Commuting tyre?

[Paul on the Pearson]

Whats the best commuting tyre? I started commuting to work again last week. Today was the first commute in the rain and guess what? A punture. Luckily I was more or less there so just walked the rest of the way. Could have been worse I could have been in Catford at 11 o clock at night on my way home. At the moment I'm using Panaracer extreme duro's 25's. Basically whats the strongest most punture proof tyre you can get. The speed, weight.punture resistance compromise isnt really ban issue. If there slow I'll just have to pedal harder which 'll be good training. Also is it better to use 25's or 23's for commuting, whats the difference?
Thanks

[Andrew G]

[quote]I'm using Panaracer extreme duro's 25's

[Dominic]

Michelin Krylion's are good. I have been using them for about 2 years now and have only had two punctures. The main thing I think is to inspect your tyres regulary, I usually do this when I do my weekly bike wash.

However the most puncture resistant tyre I have found is the Specialized All Condition Armadillos. I have ridden them down to the red puncture protection strip before, by mistake, and did not have a puncture. Not the most dynamic tyre but for the puncture protection not as wooden as you would expect. I have read reports that their wet weather grip is not good but I have not had any problems. This may be down to me being a wuss in the raid though

I usually run 23s, but will probably try 25s next time for that little bit more comfort.

[Tony]

If you want extreme puncture resistance - try Specialized Armadillos. I ran the non-folding version of these on my winter hack bike for a season and never punctured them. However, they are very heavy, very stiff and very difficult to get on the rims. They also seriously lack grip and, of course, give a cr*p ride. Consequently, I would NOT recommend them for commuting..... I would want more grip for handling confidence and safety. A reasonable compromise could be either Conti GP 4 Season or (heavier) Conti Gator Skins.

The Panaracer ones mentioned in Andrew's post could be good. It sounds as if they are Panaracers ultra-grippy (Extreme) compound on a heavier, stronger carcass. I think other manufacturer's offer similar high-grip (racing) compounds on heavy winter carcasses too. The outer layer may wear and cut-up a bit - but that's worth it for the extra grip / saftety / handling, etc. IMHO.

Whatever you go for, regular tyre inspections are critical. The thicker tyres often retain tiny flints or shards of glass in the tread which will eventually puncture them unless you pick them out on a regular basis.

25s should be more comfortable (but slower) than 23s. You've got a bigger cushion of air between you and the road. They may rub mudguards though, if clearance is tight. Plus handling is marginally less sharp.....

It's really a case of seeing what works for you.

[Paul on the Pearson]

THanks for that. I always check my tyres for bits of flint etc before I ride, I think today was, as Andrew said just bad luck. It was a pretty big bit of glass that went in.

[Colin Steadman]

agree with Tony.
The armadillos are bomb proof, but very heavy and unresponsive.

However, if you want to guarantee that you'll never have to fix a puncture at the side of the north circular on a freezing wet and dark thurday night, they will do a job for you.

[Mike I]

I'm in the Armadillo camp too (sounds a bit weird ), as long as you're not in a tearing hurry.

[Brian Nolan]

i had 2 punctures in 4,500miles on Specialized Armadillos - and none in 4,500 miles on Shwalbe Stelvio Plus' and they ride better than the Armadillos ...

cheers,
brian.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I had an Armadillo for about 15 months and can't recall puncturing, but it too was down to the red strip when I replaced it with...Conti something or other that seem to be OK so far.

Had some Contis before that were ludicrously slippery if you showed them a drop of water, but these ones seem much better.

(might run out to the car park to see what they are in a minute)

I have no option but to run 23's because of mudguards, but would choose 25's if I could.

[Grahame]

An alternative view:

For commuting, big volume is good. If your commuting bike has the clearance for them, 28mm section tyres are good. There are lots to choose fromat reasonable prices. I went with Bontrager somethingorothers for not very many pounds each from Butlers, and have combined them with "Slime" self healing tubes (the tubes cost more than the tyres), but the two times I've had something penetrate the tyre (1 flint, 1 piece of glass) the slime has sealed the hole with a loss of about 5 - 10 psi of tyre pressure.

It's worth getting a second set of wheels for commuting if you don't have a seperate commuting bike, so you can use whatever puncture resistant setup you like during the week and be able to change to a "nice" setup for the weekends.

[tel]

Paul, you have got your new bike then?

Terry

[Paul on the Pearson]

Yeah Terry, started commuting on it last week, 15 miles each way with a few hills thrown in for good measure in the Lordship Lane East Dulwich area. The panaracers compound feels a bit like the Conti gator skins, grippy but soft so if your unlucky enough to go over something bigger and sharper than the usual bit of flint your likely to puncture. I know armadillos (the tyre not the animal) have a bit of a reputation for not being too grippy but might give them a go as punture resistance rather than speed is the name of the game and with the traffic round Forrest Hill I aint going nowhere fast!
There a fair old hole in the panaracer so it'll need replacing.

[Paul on the Pearson]

Marco are you implying that I need to build my legs up a bit? Trying to pedal that lot around could be an event in Britains strongest man, sounds about the equivalent of trying to pull a lorry across a disused car par in Letchworth with your teeth.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Marco, I really laughed at loud at that one......

[Andrew G]

[quote="marco"]its known as "THE SYSTEM"!!!
in this age of carbon wheelsets held together with stickers and knocking one's pipe out on a turbo trainer with a voltmeter connected up ones arse to measure wattage its a sure fire old school way to get fit over the winter whilst never ever getting a puncture!


give it a go!