Best Road Tire?

Nitromike · Jun 22, 2004

Been happy with my Specialized Mondo Pro's

Serial Midget · Jun 22, 2004

My favorite tire of all time is the clincher version of the Vittoria Open Corsa CX TT in the 23mm size. It delivers a plush ride while still being a fast roller... however they are expensive. After running them for the last 5 or so years I have bought my last set - I just cant afford them anymore - they they do wear fast and slice easily. :monkey:

Don't bother with IRC Redstorms - I had those for about a month, worst tire ever but plenty cheap.

Right now I am running two sets of Hutchinsons, the newest set are 21mm Fusion Comps. I have about 400 miles on them and they appear to hold up well. I also did a race that was downhill in the pouring rain at speeds up to 42MPH- these tires railed perfectly on twisty mountain roads. I felt very confident even with the heavy rain. In dry conditions you can lean on them pretty well through sharp corners. So far I like them just fine and the price was under $40.00 each with tax.

The other set I have been running on my training bike are 23mm Gold Carbon Comps... these are fine but nothing to write home about, perhaps because they are 23s??? I'm not sure what I paid for them but they have over 1000 miles on them and definately show the wear.

Its pretty hard to find a tight fast rolling road tire that will give more than 1000 miles. I have tried a few tires that supposedly would wear forever but they did not inspire confidence at speed or in wet conditions.

The Toninator · Jun 22, 2004

for just riding? i usually pick up something that will handle slick conditions as wells as dry. the BEST tires ever are usually on sale for about 10 to 15 bucks each.

Serial Midget · Jun 23, 2004

The Toninator said:
for just riding? i usually pick up something that will handle slick conditions as wells as dry. the BEST tires ever are usually on sale for about 10 to 15 bucks each.

Isn't Texas pretty flat? You really do need quality tires if you are bombing down the mountian side at fifty miles an hour. I've tried cheaper tires but found they lacked grip and didn't inspire confidence at speed.

The Toninator · Jun 23, 2004

Serial Midget said:
Isn't Texas pretty flat? You really do need quality tires if you are bombing down the mountian side at fifty miles an hour. I've tried cheaper tires but found they lacked grip and didn't inspire confidence at speed.

no texas aint flat at ALL y'all. Houston is flat and close to the sea, right now i'm only about 35 feet above sea level.
Austin and SA area can get up to 2000/2500 feet and nother and far west are pushing 8000. it's not the 14000 of other states but holds it's own. now on to the tires. a good Maxxis Detinator

that maxxis calls a 'touring' tire seems, to me, like it would handle thouse conditions just fine but again i'm a flat lander. they can be had for about 15 bucks. My first set lasted about 2000 miles i dont think this set is going to make it.
here's a couple more though the sizes vary slightly which is probably why their on sale. I ordered the kenda's and think they will probably do just fine.
let me know if i'm missing something the roadie stuff is all weird to me.
kenda's
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=TI707B00
maxxis fuse
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=TI607B02
MAXXIS XENITH
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=TI607B00
MAXXIS XEPHER
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product.aspx?i=TI607B01
lots more just check them out.

The Toninator · Jun 23, 2004

OHHHHHH btw the last set was rode mostly during the winter i dont expect tires to last that long on the roads down here during the summer.

SuspectDevice · Jun 24, 2004

I have two favorite fast training/ racing tires.

1. Michelin Axial Carbons- pros- well designed casing, belted, good mix between grip and durability. Con- at ~$40 a little pricy for a training tire
2. Vredstein Fortezzas - Pro- rad open tubular type high tpi casing. Perfect compound- Fortezzas are the only tire I trust completely on wet cobbles, very puncture resistant. con- hard to find, expensive

I always run 23s for racing and fast training. I run 25's come cross season, usally some old 25c Michelin axial pros, for more float on dirt road adventures and less a chance of pinching.

SuspectDevice · Jun 24, 2004

I have a pair of the Fortezzas (single compound, not tri-comp) That I probally have 4,000 miles on, that definetly need to be replaced soon though...

Serial Midget · Jun 24, 2004

I just blew the sidewall of my Fusion Comps last night 3/4 gash and a hitchhike home. : pissed :

dhrider · Jul 6, 2004

hey i picked up a pair of maxxis xaniths, 160 psi, 700X23, but they come also in a 700x20 and 190psi, they're awesome, and i got them for 19$ for the pair !!!

dhrider · Jul 6, 2004

oh yeah 240 grams too

MtnBikerChk · Jul 7, 2004

Last night I realized both my tires are hurtin. I don't know ANYTHING about road tires - I mean I don't even know what size I should get - right now I have 25s, should I go smaller?

so HELP

!!!!

I'm riding my stock Michelins right now (OCR 1). The roads out here are generally in good shape and I'm not a speed demon by any means.

what should I look for?

suggestions?

