I'm starting this thread to help fellow monkeys out. I've had some serious issues with tires and I'm still working through the growing pains. I ran clincher wheels until last season and I made the switch to tubulars. I've ran tubulars last year and so far this year. Below are the tires I have time on.
Tufo C Prestige Clincher Tubular, 32mm
I run these tires on my singlespeed and I have a fair amount of riding/racing time on them. The tubular clincher is a great choice if you don't have tubulars or tubeless wheels. The tire is tubeless with a bead strip on the bottom of the tire that locks into the bead. So it acts like a tubular on a clincher rim. The advantage to this setup is that you can run lower pressure and not have to worry as much about pinch flats. The disadvantage is that the tires weigh more due to the bead lock.
One thing I have to say about every Tufo tubular/tubular clincher I've ridden, they have a dead feeling. This doesn't mean that the tires don't hook up well, it means that they don't have the bouncy, supple feel, of a cotton tubular tire. I run these tires with Stan's sealant in them and I haven't flatted yet. The tires hook up well in dry conditions and they do alright in some mud. These tires won't handle the wet off camber turns as well as a Dugast. They are a solid tire and a good choice for any rider.
Tufo C T30 Clincher Tubular, 32mm
I have a lot of time on this model and I currently have them on my pit wheels. I have had no issues with these tires when running them with a little Stans sealant. As for ride, I can't tell the difference between the C T30 and the C Prestige. Both good tires.
Continental Twister Clincher, 32mm
This will be the only non tubular/tubeless tire I'll review. I prefer to not run a tube/tire setup but at one race I didn't have a choice. I was racing these tires and the conditions were very slick and muddy but we didn't have any deep ruts (max of an inch or so). These tires hooked up amazingly well. I was very impressed. Being a normal clincher they lack the supple feel of a tubular and don't do very well on steep off camber sections. For muddy conditions this tire is a good choice if you run tubes.
Dugast Typhoon Tubular, 32mm
Dugast tires are legendary and you'll see many of the top pros running Dugast tires regardless of their sponsors. The tires are handmade in Europe and the casing is composed of cotton. These were my main tires last season and were also the first tubulars I owned. The tires rode fantastic in most conditions. They have a very supple feel and hook up very well on off chamber sections. For dry or slightly wet conditions these tires are some of the best. The two biggest draw backs are their inability to handle any kind of steep muddy incline and their lack of durability. By the end of last season these tires were completely trashed. The two places the tire is vulnerable are in rough conditions with some rocks (nicks in the cotton sidewalls) and when you race these tires on fast rough courses the constant force in the corners starts to pull the base tape away from the tubular. For those of you that don't know, you apply aqua seal to the tires sidewalls to help improve water resistance and durability. I didn't apply the aqua seal onto the base tape and that may have been part of the problem. If you have cash to burn these are great tires.
Dugast Rhino Tubular, 30mm
For muddy conditions you cannot get a better tire. These tires hook up phenomenally well. Sections that you wouldn't have considered riding are all of a sudden ridable. These tires also need aqua seal and have the same vulnerabilities to nicks and the base tape as the Typhoon. In really muddy conditions rocks and speed (the tire killers) typically aren't an issue. These tires have never disappointed me and if you have the means to have a dedicated set of mud wheels I would recommend these tires.
Gommitalia Magnum Cross, 32mm
Our team got a smoking deal on these tires and I bought 4 for this year thinking that I would have plenty of tires for dry conditions. These tires have a similar tread pattern to the Challenge Grifo and are intended for dry conditions. The tires are very supple and handle well but they are very prone to flats. I have flatted 3 of my 4 tires and I will only consider running these tires again if I get the tubes replaced with something more durable. The tire handles well, but ultimately I wouldn't purchase these tires because a flat will cost you pain and suffering in a race.
FMB, 32mm
FMB tires are made in Europe and I have to say that the construction is very impressive. FMB are cotton tubulars but they coat the sidewalls with latex to seal them from moisture and increase durability. I haven't ridden these tires, but they will be my next review. I am very impressed with the construction. The sidewall coating extends onto the base tape, which I hope will eliminate the Dugast issue of the tubular pulling from the base tape.
