New Tyre selection

[wch]

Hey Guy's,
I have owned a great Flat bar road bike (Avanti blade 4.0) for just over twelve months. Done about 2500k's. The current tyres have been exellent (Kenda Kwest 700x28) - I would like to get a little more speed out of my next purchase. I don't need racing tyres - I am (obviously) a recreational rider who comutes to work once a week and generally rides once on the weekend (approx 100km per week).
My riding buddy has a racer, so keeping up with him at particular times is a bit of a challenge. Can anybody suggest a good quality tyre (700x23)that can speed me up, preferably without compromising the grip, puncture resistence and durability that I currently have?
Somebody has previously suggested Specialized Mondo Pro 700x23??

[Boognoss]

Hi WCH,

I had the 700 x 32mm Kenda Kwests on my Blade 2.0 and had so many punctures I swapped them out while still with plenty of tread (approx 2000km on them).

I switched to 700 x 28mm Specialized Armadillos which aren't in the racing tyre arena for weight and performance but do the job of not getting many punctures on Sydney's glass-covered roads very well.

I have Mondo Pros that came on the Avanti Corsa and after 500km the rear was already squaring off - much software rubber and race oriented. Also less puncture resistance (but you sound lucky in that regard with the Kwests anyway). Currently use Continental GP4000S tyres on this but haven't yet used them for long enough to form an opinion of value for money.

Specialized Roubaix tyres in a slightly odd 25/23mm size (25mm casing, 23mm tread area) are faster than the Armadillos - I use these on my cyclocross commuter.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

[gauchoracer]

Greetings wch, and welcome...
If you want to use 700 X 23 tyres, I have been using Michelin Lithium's on my bike, and done nearly 2000km so far. The only punctures I have had have been from a piece of wire through the tyre, (one) and when the rim tape had moved (somehow, never changed the front tyre) and eventually rubbed a hole in the tube from the edge of a spoke hole.
This may be of some assistance, but I usually ride the M7 cycleway. Every time i see a pile of glass, and think, "here comes a puncture" i still get home without incident.
I am happy with them, maybe not the lightest, about $50-$60 from LBS, but cheeper online.
I hope this helps.

[Crawf]

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1014

[Aushiker]

G'day

Welcome to the forums WCH.

I am a fan of the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S “Black Chilli” tyres. Okay they maybe "race" tyres but that grip well, wear well and seem to be okay against punctures. Personally I consider tyres as a pretty important safety item on my bikes so like to try and buy well here.

They can be got from ProBikeKitfor a reasonable price.

[Crawf]

Edit: double post.

[simonn]

Had 20 punctures last year before I put Schwalbe Stelvio Plus on my bike.

It is supposedly a 23, but is really a 25-ish (like Specialized Roubaix I suspect). Has a protective tire liner type thing inside the actual tire.

Rear did 4048km until a nail went through it to the point that I could not pull it out without tools - no tire would have survived that. 500-ish km later the same tire is still going strong - I will get a puncture now though no doubt, bloody irishman.

Front has done 3403km with no flats.

[JustinD]

I am a fan of the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S “Black Chilli” tyres.

+1

[singlespeedscott]

I use Vittoria Rubino tyres in a 25mm width and love them. They are cheap as chips AU $17 from Ribble plus shipping http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... ITTTYRR300, reasonably puncture resistant, fast, ubber comfy and I got over 4000km out of my last ones. They come in a multitude of colours as well. They do have a wire bead but I only use them for training and commuting (I don't know why people waste expensive race tyres on activities such as these).

[mikesbytes]

I use Vittoria Rubino tyres in a 25mm width and love them. They are cheap as chips AU $17 from Ribble plus shipping http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... ITTTYRR300, reasonably puncture resistant, fast, ubber comfy and I got over 4000km out of my last ones. They come in a multitude of colours as well. They do have a wire bead but I only use them for training and commuting (I don't know why people waste expensive race tyres on activities such as these).

How much is postage?

[ScottDavis]

I am a fan of the Continental Grand Prix 4000 S “Black Chilli” tyres.

+1

+2

[singlespeedscott]

I use Vittoria Rubino tyres in a 25mm width and love them. They are cheap as chips AU $17 from Ribble plus shipping http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productde ... ITTTYRR300, reasonably puncture resistant, fast, ubber comfy and I got over 4000km out of my last ones. They come in a multitude of colours as well. They do have a wire bead but I only use them for training and commuting (I don't know why people waste expensive race tyres on activities such as these).

How much is postage?

About AU $20.

[wch]

Thanks for your advice guy's

[wch]

Looking closely at the Continental 700x23c 4000S (Black Chilli) as some have suggested.
I am presuming that these tyres will fit on my Alex DA16 Rims? As mentioned, the previous tyres were 700x28. Not sure how the tyre sizing works relative to rim size. Can anyone explain this?

[jasimon]

Looking closely at the Continental 700x23c 4000S (Black Chilli) as some have suggested.
I am presuming that these tyres will fit on my Alex DA16 Rims? As mentioned, the previous tyres were 700x28. Not sure how the tyre sizing works relative to rim size. Can anyone explain this?

Sheldon suggested that tyre width should be between 1.25x and 2x the interior rim width. Thus, to mention a wheel I am familiar with, the Shimano WH-R500 has an interior width of 14mm and is compatible with tyres 19mm-28mm according to their spec sheet.

I would suspect yours are similar.

[vitualis]

Another fan of of Continental 4000S here.

Though if you are willing to sacrifice a bit of the wonderful feel of the 4000S, arguably the Continental 4Seasons tyre is a better tyre for commuting... slightly better grip in the wet and also more puncture resistant (especially the side walls).

Cheers.

[wch]

thanks jasimon,
Just googled my rims - looks like the width is 16mm. Therefore 20-32mm should be ok.

[Bnej]

...4Seasons tyre is a better tyre for commuting... slightly better grip in the wet...

Definitely not better grip in the wet!

The 4 Seasons is the came compound as the regular GP 4000. The 4000S will definitely grip better in the wet.

However the 4 Seasons will last longer and resist abuse much better.

IMO the 4 Seasons still feel very nice, you don't lose much for the durability.

[Boognoss]

FYI, Torpedo 7 have the GP4000S on special for $50 (down from their regular $60 price) at the moment.

[sogood]

[hushed]We'll split the commission on GP4000S sale when it's all done, ok?[/hushed]

[vitualis]

...4Seasons tyre is a better tyre for commuting... slightly better grip in the wet...

Definitely not better grip in the wet!

The 4 Seasons is the came compound as the regular GP 4000. The 4000S will definitely grip better in the wet.

However the 4 Seasons will last longer and resist abuse much better.

IMO the 4 Seasons still feel very nice, you don't lose much for the durability.

I don't know for sure, but Continental markets the 4 Seasons specifically as better for wet conditions than the GP4000 (non-black chilli version).

Regards.

[sam86]

I would vote for the Vittoria Rubino either 700x23 or 700x25. Great tyre, good protection and cheap.

[Boognoss]

[hushed]We'll split the commission on GP4000S sale when it's all done, ok?[/hushed]

[hushed]You have a deal [/hushed]

[munga]

you can get cheep michelin speediums too. i like michelins, but like singlespeedscott, i cant justify a hungee or more on a pair of tyres for riding to work or the vidstore. im also a big fan of vittoria randonneurs for the same reason. i have some 28c rando's on one of my bikes and they look as new as when i bought them a year ago. they will probably be the only tyres i ever have on that wheelset.

[Vlad99]

Mod edit: Removed as the identical question has been asked in this thread. I think asking the same question in one thread is sufficient, no?

Andrew