Selecting new tires

[dravens]

I have a one year old Specialized Ruby with 2200 miles on it. I have had a lot of flats in both tires mainly from small bits if glass or other road debris and one time a thorn. I would like to replace them with something more puncture resistant but still light weight. I am considering the Bontrager R2. Has anyone used these? Does any one like these or have any other suggestions?

[trickycoolj]

I have the Bontrager R1s stock on my bike, and so far they've been great. I haven't hit glass or thorns but have gone over nasty potholes/pavement, gravel and tree debris (leaves, sticks and flattened branches) with no problems. I was eyeballing the R2s for my next set just because I want the colors...

[ny biker]

This recent thread discusses puncture-resistant tires, as well as a couple of other tire issues.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=47767

[pumpkinpony]

What is the AeroWing technology bontrager talks about on their website for those tires?

I have been running Bontrager Hard Case tires, just because my LBS carried them and regularly had them on sale for $25 each. I will be interested in the responses, as I've moved and have lost my source for good cheap tires!

[velo]

Lots of good info in the other thread, but I think the tone of that is economy of tires. If you are O.K. with spending some money, I have to say that I really, really love Vredestein Fortezza Tricomps. They are light, they corner very well, but are extremely flat resistant...in my experience, anyway... both from this summer and from using them for years and years when I rode before. I put this pair on in mid June and (touch wood) have not had a flat in 1700 miles. I don't remember ever flatting with them before. (I hope I'm not jinxing myself now!!) They also have a bizarrely high max psi (175), which, I don't know, may be part of their durability. My Zipp rims have a max psi of 125, so I've never gotten them up that high (and I would wonder why anyone would want to ride with them that high), but I don't know any other tire with such a high max. Hmmm... have I sung their accolades enough? Yeah, I guess so. Vredestein. Little pricey - ~$60 each, but worth it.

[Seajay]

What is the AeroWing technology bontrager talks about on their website for those tires?

On some of Bontrager's higher end tires they use a "fairing" of sorts to help keep laminar (smooth) airflow from the tire onto the surface of an aero wheel. It's supposed to optimize the aero wheel/tire combination.

[tzvia]

I can agree with Velo on those Tricomps, for the first 1400 miles. Awesome tires, one flat (glass). Very smooth riding tires, supple. However, by that 1400 mile mark, I had already rotated them once, and the back which was the front, was squared off and the texture on the tread was gone. The front tire had some nasty cuts, one was over 1/2" long and down to the cords. So I sighed and bought new tires, something else.

Vittoria Open Corsa CX tires in 23c. Hard tires, not supple like the Tricomps. Expensive, so I suffered through the less than enjoyable ride quality. Two flats, goathead thorns. 1300 miles, the rear had worn squared, and the front tire had a nasty cut down to the cords. Deja vu. I'd been rattled enough with them anyway.

Next. Hutchinson Fusion 2 23c on sale at Performance. The ride quality fell somewhere between the buttery smooth Tricomp and the rock hard Vittoria. 1100 miles. Yep, big cut, this time in back (oh joy something new), the tires looked ok otherwise but that cut was bad.

This is getting expensive.

Now I am on 25c Continental GP4000 chilipepper tires. They give the Tricomps a run for their money in the comfort dept, while providing both stability and light weight while feeling racy. Been riding them for about 6 months, but frankly have been putting most my road miles on the commuter, and the weekends on the MTB so I am guessing maybe 600~700 miles (did I mention my bike computer sucks?). No flats. They look new. At this rate, they should last longer than the previous tires which had all begun to look old at this point.

So, from what I have experienced, I am liking the Continentals, and will buy again when they wear out. 25c for sure. My bike is a 2009 Ruby Expert BTW. And yea our roads out here in Los Angeles are as broke as the city and the state, and have hastened the destruction of my road tires. Those Continentals show promise and feel good. They had better hold up, I am out of money.

One of my commuters has Continental Gatorskin 25c wirebead tires. A little heavy for their size but they have also been holding up nicely, ride really well, and only one flat (goathead thorn) in almost two years commuting, about 2000 miles. So maybe some Gatorskins in a folding bead would do you well if you are in a flat prone area.

[azfiddle]

Continental Gatorskins work for me. I live in Arizona- goat's heads, glass, palo verde thorns- I have gone over 2000 miles without flats on these too.

[velo]

I can agree with Velo on those Tricomps, for the first 1400 miles. Awesome tires, one flat (glass). Very smooth riding tires, supple. However, by that 1400 mile mark, I had already rotated them once, and the back which was the front, was squared off and the texture on the tread was gone. The front tire had some nasty cuts, one was over 1/2" long and down to the cords. So I sighed and bought new tires, something else.

My bike is a 2009 Ruby Expert BTW. And yea our roads out here in Los Angeles are as broke as the city and the state, and have hastened the destruction of my road tires. Those Continentals show promise and feel good. They had better hold up, I am out of money.

