Road bike tyres

[Maker]

As there's a few cyclists on here;

I need new tyres, I had 23mm Continental Ultrasports (Aka cheap ones), recently got a puncture which put a good size hole in the tyre, inner tube was bulging out like a little hernia which didn't look very safe (I have a 40mph descent on my commute...), so I swapped it for my spare, a 36mm knobbly gravel tyre. Obviously I'd like to get back on proper road tyres asap, but I'm wondering if it's worth paying a bit more, say £80-100 for the pair, or if I should just stick with the cheapies? I'm also leaning towards going for 28mm width, the roads are pretty rough around here.

I could potentially be convinced to go tubeless too...

 

[pedrobedro]

I have 32s on my hybrid, Continental 700x32c bought when they were cheap and they are a good tyre pretty puncture resistant but I wouldn't go much over £40 for them.

 

[Nomad]

I really rate Curio tyres on my 26" mountain bike and 700c gravel bike.
Both bikes were converted to Ebikes and I wanted tyres that run fast and have decent grip on B-roads and gravel tracks.
Both sizes are near slick so no use for muddy offroad stuff but I find them great for commuting.
Bonus is under a tenner each and a choice of odd trendy colours.

Collections

The most colourful bike tyre shops in the world

curiouk.com

 

[Kram]

I dont care for road bikes and skinny tyres. I have 700x 32c Michellins on mine. I really do not like buying French or German and I note, Michellin do make the best motorcycle tyres.

Continentals are poo. I've had new ones with sidewall buldges and the rubber they use for the logo marking perishes quickely. Also had more punctures with them.

Amazon have the michellins at £16 each delivered.

 

[mr haynes]

Conti GP5000 and enjoy

 

[DanZac]

I use either Schwalbe Durano (although I think they may be called Schwalbe one now) or continental Gatorskins, both of which seem to have about the best puncture resistance for a non draggy road tyre.

Both available in every size and pretty well priced if you shop around.

Personally I think the Duranos are the better of the two, but they can be a bit tight to get on depending on you wheels. But I've never had any problems with either.

 

[angellonewolf]

Schwalbe i use delta cruser 32x700 on the front a contintal 25mm on the back

ive never had a puncture on the front only a couple on the rear

rea\son where i used to ride was ruff roads gravel track and needed the extra grip on the front as i sliped a few times on leaves when i had more slicker tyres on

 

[brightspark]

put some swalbe tires on my bike. dead thin and hard. ideal no drag but it hurts yer ass going over bumps and potholes only used for takin the dog for a run every nite and he sometimes pulls me if i shout rabbits or cats

 

[m_c]

If it's for your commute, get something with good puncture protection.

I personally run Conti GP4's, but I don't use my road bike for commuting, and I'm well aware there are better options. It's just that the bike came with GP4's, and when I did kill the rear tyre (bit glass left a big enough hole that it's wasn't worth the risk of continuing to use it), I was in a rush so just ordered an identical replacement.

 

[Maker]

Different answers from everyone, so I spoke to the local independent bike shop man, who sold me a pair of Continental Gatorskins. Unfortunately I won't be able to appreciate any improvement over the gravel tyre, because my front brake is constantly rubbing (Pistons don't retract properly). I also discovered this evening that my cassette was loose on the hub body, that explains the rattle I hadn't been able to pin down for months.

 

[Gareth J]

Partner always raved about gatorskins. For touring. Not sure if her opinion was well founded but she knows more about it than me!

 

[angellonewolf]

Different answers from everyone, so I spoke to the local independent bike shop man, who sold me a pair of Continental Gatorskins. Unfortunately I won't be able to appreciate any improvement over the gravel tyre, because my front brake is constantly rubbing (Pistons don't retract properly). I also discovered this evening that my cassette was loose on the hub body, that explains the rattle I hadn't been able to pin down for months.

View attachment 408788

ive never changed one but i think thay can be but needs specical tool

 

[chrismac]

I have gatorskins on my winter bike wheels, not the best to work with, hard getting them on and off, although they are supposed to be resistant to punctures, GP 5000's on the summer bike, dont get many miles out them though,

 

[m_c]

ive never changed one but i think thay can be but needs specical tool

The freehub will likely just pull off on that hub once you pull of the axle end cap.
However the cassette digging in like that is pretty common on alu freehub bodies. A quick buff up with a file to get rid of the burrs, and it'll last for a long time yet.

 

[Maker]

I'm not too worried about the gouged freehub, I haven't seen my cassette tool in years though, so I'm gonna have to take it into the bike shop and ask them to gronk the locknut down to 40Nm.

The new tyres went on nice and easily, yet to see what they ride like.

 

[GRW]

Imo some with extra puncture protection are worth the extra if you're not racing, & I'd agree that 23mm are rough as hell on today's surfaces. I think my bike for exercise (not that I've used it much lately) is on 25mm, but I have the room to go 28mm when I replace to give my wrists & joints an easier time, & protect the rims.

I also make sure I buy tubes with removable valves - then I inject some (30-40ml ish) of my MTB tubeless tyre sealant into the tube before final inflation.
I can't say for certain "it works"... but I can say I've not had a single flat on a ride since I fitted puncture resistant & sealant combo setup.
(Mind you, where I ride its more thorns than glass slicing tyres.... but even then the sealant might at least slow a deflation just enough to give you more time to come to a controlled stop).

 

[Brad93]

Always used continental gatorskins, never had a puncture when i used to ride

 

[mr haynes]

Ultimately it depends on your speed. I used to try to keep my ave speed around 20mph
In the past gatorskins were awful for grip like most of the harder wearing rubber. Rain was not their friend Don't know if still exactly the case.

 

[Kayos]

Not road as such, although I do ride stretches of road on my gravel bike.

I have been running Pirrelli Cinturato Gravel M (Mud) since last winter, I do have a pair of H (Hybrid) tyres I bought in expectation of better weather

Based on my limited experience I would happily use Pirrelli tyres on a road bike. I run them tubeless, mostly for puncture protection

 

[minimutly]

Don't know about these modern sizes, my bike has 26x 1and 1/4 tyres...