tire suggestions

[anorange]

Hi, I have been riding Panaracer T-Serve 700 x 28. They are great in wet weather and very puncture resistant- only one flat in 4 years! I want to switch to a narrower tire, probably a 700 x 23. Any suggestions for what would be good in wet weather, not too heavy, and if it's not to much to ask, fairly puncture resistant? I could go to the Panaracer T-Serve 700 x 25, but I'm not sure if it's enough of a difference. Thanks

[Kiwi Stoker]

We just tried a pair of 28 T-Servs on our tandem- as you said very grippy but we lost about 2-3km per hour compared to our normal tyres and really lost it on the downhills. BTW these were new formulation 2009 T-Servs.

If you want to stay with a 28 try Conti Gatorskins- we have had great success with these (same weight as the T-Servs but faster) and very puncture resistant (we don't wear out tyres- they get sliced up by glass in NZ). The T-servs only lasted 5 rides, we get 3-6 months out of a Gatorskin.

I ride Gatorskin 23s on my single as well.

If you like Panaracer tyres I noticed on their website a brand new tyre for 2009, the RibMo that comes in 23, 25 and 28. This is a better tyre again with less tread so should roll more and even more puncture resistant. Both this and the T-Serv are commuting tyres BTW.

[Running Mommy]

LOVE the Conti grand prix 4000's! With the black chili compound, they are the best! No flats for me in years.
Tho I must say I don't know how they work in wet weather. I live in the desert so...

[papaver]

LOVE the Conti grand prix 4000's! With the black chili compound, they are the best! No flats for me in years.
Tho I must say I don't know how they work in wet weather. I live in the desert so...

As a wet road expert I can tell you: they are perfect!!!

[ridebikeme]

I have been running Maxxis Courchevals the past four seasons and love them! Last season, I put several customers on Schwalbe tires ... different models. I just mounted a pair of Ultremos' on another bike, and although I only have a few rides on them I love them as well. Both give you a nice ride, very supple... good on wet weather... although perhaps I don't have the wet weather that many of you have. At any rate, there are lots of good tires out there...perhaps ask your LBS as well.

[kermit]

Awesome!

[ASammy1]

LOVE the Conti grand prix 4000's! With the black chili compound, they are the best! No flats for me in years.
Tho I must say I don't know how they work in wet weather. I live in the desert so...

+1 on the Grand Prix 4000s! Thats what I ride and many of my friends ride the Gator Skins, so either would be a good choice.

[OakLeaf]

I've got GP4000s.

I just replaced the rear after about 2,300 miles. There was still at least a third of the tread left on it, which I thought was impressive, but it had several deep cuts, and I'd actually got a flat from cr*p that had worked its way into an existing cut. It was my second flat on the tire, and I'd already bought a spare since I wasn't sure how many miles I'd get out of them, so I went ahead put the new one on. I've had one flat on the front, just recently.

I like the feel. They seem to stick reasonably well in the turns, but I don't corner super hard. I rarely brake all that hard either, and don't remember anything particular about these tires under very hard braking. They do have a considerably more "triangular" profile than the Michelin Lithions I'd run in the past (like Dunlop motorcycle tires, if that helps anyone), so they turn in a lot quicker but might feel a little twitchy or take a little getting used to. I've never used them in very wet conditions, so can't speak to that. I admit it, I'm a fair-weather rider.