Tufo C Prestige Clincher Tubular, 32mm
I run these tires on my singlespeed and I have a fair amount of riding/racing time on them. The tubular clincher is a great choice if you don't have tubulars or tubeless wheels. The tire is tubeless with a bead strip on the bottom of the tire that locks into the bead. So it acts like a tubular on a clincher rim. The advantage to this setup is that you can run lower pressure and not have to worry as much about pinch flats. The disadvantage is that the tires weigh more due to the bead lock.
One thing I have to say about every Tufo tubular/tubular clincher I've ridden, they have a dead feeling. This doesn't mean that the tires don't hook up well, it means that they don't have the bouncy, supple feel, of a cotton tubular tire. I run these tires with Stan's sealant in them and I haven't flatted yet. The tires hook up well in dry conditions and they do alright in some mud. These tires won't handle the wet off camber turns as well as a Dugast. They are a solid tire and a good choice for any rider.
Tufo C T30 Clincher Tubular, 32mm
I have a lot of time on this model and I currently have them on my pit wheels. I have had no issues with these tires when running them with a little Stans sealant. As for ride, I can't tell the difference between the C T30 and the C Prestige. Both good tires.
Continental Twister Clincher, 32mm
This will be the only non tubular/tubeless tire I'll review. I prefer to not run a tube/tire setup but at one race I didn't have a choice. I was racing these tires and the conditions were very slick and muddy but we didn't have any deep ruts (max of an inch or so). These tires hooked up amazingly well. I was very impressed. Being a normal clincher they lack the supple feel of a tubular and don't do very well on steep off camber sections. For muddy conditions this tire is a good choice if you run tubes.
Dugast Typhoon Tubular, 32mm
Dugast tires are legendary and you'll see many of the top pros running Dugast tires regardless of their sponsors. The tires are handmade in Europe and the casing is composed of cotton. These were my main tires last season and were also the first tubulars I owned. The tires rode fantastic in most conditions. They have a very supple feel and hook up very well on off chamber sections. For dry or slightly wet conditions these tires are some of the best. The two biggest draw backs are their inability to handle any kind of steep muddy incline and their lack of durability. By the end of last season these tires were completely trashed. The two places the tire is vulnerable are in rough conditions with some rocks (nicks in the cotton sidewalls) and when you race these tires on fast rough courses the constant force in the corners starts to pull the base tape away from the tubular. For those of you that don't know, you apply aqua seal to the tires sidewalls to help improve water resistance and durability. I didn't apply the aqua seal onto the base tape and that may have been part of the problem. If you have cash to burn these are great tires.
Dugast Rhino Tubular, 30mm
For muddy conditions you cannot get a better tire. These tires hook up phenomenally well. Sections that you wouldn't have considered riding are all of a sudden ridable. These tires also need aqua seal and have the same vulnerabilities to nicks and the base tape as the Typhoon. In really muddy conditions rocks and speed (the tire killers) typically aren't an issue. These tires have never disappointed me and if you have the means to have a dedicated set of mud wheels I would recommend these tires.
Gommitalia Magnum Cross, 32mm
Our team got a smoking deal on these tires and I bought 4 for this year thinking that I would have plenty of tires for dry conditions. These tires have a similar tread pattern to the Challenge Grifo and are intended for dry conditions. The tires are very supple and handle well but they are very prone to flats. I have flatted 3 of my 4 tires and I will only consider running these tires again if I get the tubes replaced with something more durable. The tire handles well, but ultimately I wouldn't purchase these tires because a flat will cost you pain and suffering in a race.
FMB, 32mm
FMB tires are made in Europe and I have to say that the construction is very impressive. FMB are cotton tubulars but they coat the sidewalls with latex to seal them from moisture and increase durability. I haven't ridden these tires, but they will be my next review. I am very impressed with the construction. The sidewall coating extends onto the base tape, which I hope will eliminate the Dugast issue of the tubular pulling from the base tape.
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