THANKS!

edit: what do you think of the Kenda Koncept?

The Toninator · Jul 7, 2004

MtnBikerChk said:
Last night I realized both my tires are hurtin. I don't know ANYTHING about road tires - I mean I don't even know what size I should get - right now I have 25s, should I go smaller?

so HELP !!!!

I'm riding my stock Michelins right now (OCR 1). The roads out here are generally in good shape and I'm not a speed demon by any means.

what should I look for?

suggestions?

THANKS!

Hey since your kind of short i'm not sure that size wheels your running could be 650cc but more than likely 700's. 25's are ok but once you get used to riding a road bike you can switch to 23's, i think you just might be ready too.
i'd try something cheap with a textured sidewall and a smooth center. like the maxxis's stated above, Detinator's. you can get them pretty cheap off of maxxis's website.

MtnBikerChk · Jul 7, 2004

The Toninator said:
Hey since your kind of short i'm not sure that size wheels your running could be 650cc but more than likely 700's. 25's are ok but once you get used to riding a road bike you can switch to 23's, i think you just might be ready too.
i'd try something cheap with a textured sidewall and a smooth center. like the maxxis's stated above, Detinator's. you can get them pretty cheap off of maxxis's website.

Thanks Tony - they are definitely 700s though.

what does a textured sidewall do for me?

The Toninator · Jul 7, 2004

give's you better traction in the turns, when you would be off the center of the tire.

MtnBikerChk · Jul 7, 2004

The Toninator said:
give's you better traction in the turns, when you would be off the center of the tire.

what does 60 tpi mean?

The Toninator · Jul 7, 2004

oh yea, YOUR WELCOME!!!!! :thumb:

The Toninator · Jul 7, 2004

MtnBikerChk said:
what does 60 tpi mean?

Threads Per Inch. The higher the thread count the lighter and more supple the ride will be.

MtnBikerChk · Jul 7, 2004

what about these?

Vredestein Volante Road Tire

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=11032&siteid=zoQVN.o8yT0-ZRkDixEHxuhJduoTFY2HUw

Serial Midget · Jul 7, 2004

MtnBikerChk said:
what about these?

Vredestein Volante Road Tire

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=11032&siteid=zoQVN.o8yT0-ZRkDixEHxuhJduoTFY2HUw

For the price I would pass. You'll want kevlar beads for those $$, I'm not sure you'd want to run 145 PSI in for anything other than racing - for normal road rides I run 90 to 110 PSI. I'm not sure what the minimum PSI rec is for the tires listed but I'm guessing if 145 is the max then 120 or so is the minimum.

I bought these off of eBay for $30.00 delivered and so far I like them fine, they are not as fast rolling as I am used to but $$$ are tight. They are wire bead but change easily. I put them on my training bike and ordered the same set but with a kevlar bead for my LBS from under $40.00, I'll ride them for the first tine tonight.
LINK

MtnBikerChk · Jul 7, 2004

Serial Midget said:
For the price I would pass. You'll want kevlar beads for those $$, I'm not sure you'd want to run 145 PSI in for anything other than racing - for normal road rides I run 90 to 110 PSI. I'm not sure what the minimum PSI rec is for the tires listed but I'm guessing if 145 is the max then 120 or so is the minimum.

I bought these off of eBay for $30.00 delivered and so far I like them fine, they are not as fast rolling as I am used to but $$$ are tight. They are wire bead but change easily. I put them on my training bike and ordered the same set but with a kevlar bead for my LBS from under $40.00, I'll ride them for the first tine tonight.
LINK

like these? http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=9781&siteid=zoQVN.o8yT0-yMVqO62bax82cq3OQ2bJHA

oh man, buying MTB tires is so much easier

Serial Midget · Jul 7, 2004

Yes - those are the ones. With the wire beads you might find them heavy. If you are happy with the 25mm size, and have no plans to race or train with a fast group, - I would stick with what you are used to. Smaller tires are faster rollers but also ride harsher.

Even though I only have 200 miles on the new tires I think they will be fine - zero signes of wear so far. On race tires there would be little and slices by now but these look brand new. I'm pretty confident that I will get 1500 miles out of them.

MtnBikerChk · Jul 7, 2004

Serial Midget said:
Yes - those are the ones. With the wire beads you might find them heavy. If you are happy with the 25mm size, and have no plans to race or train with a fast group, - I would stick with what you are used to. Smaller tires are faster rollers but also ride harsher.

Even though I only have 200 miles on the new tires I think they will be fine - zero signes of wear so far. On race tires there would be little and slices by now but these look brand new. I'm pretty confident that I will get 1500 miles out of them.

I definitely want to "train" faster. I use the term TRAIN lightly though. My goal is just to become a stronger faster rider so I'm not always LAST in the pack (both road and MTB).

so I'm leaning towards 23s.

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