Which tyre

[GlenBen]

I know this is a topic about as friendly as whether to wear a helmet or not...but.

Im after a new set of tyres. For all uses, mainly commuting but also long rides. 25c.

Previously used gatorskins, liked them.

Currently using spesh espoir sport, dont like them.

Looking at conti gp4000s or conti 4 seasons, cant quite determine the difference, if there is any.

Would appreciate any help, insights, other options, opinions or anything.

Thanks in advance

 

[ianrauk]

If you like Gatorskins, why change.

 

[NorthernDave]

If you like Gatorskins, why change.

This ^^^

I've got Gatorskins on both road bikes and would recommend them to anyone.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Yup Gatorskins for me too

 

[Racing roadkill]

I know this is a topic about as friendly as whether to wear a helmet or not...but.

Im after a new set of tyres. For all uses, mainly commuting but also long rides. 25c.

Previously used gatorskins, liked them.

Currently using spesh espoir sport, dont like them.

Looking at conti gp4000s or conti 4 seasons, cant quite determine the difference, if there is any.

Would appreciate any help, insights, other options, opinions or anything.

Thanks in advance

The difference in the GP 4 seasons and the GP 4000sII, is that the GP 4 seasons claim to be puncture resistant and they are about as puncture resistant as a stripe of toothpaste, the GP 4000sII don't claim to be puncture resistant. The GP4000sII are very good, performance wise, but if you hit anything more substantial than a grain of sand, you may need to replace the tyre ( speaking from experience). It depends on what you want from a tyre. If you want great performance, and p* performance are not a concern, the GP 4000SII is a great tyre. If you want very good durability and p* performance, but don't mind the tyre's being a bit 'draggy' I've found that Schwalbe Durano plus tyre's to be very good, I regularly get over 7000 miles from them, riding in all sorts of conditions, and terrains, with no punctures. If you simply can't have a puncture, ever, and don't do 'race / sports' type riding, Tannus airless tyre's are actually very good ( in my experience) they do need a bit of getting used to at first, as they are quite different to any other tyre I've used, but I have done back to back hundred mile rides over 2 days, over some big climbs ( for this country), and in all sorts of weather conditions. I've also found these to be surprisingly good

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/700x28-resist-5-road-bike-tyre-id_8351381.html

A tenner, I've got them in a 700cx25c size, and I've found them to be far better than the GP 4 seasons they replaced, in just about every respect.

 

[Spiderweb]

Gatorskins for me too.

 

[S-Express]

the GP 4000sII don't claim to be puncture resistant.

I really don't know where you get your information from. See below from the Conti website:

combining the best combination of speed, wet & dry grip, puncture protection and duability like no other tyre.

and

• Vectran™ breaker for unsurpassed puncture protection

Puncture resistance is relative anyway, and is always going to be a trade-off/compromise, depending on what you want the tyres to do.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I was leading a training ride through the Surrey Hills last weekend, one guy was using Gatorskins, he had to abandon at Box Hill after the third ( yes third ) intrusion puncture ( all separate punctures in different tyres / locations on the tyres, we did check everything thoroughly after each one) inside 30 miles, ran him ( and us) out of spare tubes.
I guess Gatorskins gained another fan

 

[broady]

Depends on how hard you ride
If you plod round then you don't need a performance tyre. I go slow on my commute so vitoria rubino's are fitted as they are cheap, decent puncture protection but slide all over the place at speed.

On my best bikes I use 4000s II and Schwalbe One tyres. Winter bikes get 4 season and gatorskins (gators give poor grip in the wet)

 

[Spiderweb]

Gatorskins in my experience have been great tyres, @Racing roadkill you have obviously faired a little differently with Conti tyres and readily slate them on here. The majority of friends I ride with all use Gatorskins now, some use the hardshell which I understand have even better puncture protection but are quite a bit more expensive, I use the cheaper version and believe they are the best all round tyre you can buy, this is my experience.
Personally I wouldn't buy another schwalbe tyre, I know many people like them but the Ultremo R1's I had split (see pic). So it has put me off the brand.
So everyone rides different roads in different conditions all with different experiences, @GlenBen go back to the Conti Gatorskins, you were impressed with them in the past, nothing has changed they are still a great all rounder.

 

[GlenBen]

Seems like the answers obvious when someone else tells me. Ill probably stick with gatorskins then. I just wasnt sure if it would be worth spending more on the "better" ones. Thanks for all the answers.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

11 posts and no one has got the right answer:


Marathon Plus

 

[NorthernDave]

11 posts and no one has got the right answer:

Marathon Plus

Noooooooooooo!

 

[Racing roadkill]

Seems like the answers obvious when someone else tells me. Ill probably stick with gatorskins then. I just wasnt sure if it would be worth spending more on the "better" ones. Thanks for all the answers.

You'd be mental to stick with Gatorskins if you ride on anything else than Billiard table tarmac in my experience, but it's your call.

 

[Racing roadkill]

11 posts and no one has got the right answer:


Marathon Plus

Do they make them in 25s? Genuine question.