Favorite tires

[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.