Any tyre you mention someone's had bad luck and hates them, someone else has had great luck and loves them. Tubulars--I confess my first thought was 'do they still make those', but I'm sure they do. Go clincher.

Puncture resistance and rain performance, as many have said, Continental Gatorskins are popular. I would put a good word in for Bontrager Hard Cases. Some people say they find Gatorskins slippery in the wet and snow and ice, I wouldn't comment on that, but I've run both Gators and Bontragers and preferred the grip and feel of the Bontragers both winter and summer.

 

[the_mikey]

I find Continental Grand Prix are grippy, puncture resistant and good value for money tyres.

 

[Sittingduck]

Is it worth forking out for the top brands or is there no difference from cheaper tyres?

Don't skimp on tyres. Find a decent quality tyre that suits your needs and stick with it.

 

[MattHB]

Cheap tyres will cut up very easily and are like skating on ice in the wet. As SD says above, don't skimp on tyres. They're your only interface with the road and will dictate how your bike feels, behaves and handles.

 

[Haz]

the correct valve (presta or schrader) by them.

How do I find out what the correct valve is? Currently there are some old-looking valves which have an extra screw thing when you take off the dust cap.

 

[HLaB]

How do I find out what the correct valve is? Currently there are some old-looking valves which have an extra screw thing when you take off the dust cap.

That sounds like presta, Sheldon's article might spread light on it for you