Tyre recommendations

[Phil H]

I'm sure that nobody really has strong opinions on this - after all tyres are all pretty much the same.

Anyway, the Gatorskin 25s seem to be wearing a bit. A few punctures recently makes me think I might want to consider replacing. These are the wheels I use for everything except commuting. Yes I will get some more at some stage but the bike budget for this quarter is going to Tom.

[Dombo]

Conti 4000S without doubt. Cannot comment on my Michelin Pro Race 3s as they're still hanging up in garage.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Conti 4 seasons - the best without a doubt. £35 at GB less 10% = a bargain.

[jon avery]

Michelin Pro race are a fast rolling tyre, stick to the road like glue, BUT cut up easy, I'd go for Conti 4000s

[quote="Jon C C on a Bianchi"]Conti 4 seasons - the best without a doubt.

[quote="DavidKennett"][quote="Jon C C on a Bianchi"]Conti 4 seasons - the best without a doubt.

[quote="Jon Hemming"][quote="DavidKennett"][quote="Jon C C on a Bianchi"]Conti 4 seasons - the best without a doubt.

[Phil H]

There seems to be some agreement - which is a shame as I was trying to provoke a flamewar. Next time it'll be about how reliable and se4nsibly priced my Shimano stuff is

Any opinions on 23mm vs 25? I'm happy with 25s at the moment but I realise that they aren't as cool as a thinner tyre.

[Andrew G]

23s give lower rolling resistance, 25s more comfort and a wider footprint for better grip in the wet. You probably know that the size is not the cross section on the road which is where the 25s give the greater comfort as the incresed volume of air in the tyre is a lot greater than you'd think.
If you can't make your mind up then Vittoria Pave come in a 24 .

[Phil H]

I also know that actual testing shows that 25s have lower rolling resistance than 23s - at the same pressure.

I have 25s and a rubbish mini pump. From Sunday, I am well aware that they take a large volume of air...

[DavidKennett]

Just check Brad's tweets for the best tyres

[img]http://www.wekeepyoucycling.com/en/images/product/large/31.jpg[/img]

[Mike I]

Lazy national stereotyping is what you need when choosing tyres.

For winter, you need something tough, reliable, efficient and a bit dull. Some German Continental 4 Seasons, for example.

For summer, something with a bit of flair and style; a tad flaky at times, but lightweight and fast. French Michelin Pro 3s should work.

[Is that contoversial enough?]

[Andrew G]

They the same lab tests that bike manufacturers use that allow at least 3 different manufacturers say they make the most aerodynamic TT frame? . A lot of wheel and tyre tests are done with the wheel held at 90 degrees in a jig on a rolling road, not even attached to a bike let alone one with a rider on it or banked at any angles.
I've ridden both and 23s have a lower resistance in terms of real world feel but 25s feel more comfortable on rougher road surfaces and have been more durable.

[Phil H]

Not manufacturer - independent tests. Must dig it out.

The principle is fairly obvious once you think about it. Rolling resistance is caused by deformation of the tyre/tube as it presses against the ground. The size of the contact patch is given by the tyre pressure. So you can see that a narrower tyre will deform more than a wider one to give the same contact area so the rolling resistance will be higher.

In real-world scenarios though people tend to run narrower tyres at higher pressures so the contact patch is smaller. Also the narrower tyre gives a slightly lower weight at the rim which might make it feel a bit more sprightly.

[Keith]

[quote="DavidKennett"]Just check Brad's tweets for the best tyres