I may have a different experience because I ride different road conditions. After catching the MUP a few blocks from my house, I exit the trail onto smooth country roads, most paved, some smoothly chip and sealed and only a couple that are rough chip seal. There's quite a bit of natural debris (twigs and such) on the MUP, but mostly I'm on very good roads. So in the 1700 and some miles I've had these on, I am not even really ready to rotate them, but will before the end of the season. My bike is a very aggressive Klein with sharp (twitchy) handling and cornering, which is why these tires work so well for this bike. But I can certainly understand your evaluation based on your conditions, both road and bike. You bring up a good point that tires will give different results in different conditions and unfortunately, sometimes you just have to try different ones until you find your fit.

[meganm]

I've been happy with Continental GP 4000 tires

[Owlie]

I just picked up a set of Gatorskin Ultras (25, wire bead). We'll see how they perform--they were recommended by one of the mechanics at work as a long-lasting (not necessarily speedy), puncture-resistant tire. The wire bead is a little heavy, but they stay on the rims better. Once these wear out, I'll try the kevlar bead.

[gocard]

I'm searching for more knowledge on new tires and puncture solutions. I know tires will still be susceptible to punctures and flats but just trying to get more knowledge so that I can start hunting around for good tires. Lots of good info in this forum.

I've gone less than 75 miles on my new bike with stock Schwalbe Lugano 700x25 tires and already got acquainted with the goathead thorn. However, I was able to patch up my first tire which was nice! Not unexpectedly however, it's leaking air way faster than the other and today I saw that it was completely flat again even though I pumped it again in the middle of last week. Do you ladies usually keep a patched tube or just swap out for a new one?

I was looking at the Gatorskins - what is the difference between fold and wire bead? I'd primarily be riding on fairly flat, decently paved roads with some hills. Of course, if they can handle occasional rides on gravel that would be awesome. Are there any 700x25 tires that can do that?

[Hi Ho Silver]

I can agree with Velo on those Tricomps, for the first 1400 miles. Awesome tires, one flat (glass). Very smooth riding tires, supple. However, by that 1400 mile mark, I had already rotated them once, and the back which was the front, was squared off and the texture on the tread was gone. The front tire had some nasty cuts, one was over 1/2" long and down to the cords. So I sighed and bought new tires, something else.

...snip, snip

It isn't clear to me from your posting, but it isn't a good idea to rotate both the tires on a bike. Generally, it is okay to put a used front tire on the rear if there is sufficient tread. But one shouldn't rotate a well used rear tire to the front. One should ideally have the best tire on the front ...because a blowout of the front tire can be disastrous, whereas a blowout of a rear tire is somewhat recoverable.

When it is time for me to replace my rear tire, I rotate the front to the back and put a new tire on the front.

[tzvia]

Gocard,
I agree with Silver, not to rotate a worn rear tire up front- I rotate when the rear just begins to show wear, not when worn, to clarify. I would rotate out a worn rear, put the front on the back and get a new front IF I wanted to stick with that brand/model tire. Which I wasn't about to do as I hadn't found the tires I wanted to stay with yet.

As for the wirebead vs kevlar, the wirebead is harder to take off, and will keep its round shape off of the bike. Those are the ones you see on a rack at the LBS, they can't be folded up and put in a box. Kevlar bead tires can be folded easily. They also weigh less.

I've been riding the road bike a lot this last month, and I'm liking those GP4000 25c tires more and more. They still look just about new. No cuts or visible wear. They ride really nice. I made the mistake of riding sew-up tires all through the 80s and 90s, as clincher tires weren't as advanced as they are now (19c tires were all the rage at one point and they rode like they were made of solid rubber). So everything I ride I subconsciously compare to cotton sewups, not a fair comparison. I wonder what the tires that cost me 80 bucks in the early 90s sell for now...

[Owlie]

I'm searching for more knowledge on new tires and puncture solutions. I know tires will still be susceptible to punctures and flats but just trying to get more knowledge so that I can start hunting around for good tires. Lots of good info in this forum.

I've gone less than 75 miles on my new bike with stock Schwalbe Lugano 700x25 tires and already got acquainted with the goathead thorn. However, I was able to patch up my first tire which was nice! Not unexpectedly however, it's leaking air way faster than the other and today I saw that it was completely flat again even though I pumped it again in the middle of last week. Do you ladies usually keep a patched tube or just swap out for a new one?

I was looking at the Gatorskins - what is the difference between fold and wire bead? I'd primarily be riding on fairly flat, decently paved roads with some hills. Of course, if they can handle occasional rides on gravel that would be awesome. Are there any 700x25 tires that can do that?

The wire bead is heavier and is harder to mount. However, it is cheaper and if you abuse your tires a bit, they'll stay on the rim better than Kevlar beaded tires. Kevlar is lighter and easier to mount (even though mounting all brand-new tires is a bear). It is, however, more expensive. I didn't want to spring for the Kevlar because I'm poor and my current tires (the front, anyway...) are wire-bead.