Tyre Question

[country joe]

Apart from the small difference in price,
Whats the advantage on folding over wire tyres.
Also what a minefield it is out there, im looking for a Winter tyre for my road bike, puncture protection my main priority, have been looking at Specialized Armadillo and Gator skins,
but when you look at buyers comments regarding puncture protection,
you could just scratch your head,
Some say they have never had a punctured some say they had 3 in one day,
Im baffled dont know what to go for?

 

[cheadle hulme]

At all price points its a compromise between grip/rolling resistance and weight/puncture resistance.
Once you start paying over £25 per tyre though, they are less of a compromise and tend to cover all bases.
Good racing tyres are fairly puncture resistant and fast too.
How come you're looking for winter tyres? The weathers not that bad in Caledonia is it?

 

[country joe]

At all price points its a compromise between grip/rolling resistance and weight/puncture resistance.
Once you start paying over £25 per tyre though, they are less of a compromise and tend to cover all bases.
Good racing tyres are fairly puncture resistant and fast too.
How come you're looking for winter tyres? The weathers not that bad in Caledonia is it?

Hi Cheadle,
Very windy went for a swim instead,My Summer bike will be ready to go next month,
Thought i would put Tyres on my winter bike give it a good clean and put it away till next Winter.

 

[cadseen]

i had armadillos and they are great, puncture free for 2 years about 15000 miles. But slow and hard to ride.

got gator skins now because they were on offer, much faster but not so puncture resitant

 

[Randochap]

I wouldn't bother about folders for winter. A wire bead will do. Conti Ultra-Gatorskins are good, as are Schwalbe Luganos (though they wear quickly). Both are cheap and relatively durable.

You really can't listen to online chatter about tyre experience. There's no way of knowing if the chatterer knows anything about tyre installation & maintenance.

It's a good idea to regularly examine tyres and pick embedded detritus out of the rubber. Seal cuts w/ Super Glue or Shoe Goo.

Of course, steer round debris when safe to do so.

 

[DLB]

i'm a relative noob so can't compare my continental contacts with other tyres but for me they've been brilliant. one puncture in 2000 miles, good grip even in wet and easy to remove (not that i've had to much) if you need to. Now starting to wear and i've ordered some more. i wouldn't change to a different type for love nor money

 

[HJ]

I have not had any probs with Conti Ultra-Gatorskins and I seldom bother to steer round debris these days. I have also heard good reports about Schwalbe, but can't tell you from first hand experience. One important thing to remember is to keep your tyres well pumped up as this will help. Most tyre manufactures will give a recommended pressure for an "average rider" weighing about 75kg (see page 26), if you are heavier or carry luggage, you should chose a
higher inflation pressure.

 

[country joe]

Should you wait till your tyres are well worn before changing?

 

[jimboalee]

Folding Tyres ARE a good idea in the winter.

They are folding so they can be strapped under your saddle, or in a spare bottle cage.

In the winter's dark, it is a bloody nuisance to search for sharp objects in a tyre on a country roadside in the light of your headlamp ( wasting battery life ).

Better to change tube AND tyre, then examine tyre when you are home.

 

[jimboalee]

I have not had any probs with Conti Ultra-Gatorskins and I seldom bother to steer round debris these days. I have also heard good reports about Schwalbe, but can't tell you from first hand experience. One important thing to remember is to keep your tyres well pumped up as this will help. Most tyre manufactures will give a recommended pressure for an "average rider" weighing about 75kg (see page 26), if you are heavier or carry luggage, you should chose a
higher inflation pressure.

On a roadbike, you want about 3/4 square inch of rubber on the road, so Yes, weigh your entire vehicle and inflate the tyres to achieve this contact area.

 

[country joe]

Folding Tyres ARE a good idea in the winter.

They are folding so they can be strapped under your saddle, or in a spare bottle cage.

In the winter's dark, it is a bloody nuisance to search for sharp objects in a tyre on a country roadside in the light of your headlamp ( wasting battery life ).

Better to change tube AND tyre, then examine tyre when you are home.

I know the bother i had putting on new Conti 4000,
I would not even atempt to put a new tyre on outside in the Winter,
if it hadnt been streched on the rim first.