Tire recommendations



Hi All,

I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
as resistant to flint penetration as possible.

Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
problems.

In the last few weeks I have tested:

Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)

All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
frustrated.

Joseph
 
[email protected] wrote:

>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.
>

I bought a set of Conti Gatorskins but could not get them on and off my
Eurus rims well enough for use in the field. That is, if I flatted, I'd
not be able to repair them.

I put them on my fiance's bike which put an end to her flatting problems
(so far!). Here, our problem are goathead thorns.

-paul
 
On Feb 3, 1:39 pm, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)


I've been impressed with the Vittoria Zaffiros on my utility bike. It
gets ridden a lot after dark so if any bike in my fleet should flat,
that's the one. Not a single flat this fall and winter. They ride
pretty nice for $13 tires as well. You can get the "pro" version for
twice the price which claim to be even more flat resistant. YMMV of
course.

My fixie got some bruiser IRC Tandems a few months ago, and I'm loving
them. They're a bit wide for your application, at 30mm, but for curb
hopping and the occasional fire road, they're the mutts nuts. Not a
flat with those either.
 
[email protected] wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.


Ah - another victim of Scandinavian winter road treatments - crushed
gravel and salt. The only one of those you mention that I've ridden are
the Veloflexes, and no they're not so good in winter conditions. Nice
tyre for the rest of the year, though. I use the Veloflex Master (700C x
20) on my summer config and I swear by that tyre.

I have had best luck with Michelin Megamium 2, 700C x 23. Should be
possible for you to test one on the back wheel, for NOK 240 or less. Not
a sophisticated tyre but they're durable. They seem to resist the small
granite shards cutting into a wet tread. Only problem is that they seem
to have been replaced by the Lithion, for approx the same price, and I
haven't tested that one yet.

.. . . although my current winter setup is a pair of Schwalbe cross
tyres, 700C x 28. Yes, I can indeed fit them into my Colnago frame
(though just barely). Those don't puncture much . . .

Cheers, Robert
 
Paul Cassel <[email protected]> writes:

> [email protected] wrote:
>
>> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
>> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
>> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
>> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
>> frustrated.
>>

> I bought a set of Conti Gatorskins but could not get them on and off
> my Eurus rims well enough for use in the field. That is, if I flatted,
> I'd not be able to repair them.
>
> I put them on my fiance's bike which put an end to her flatting
> problems (so far!). Here, our problem are goathead thorns.
>
> -paul



I had the Veloflex Pave 22 on sale, and would get 2 flats/ride on
brand new tires on Chicagoland glass, and never got more than a few
hundred miles on them, as they seemed to wear really fast. The
Gatorskins were my primary training tire there, seemed very flat
resistant, and lasted a long time, to where I'd get maybe 1 flat per
thousand miles. The Conti 4-season, which they market as a roubaix is
my tire of choice in gravelly NW Montana seems to handle better, but
wear faster, and cost a lot, but I don't really need flat resistance
here. If I go on dirt/gravel they wear through really fast, so I stay
on the pavement. I've had about 1 flat in the last 10k miles,
probably because I don't push their wear to the limit. I've never
have had problems with the pro races at either location, and I see you
have, so you'll most likely have problems with the Contis too. I
really feel for you people with your flints and thorns on rural rides.
But give the gatorskins a try.

Bill Westphal
 
On Feb 3, 12:39 pm, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.
>
> Joseph


Specialized Armadillos... they ride like ****, but they are tough.

That must be very sharp gravel! Around here they use what looks like a
reddish pumice, and it doesn't cause flats. I'm amazed that you can
ride in Norway this time of year! I haven't been on the road in two
weeks...
 
On 3 Feb 2007 14:23:25 -0800, "Ron Ruff" <[email protected]> wrote:

>On Feb 3, 12:39 pm, "[email protected]"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
>> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>>
>> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
>> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
>> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
>> problems.
>>
>> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>>
>> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
>> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
>> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
>> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>>
>> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
>> frustrated.
>>
>> Joseph

>
>Specialized Armadillos... they ride like ****, but they are tough.
>
>That must be very sharp gravel! Around here they use what looks like a
>reddish pumice, and it doesn't cause flats. I'm amazed that you can
>ride in Norway this time of year! I haven't been on the road in two
>weeks...


