High end road tires for rough roads?

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand

Prix

Quoted message said:

4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

At your size and weight, you should be riding at least a 700x28 tire,
if not a 700x32. I'm 6'4", 225 pounds and I'm very happy with the
Panaracer Urban Max 700x32 for all-purpose road riding. Inflated to
110psi, they're very fast and very comfortable. If you want something a
little lighter, the Panaracer Pasela is similar, only with a sliightly
thinner casing.

Leave the skinny tires for the skinny riders.

Jeff

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix
4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

i've had great success in both aspects with michelin & hutchinson road
tires. in the wet, i've had huge slashes in the rubber of my
hutchinsons and zero punctures. that's experience over the last 4
winters. i'm 205 & ride 23's - can't see any need to change.

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix
4-Season.

Grand Prix 4-season is a good, tough tyre which isn't too far away from
the serious racing tyres in terms of rolling resistance. I've used it on
unpaved roads without any problems with flats, and I think it should be
a good choice for you as well.

Because you're not a light-weight rider, I'd suggest going with 25 or
even 28 mm version instead of 23 mm.

-as

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase comfort
and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix 4-Season and
at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also considering switching
from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs.
Thanks.

Hi
Riding one set Continental Grand Prix 4-Seasons 700x28 for almost a
year now. 4000 km (mostly on the road, but in the Alps also on gravel
and stones), no problems at all and very comfortable. They "feel" good.
I am 6'6'' x 250 lbs.
Koert

--
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Site : http://www.mesnews.net

JeffWills said:

At your size and weight, you should be riding at least a 700x28 tire,
if not a 700x32. I'm 6'4", 225 pounds and I'm very happy with the
Panaracer Urban Max 700x32 for all-purpose road riding. Inflated to
110psi, they're very fast and very comfortable. If you want something

a

Quoted message said:

little lighter, the Panaracer Pasela is similar, only with a

sliightly

Quoted message said:

thinner casing.

Pasela's are really nice, inexpensive tires, I use them, but I wouldn't
call them a "high-end" tire. If you want to spend the $$ and sacrifice
some durability, you can get tires with lighter weight and less rolling
resistance. I used to spend $40-50 on tires like Continentals, switched
to $12 Pasela's, didn't notice any difference. I don't race, but do a
lot of fast club pace line riding. At 6'10" and 235, I'm ok with 25mm
tires, I used 23's before, never pinched, but 25's are a little
smoother. Pasela's in 28mm are actually 25mm. We have good pavement
around here, for broken pavement or chip seal, I'd probably go to
28-32mm just for the ride quality.

Peter Cole said:

JeffWills said:

At your size and weight, you should be riding at least a 700x28 tire,
if not a 700x32. I'm 6'4", 225 pounds and I'm very happy with the
Panaracer Urban Max 700x32 for all-purpose road riding. Inflated to
110psi, they're very fast and very comfortable. If you want something

a

Quoted message said:

little lighter, the Panaracer Pasela is similar, only with a

sliightly

Quoted message said:

thinner casing.

Pasela's are really nice, inexpensive tires, I use them, but I wouldn't
call them a "high-end" tire. If you want to spend the $$ and sacrifice
some durability, you can get tires with lighter weight and less rolling
resistance. I used to spend $40-50 on tires like Continentals, switched
to $12 Pasela's, didn't notice any difference. I don't race, but do a
lot of fast club pace line riding. At 6'10" and 235, I'm ok with 25mm
tires, I used 23's before, never pinched, but 25's are a little
smoother. Pasela's in 28mm are actually 25mm. We have good pavement
around here, for broken pavement or chip seal, I'd probably go to
28-32mm just for the ride quality.

While we're on the Panaracer bent, I'd heartily recommend the T-Serv
if you are riding in an area that makes "normal" tires subject to
flats. They're really quite light and supple for an "armored tire",
much MUCH more so than the Specialized Armadillo, for example. They
feel very much like the Conti Gatorskin, but are much less expensive
and last longer to boot.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

"Rod March" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix
4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

Go to 700x27 and get the Ruffy Tuffy.

http://www.rivendellbicycles.com/html/parts.html

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand
Prix 4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

I think anyone over about 180 LB is probably better off on 25mm tires anyway.
23mm is just a silly tradition. I'm a little lighter than that and even I see
the difference. "Big" 23mm are great for me but the skinnier ones are annoying
in comparison. So go with 25mm or 28mm. There are plenty of good choices.

FWIW, Performance has 25mm Continental 2000/3000 on sale for $10, and 28mm for
$18. Nashbar probably has similar prices. They might not be my very first
choice, but for that price you can hardly go wrong.

Matt O.

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand

Prix

Quoted message said:

4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

I ride in NYC, putting in between 20 and 50+ daily, and weigh around
210lbs (but often top your weight with a Kryptonite chain lock and
often a few pound's worth of backpack.)
I've been having good luck with the Michelin Carbon Comps.
/s

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand

Prix

Quoted message said:

4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

I ride in NYC, putting in between 20 and 50+ daily, and weigh around
210lbs (but often top your weight with a Kryptonite chain lock and
often a few pound's worth of backpack.)
I've been having good luck with the Michelin Carbon Comps 700x23.
/s

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix
4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

Switching to the larger size and making sure your tires are pumped up to
the max is the way to go.
-------------
Alex

If you want more comfort, definitely switch to 700x25. With 25mm wide
tires pumped up to 100-110psi, you will get more air volume and thus
more comfort than 23s. 25s will also provide a larger contact patch and
thus handle better. 25s will arguably have *less* rolling resistance
too!

