Favorite tires

[roguedog]

Ok gals, time to buy some new 700x23 treads.

What do you like/rely on to get you down the road? Why do you like it?

I'm thinking Conti Gatorskins or Conti Grand Prix 4000s but am open to suggestions!

It'd be nice if they're relatively easy to get on and off during the flat repair process. Nothing more frustrating than having a wrestling match on the side of road with your wheels.

I'm debating between nice riding tires and tires with less possibilities of flatting..

[MartianDestiny]

I'm currently riding Conti Grand Prix 4 season, which are nice riding tires that I really like. No flats so far (between 2-400 miles I'd guess). BUT, that no flats is a darn good thing because they are a MAJOR PITA to install (to the tune of 15-30minutes a TIRE in my living room to switch them to my new rims after riding them for a couple hundred miles).

I'll probably be trying something a bit more forgiving to get on and off next time around. Not sure if the standard Grand Prix (rather than the 4 season) have the same issue or not.

[pinkbikes]

I had Maxxis Xeniths in a 700x20 on my roadie. Not because I chose them, but because it came with them three years ago. They have given great service and had barely a puncture. But I am told that the new version is not the same and they are purely a race tyre now, so would not offer the same long term performance.

So I have recently replaced them with a set of Maxxis Re-Fuse in a 700x23. They are quite obviously not a race tyre. But they are ridiculously puncture resistant and for me that is a biggie. I also find myself caught out in the rain a bit, so being sure-footed in the rain is important to me. And they are.

My recently-acquired Scott came with Conti Ultra Sport. I would avoid them like the plague if I could. I think I had three punctures in the first four rides! I went out and bought some Maxxis Re-Fuse for it too. No more punctures. And they are easy to put on and off. And they are certainly quite affordable. Not quite the pedigree of the Contis but they are doing nicely so far.

DH has had Conti Ultra Gators and finds them quite puncture-resistant but as slippery as anything when it is wet underfoot (undertyre?). So I guess it depends what characteristics you are after in your tyres.

[ridebikeme]

I too, would definitely recommend Maxxis tires. I ride the Courchevals, but sometimes will use the Detonators for training tires. In the shop I sell a lot of both, but because of price the Detonators seem to rule. Much easier to change a flat with Maxxis versus some of the other brands.

[Becky]

I'm a big fan of Vittoria Diamantes in both the 23 and the 25. Easy enough to put on, very supple and plenty of grip. I have a set of Conty Ultra Races (25) on another bike and, while they're good, I'm not sure I'd buy them again.

IME, Continentals in general are a wicked pain in the butt to change/install.

[Bike Chick]

I'm a big fan of Vittoria Diamantes in both the 23 and the 25. Easy enough to put on, very supple and plenty of grip. I have a set of Conty Ultra Races (25) on another bike and, while they're good, I'm not sure I'd buy them again.

IME, Continentals in general are a wicked pain in the butt to change/install.

DH and I both have Vittoria Diamantes and have been very pleased with them.

[Thorn]

For me, GP4000s ride a little nicer than the Gatorskins (which ride a little harsh for me). As I understand it (and I could be wrong), the GP4000s have the same kevlar band as the Gatorskins, but, unlike the Gatorskin, it does not extend up into the sidewall of the tire. Thus, if you kick up a lot of sharp stuff, the Gatorskin would be more flat protective. I've had good luck with the GP4000s.

Anothter tire I've ridden a bit is the Panaracer Duro. Getting it on the rims the first time is a real beast, but after that not so bad. They are a tough road tire and they ride somewhere in between the Gatorskin and the GP4000. I was running the Duros and DH the Gatorskins in Tucson in spring (where there is more glass and goatheads on the pavement than anywhere else). DH put glass through new Gatorskins; my Duros got cuts, but none of them did more than just nick the tread.

[redrhodie]

I really loved the speed of my Challenge Race tires, but I flatted almost weekly with them. Not worth the effort! Years ago, I used to ride Schwalbe Blizzards. They were cheap, but never flatted. I put them on my commuter at the beginning of winter after the Challenge tires had flatted so much, but they were an exhausting, slow ride. I ended up putting Micheline Pros on both my bikes. They're durable and fast, and come in nice colors.

[TxDoc]

Hi Roguedog,
I use mostly Vredestein tricomp slick (700x23) for clinchers, and Tufo elite ride 23 (700x23) for tubulars. On my time trial bike I have 700x20 clinchers: Vittoria open corsa evo cx.
The Vredestein are fantastic tires, and very puncture-resistant. However, I like the feeling of tubulars, so the Tufo's are my favorite; very stable tires, great traction with our variable conditions (wind and flying sand one minute, rain the next), and the sealant prevents small punctures from ruining your day

[kermit]

Just ordered Serfas Seca RS from ebay. I gotta say the 4000s are worn and these were a great price with decent reviews. My road ride in Georgia is really tough and I thought I needed a little more tire...and they come in red.

[roguedog]

Thanks everyone.

Thought I'd sum up the replies so far for myself and then send it out for other's reference (plus for positive and minus for negatives):


Conti Grand Prix 4 season - +4
Maxxis Re-Fuse - +1
Maxxis Courchevals - +1
Maxxis Detonators - +1
Vittoria Diamantes - +2
Conti GP4000s - +3, -1
Panaracer Duro - +1
Micheline Pro - +2
conti gatorskins - +2
Vredestein Fortezzas - +1
Schwalbe Stelvio - +2
Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks - +1
Vredestein Tri-Comp - +2
Schwalbe Blizzard - +1,
Tufo elite ride 23 (tub) - +1

Conti Ultra Sport - +0, -1
Conty Ultra Races - +0, -1
Challenge Race - +0, -1
Conti Ultra Gators - +0, -1

Hey I'm no accountant so.. no guarantees on the counts!

[azfiddle]

A little late, and I don't have experience to compare with any of the other tires mentioned, but I've only had one flat with the gatorskins, and we have a lot of nasty thorns on Arizona roads. The flat was from a construction staple, btw.

Sharon

[Pedal Wench]

Wow -- no praises for Kenda? I love their Konstrictors and C2C and for all conditions, the Kaliente's. My mtb'ing friends all use the small-block 8's too. Huge fans. Plus, they're the first ones I can change without cursing or tears.