Dear Ron,

Ho-ho!

A sunny, pleasant 54F in Colorado this afternoon, perfect for
bicycling. The snow-packed roads melted by noon and were dry by 2
p.m., a bald eagle gave me a long, hungry look from a juniper tree,
and a lone coyote ran across the snow-covered prairie as if terrified
by the sight of a creature on two wheels.

Of course, the reason that the temperature started rising before the
sun came up was a 25-45 mph chinook, so there were a few tumbleweeds
to dodge heading west on the flats at 11 mph.

Cheers,

Carl Fogel
 
On Sat, 03 Feb 2007 11:39:10 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are as
> resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet weather
> and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.


Try the Michelin Carbon, or Krylion, or whatever they're calling it these
days. It's like the Pro2 Race but lasts a lot longer and has
better cut resistance. I've had just two flats in the last 4k miles, down
from 5-10.

A lot of people swear by the Continental Gatorskin too.

Matt O.
 
On Feb 3, 11:39 am, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.
>
> Joseph


Panaracer Pasela TG's in 700x25 have been very good to me in terms of
flat protection. They come in folding and non-folding versions.
 
On Feb 3, 2:39 pm, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.
>
> Joseph


I have been riding Continental Gatorskins for over two years now,
exclusively, on all my bikes. I have had only one flat in ~20k miles
of riding, and it was a pinch flat from hitting a pothole I didn't
see.

I wouldn't race on them, but for a training tire they are
indestructable. You can get them for around $28 to $35 on sale at
various places.
 
Nate Knutson wrote:
> On Feb 3, 11:39 am, "[email protected]"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
>> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>>
>> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
>> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
>> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
>> problems.
>>
>> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>>
>> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
>> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
>> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
>> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>>
>> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
>> frustrated.
>>
>> Joseph

>
> Panaracer Pasela TG's in 700x25 have been very good to me in terms of
> flat protection. They come in folding and non-folding versions.


I second this recommendation.

Certainly Josheph needs something tougher than "race" tyres. The Pasela is
more substantial, yet pretty light and fast for the type. Pasela Folding
700x25 weighs just 256 grams.

~PB
 
On Feb 3, 11:23 pm, "Ron Ruff" <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Feb 3, 12:39 pm, "[email protected]"
>
>
>
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Hi All,

>
> > I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> > as resistant to flint penetration as possible.

>
> > Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> > that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> > weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> > problems.

>
> > In the last few weeks I have tested:

>
> > Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> > IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> > Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> > Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)

>
> > All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> > frustrated.

>
> > Joseph

>
> Specialized Armadillos... they ride like ****, but they are tough.
>
> That must be very sharp gravel! Around here they use what looks like a
> reddish pumice, and it doesn't cause flats. I'm amazed that you can
> ride in Norway this time of year! I haven't been on the road in two
> weeks...


The crushed gravel can be quite sharp, but I think it just from the
sheer volume. It is just everywhere. Last winter was good enough that
I didn't even both cycling for almost 5 months, I just skied. This
winter has been so up and down that cycling has been impractical at
most a few days at a stretch.

They don't plow out where I live, they just strew more gravel. And
since the weather has been bouncing up and down so much, they have
strewn multiple times, so the gravel is just piling up.

I like the look of the Roubaix Armadillo:

http://specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=26428
Maybe that one rides ok too.

Joseph
 
On Feb 3, 11:41 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> On 3 Feb 2007 14:23:25 -0800, "Ron Ruff" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
> >On Feb 3, 12:39 pm, "[email protected]"
> ><[email protected]> wrote:
> >> Hi All,

>
> >> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> >> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.

>
> >> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> >> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> >> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> >> problems.

>
> >> In the last few weeks I have tested:

>
> >> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> >> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> >> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> >> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)

>
> >> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> >> frustrated.

>
> >> Joseph

>
> >Specialized Armadillos... they ride like ****, but they are tough.

>
> >That must be very sharp gravel! Around here they use what looks like a
> >reddish pumice, and it doesn't cause flats. I'm amazed that you can
> >ride in Norway this time of year! I haven't been on the road in two
> >weeks...

