Tyre advice

[Dominic]

After my experiences this thread is probably about due!!!

I have been using ProRace2. I am thinking about giving another race tyre a go. The bloke that gave me a lift back on Sunday rated Vredestein Fortezza tri comps. Anybody here use them and what are they like? What appeals to me most about them at the moment is I can get a pair for about £35 a pair.

The other tyre I am considering is the Specialized S works Mondo pro which has flak jacket protection. According to the bumpf this can reduce puncture by 60% while adding less than 1g to the weight blah blah blah. Bike Plus are doing a deal at the mo of £50 a pair Anybody used them.

Any other thoughts would be appreciated although I will say I am anti-Continental and not sure about Vittoria.

If all else fails I may have to take RichV's advice and use Specilazed Armadillos and go that bit slower but never puncture

[Yohan]

Hi Dominic

I had pro-racers on, and I had endless punctures, nothing I've ever exerienced before, but I went with Continentals and been very pleased withthe results, performance and puncture wise.....but from your post I know this aint your first choice, but might affect your decision.

cheers
Yohan

[Dominic]

Yohan,

What Continentals were they? My only recent experiences were of Ultragatorskins when I had four, yes four, punctures in one 200k ride.

[Andrew G]

I've heard bad things about Gatorskins, but favourable reviews of 4 Seasons for hard wearing tyres.

You know from my 50 Nationals reply I'm a Conti man (although I wish they still did the GP3000s). I had ProRace2 fitted on my new bike (as others seemed to favour them) when I got it last year, and had 3 punctures in 4 weeks after none in 18 months on GP3000s. Put me off them for ever.

[quote]If all else fails I may have to take RichV's advice and use Specilazed Armadillos and go that bit slower but never puncture

[John the old'un]

Hi Dominic,
Have not had one puncture since changing from those Vitt Evo Cxs to the Conti GP3000s one and a half years ago. The word is that the Conti GP4000s are even better.
John.

[Phil N]

Hi Dominic,

I also use the Conti 3000's and now the 4000's on the new bike, they are excellent. I've been using them for some years now and can thoroughly recomend them.

Cheers,

Phil.

[tel]

Dom

I used Vredesteins Tri Comp but threw them away in frustration after various punctures.

I have a pair of Conti Podiums (I think) that I used for about 6 10`s you are more than welcome to give them a try. They are light and fast but have a bit of a reputation for puncturing.

Hope you get yourself sorted

Terry

[jon avery]

Hi Dom, I was in the posisition as you as in i was using Pro race 2's. Had several puntures and with the Etape coming up wanted something a bit more reliable but not to slow. I spoke to Mr Green who advised me to get Conti's 4000, Ordered them from Ribble for 19.99 each, so here's hoping i have a punture free etape

[Jon H]

Dom, I used Vredestein Fortezza tricomps for my first couple of time-trial seasons, and thought they were pretty damn good. Didn't seem to get many punctures, and they have a very high pressure rating for clinchers so you blow them up nice and hard for minimal rolling resistance.

[Dombo]

Another vote for the Tricomps.

I run them at 120 psi on my commuter/hack bike. Great tyre, light weight and low rolling resistance. Nice and grippy too. Comes in lots of colours too and the 175 psi rated pressure is a great talking point if nothing else.

Only problem is they pick up a lot of little nicks on the softer, coloured sidewalls, and the centre strip looks like it's coming away from the coloured shoulders. However bloke at Parker-International said that was normal and not to worry.

Cannot wait for my Bonty RaceLites that came stock on the new steed to wear out so I can replace them with Tricomps.

[Yohan]

Hi Dominic

I have Conti's GP4000.

I will never put pro-race back on, I had a puncture 3 miles after putting them on, and that set the sence for me, as every other ride I had a puncture!

I've raced in gp4000 and they were great, felt real good..I think its safe to say that i'm a Conti man now

[Rob]

for all year training, specialized armadillos.....best tyre ever! for racing....vittotia tubs, best clincher ever!(it pumps up to 150 psi)

[Marek]

Contis all the way. I agree that the Gatorskins are not that good. But sometimes it can be some other reason why you are getting so many punctures with a particular tyre, like your rim may be worn or you just did not manage to get all the rubbish out of the tyre after first puncture or your just put the new tyre on badly.

Anyhow, I have used a wide range of tyres over time and I have to say that Continental 3000 and 4000 are both fantastic. I don't think I have ever punctured on a 3000 unless I have hit a hole very hard where any tyre would have punctured.

The one thing is that if you are using regularly they do wear down, although from what I hear the 4000 are better than the 3000 in this regard. I have only had the 4000 for this season so far, but have yet to puncture in any race. In fact I don't think I have punctured in any race on the 3000 except for the Handicap in Charlwood last year where I hit every missing cobblestone and also needed a new rim.

As said earlier you can get a pair of 4000 either off Ribble or Parker for around £20 each. As I said before I don't know about the wear on the 4000, but with the 3000, I reckon you can get about a season and a half out of them but of course depends on your mileage. You can see with the 3000 when they are ready to replace as they just look a bit ragged and start to cut up a bit. But that said they are fantastic. Other great thing is that they roll like a dream, if you have been riding something else I reckon you will notice the difference.

Cheers

Marek....

[Snoop Doug]

I'm with the Conti Crew (careful how you say that mind). Particularly fine range of colours methinks that wins it fer me

Snoop

[tel]

Dominic, those tyres I have in the garage are Conti Supersonics. They are as new and you can have them if you want.

Terry