Best Commuter Tires?

[WindingRoad]

So my Bontrager Hardcases sorta died tonight, not really sure why cuz they maybe have 1000 miles on them. There was a big rain storm today and apparently they was something lurking in some of those puddles. I have actually like these tires until tonight when I realized it is nearly impossible to get them off my rims Good think the BF was able to come get me but that just not going to work because he isn't always able to come bail me out. I REALLY need to be able to get the tires off the rim!!!

Any suggestions on what has worked well for you?

[KnottedYet]

I've got Vittoria Randonneur reflective sidewalls on two of my bikes. (28mm on one, 32mm on the other)

I'm quite happy with them. They handle rain very well. The low pressure (75 pounds or so) makes them cope nicely with bits of crud I ride over. The reflective sidewalls are surprisingly effective.

[ridebikeme]

Although they are a bit expensive, I would recommend the Schwalbe Marathons... very long lasting and reflective piping around the circumference of the tire. They are also a tire that will last for quite some time AND most people generally don't tend to have a whole lot of flats with them... a big bonus. There's a link somewhere on TE about these tires if interested...



http://chasecyclery.blogspot.com

[Melalvai]

My Schwalbes are hard to get on & off. Practice in your home (or better yet at your bike shop).

Having said that, I need to do some practicing. On the other hand I haven't had any flats on the road.

They lasted about 8000 miles for me. This last time, I knew they were getting worn but I didn't realize quite how worn. I was amazed, with how flaky they were, that I hadn't had any flats.

[WindingRoad]

I have experience 'hard' to get a tire on and off the rim and I can deal with them being tight but these Bontragers I can't even get a tire lever in around the edge of the rim! My BF tried and he couldn't either. It's almost as if they are glued! Have any of you experienced such a thing???

I was seriously thinking about the Marathons but I had looked at those Randonner's before too. Knotted how are those to get on and off the rims?

[KnottedYet]

I was seriously thinking about the Marathons but I had looked at those Randonner's before too. Knotted how are those to get on and off the rims?

The 32mm are loose enough that they come on and off easily. The 28mm were a struggle for me when I bought them 5 years ago. I got one on, but had to take the other to the shop for help. Shop dude popped it into place with his thumb in half a second. The tubes in the 28mm are probably getting old now and I should probably think about changing them out.

I have an assortment of tire levers now (including a quik-stik) and I think I could manage the 28mm on my own. I hope...

ETA: The 28mm Vittoria Randonneurs are on Campy rims. Shop dude told me Campy rims are difficult sometimes with tires. Maybe he just said that to make me feel better. But I vividly remember what a pain in the @$$ it was, and if I get a flat with that bike and can't budge the tires I'm not wasting any time - I'll head straight back to Shop dude.