>
> Dear Ron,
>
> Ho-ho!
>
> A sunny, pleasant 54F in Colorado this afternoon, perfect for
> bicycling. The snow-packed roads melted by noon and were dry by 2
> p.m., a bald eagle gave me a long, hungry look from a juniper tree,
> and a lone coyote ran across the snow-covered prairie as if terrified
> by the sight of a creature on two wheels.
>
> Of course, the reason that the temperature started rising before the
> sun came up was a 25-45 mph chinook, so there were a few tumbleweeds
> to dodge heading west on the flats at 11 mph.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Carl Fogel


My local temps have been bouncing between 5F and 40F. The mild temps
come courtesy of a similar strong warm winds. If it weren't for
inconveniences like the British mainland and the curvature of the
Earth I could see Brazil across the sea from my window here. 20m/s
headwinds on my way home makes riding my fixed a challenge! And very
demoralizing to stop for yet another flat!

Joseph
 
On Sun, 4 Feb 2007 12:29:42 -0000, "Pete Biggs"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Certainly Josheph needs something tougher than "race" tyres. The Pasela is
>more substantial, yet pretty light and fast for the type. Pasela Folding
>700x25 weighs just 256 grams.


Soma sells a rebranded Panaracer. Their claim is that it is the same
as the Pasela but has a thicker thread portion.
<http://www.somafab.com/tires_ev.html>
 
"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
>as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
>Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
>that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
>weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
>problems.
>
>In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
>Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
>IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
>Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
>Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
>All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
>frustrated.


Panaracer T-Serv for Messenger (odd name, great tire). Here in
thorn-strewn Arizona, I used to get several flats a week. Now it's
one every few months. The T-Serv tires feel like racing tires and
last MUCH longer than most of the others.

Mark Hickey
Habanero Cycles
http://www.habcycles.com
Home of the $795 ti frame
 
[email protected] wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.
>
> Joseph
>

hutchinson excel. puncture proof.
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?...&estoreid=&pagename=Shop by Brand: Hutchinson
 
If they will fit the Marathon Plus at 28 x 622 are almost bullet proof.
 
On Feb 4, 6:45 am, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> On Feb 3, 11:23 pm, "Ron Ruff" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 3, 12:39 pm, "[email protected]"

>
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Hi All,

>
> > > I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> > > as resistant to flint penetration as possible.

>
> > > Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> > > that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> > > weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> > > problems.

>
> > > In the last few weeks I have tested:

>
> > > Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> > > IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> > > Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> > > Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)

>
> > > All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> > > frustrated.

>
> > > Joseph

>
> > Specialized Armadillos... they ride like ****, but they are tough.

>
> > That must be very sharp gravel! Around here they use what looks like a
> > reddish pumice, and it doesn't cause flats. I'm amazed that you can
> > ride in Norway this time of year! I haven't been on the road in two
> > weeks...

>
> The crushed gravel can be quite sharp, but I think it just from the
> sheer volume. It is just everywhere. Last winter was good enough that
> I didn't even both cycling for almost 5 months, I just skied. This
> winter has been so up and down that cycling has been impractical at
> most a few days at a stretch.
>
> They don't plow out where I live, they just strew more gravel. And
> since the weather has been bouncing up and down so much, they have
> strewn multiple times, so the gravel is just piling up.
>
> I like the look of the Roubaix Armadillo:
>
> http://specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=26428
> Maybe that one rides ok too.
>
> Joseph- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -


I've heard dumping gravel on the roads is how they do it in Alaska
too. Except I don't think its crushed gravel. Its regular big
gravel. I met a person from Anchorage once and she said it was not
until July before the roads were cleared of gravel to go riding.
Riding on the pavement, not gravel covered pavement.
 
On Feb 3, 7:39 pm, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> I am looking for some 700x25 tires for training/general use that are
> as resistant to flint penetration as possible.
>
> Does anyone have specific recommendations for tires that perform well
> that won't have me carrying 5 tubes around with me? The cold wet
> weather and the liberally strewn gravel is causing me serious
> problems.
>
> In the last few weeks I have tested:
>
> Kenda Koncept 23 ($9)
> IRC Red Storm RBCC 23 ($30)
> Veloflex Pave 22 ($45)
> Michelin Pro Race 25 ($45)
>
> All of them have had multiple flats each time out. I'm getting
> frustrated.
>
> Joseph


Another vote for Conti Gatorskins, but I'd also consider going up from
a 25 to the 28mm.

regards,

bookieb.