I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between
24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it
doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/images/tiretest.jpg

bfd said:

If you want more comfort, definitely switch to 700x25. With 25mm wide
tires pumped up to 100-110psi, you will get more air volume and thus
more comfort than 23s. 25s will also provide a larger contact patch
and thus handle better. 25s will arguably have *less* rolling
resistance too!

I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between
24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it
doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/images/tiretest.jpg

NOT AGAIN!!!

Bill Sornson said:

bfd wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between
24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it
doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/images/tiretest.jpg

NOT AGAIN!!!

Not many people know this, but that photo was taken at Daytona
International Speedway, on the exit from corner 4. Jobst is actually
sitting bolt upright - it's the road that slopes, and the camera was
tilted to match the angle of the track.

He's got that strange look on his face because they didn't bother to
stop the stock car test session while he was riding there, and he
hears something loud and fast coming up from behind..

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $695 ti frame

bfd says...

Quoted message said:

If you want more comfort, definitely switch to 700x25. With 25mm wide
tires pumped up to 100-110psi, you will get more air volume and thus
more comfort than 23s. 25s will also provide a larger contact patch and
thus handle better. 25s will arguably have *less* rolling resistance
too!

I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between
24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it
doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/images/tiretest.jpg

He's going so fast it's taking the hair right off his head.

Mark Hickey said:

Quoted message said:

bfd said:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/images/tiretest.jpg

Not many people know this, but that photo was taken at Daytona
International Speedway, on the exit from corner 4. Jobst is actually
sitting bolt upright - it's the road that slopes, and the camera was
tilted to match the angle of the track.

He's got that strange look on his face because they didn't bother to
stop the stock car test session while he was riding there, and he
hears something loud and fast coming up from behind..

LOL! But why is the fencepost in the background tilted?

Pat

Rod March said:

Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase
comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix
4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also
considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or
suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.

I appreciate the variety of feedback on this issue. From the comments
here, it seems like I could justify staying with 700x23s, but it seems
like most people are recommending a wider tire.

This comment from Continental's web site on the benefits of wider tires
has also influence my leaning towards a wider tire: "Incidentally,
whoever uses the GrandPrix 3000 mainly on touring and long-distance
events should give the 25mm version a try. The enhanced comfort and
additional handling reliability and puncture resistance are well worth
it for these type of events."

So, I will probably try a set of 700x25s. Comments have made me consider
an even wider tire but I think I will have trouble taking the wheels off
without deflating the tires if I go wider than 25's, so there is a
convenience factor involved. I've got Shimano 105 Brakes and the 23's
that I am replacing only have a little clearance; I think the 25s will
just make it and 28s wont quite make it without partially deflating them.

Now the question of brand. Many of the high end tires don't come in 25s
or if they do from the manufacturer, you can't actually find them in a
mail order store. So that narrows it down somewhat. Bicycling Magazine
used to have good comprehensive reviews of road tires, but unfortunately
they seem to have stopped doing this. Sorry that no one has experience
with Specialized. They don't seem to be very widely available. In the
late 90's they had the top rated road tires in multiple reviews. It is
their tire that I'm currently replacing and I've really enjoyed their
feel where the pavement is good. But unfortunately, our local DOT keeps
patching and repairing asphalt with chip seal and the frost cracks here
in Alaska are pretty bad.

The Continental Grand Prix 4-season (with Duraskin) sound pretty good as
do some of the Panaracers, but from specs, these are two different
categories of tires and a big difference in price. My Klein (cheap
Klein) originally came with a mid level Continentals and when I wore
them out and tried a high-end tire, I found a huge difference in feel
that I liked, so I am hesitant to go back to a mid level tire. But my
experience is only with 2 specific tires and it was 7-8 years ago that I
made the change. So maybe the mid level Panaracers like the Pasela would
surprise me as at least one poster suggested.

Still pondering about brands, thanks again for the feedback, Rod.

Rod asks:

Quoted message said:

Still pondering about brands<

Yes, 700x25 are definitely not as common as 23s, especially in the
*big* mail order companies. However, 25s are available from
Continental, Michelin, and Avocet to name a few. Here are a few places
to look at:

Sheldon Brown (the man!) carries Avocet, Conti, Panaracer and Ritchey:
http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/tires/622.html#25

World Class Cycles carries Avocets, Contis, Michelins and IRC:
http://www.worldclasscycles.com/clincher-tires2.htm

QBP catalog (which most good LBS use) has a few:
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&Category=484&type=T&SearchResult=yes

Finally, take a look at biketiresdirect.com, lickbike.com,
yellowjersey.org, or, surprise, your LBS!

"Still pondering about brands, thanks again for the feedback, Rod."

I've been riding Vredstein Fortezzas (comp, not tricomp) and Pariba Pro
Evolutions (gumwall) lately. The Fortezza's are not the lightest tires
on the market, but they wear very well, have a very nice ride, and
stick pretty well in the corners. The Paribas ride a little more
harshly than the Vredsteins, but stick better in the corners - they do
seem to suffer from Conti-itis of the sidewalls tho, and are prone to
cracking when subjected to the heat of Las Vegas roads in the
summertime. Both of these have been very cut resistant, and reasonably
puncture resistant.

Past experience has included Michelin (before the pro race line came
out), which gave a nice ride, incredible grip, but didn't last long,
had the same cracking problem as the paribas, and were very susceptible
to cuts/punctures; Conti GP (gumwall), which had decent wear, damage, &
ride characteristics, but didn't hold together (sidewalls
deteriorated); IRC Paperlites, which were complete and utter [censored] -
nothing good to say about them but the weight; and Specialized turbos,
which didn't ride especially well and were prone to two wheel slides in
hard cornering situations.

Hope this helps,
SYJ