Tired tires.
My current Vittoria Rubino Pro Intrepids are getting old and I’m wondering if I should buy the same - $35-45 each, PSI 125, 225 grams. They roll well, corner well and are very good against flatting.
Or, the Rubino Pro Techs, PSI 130, 220 grams $45.
Or,
Conti Attack/Force, Front 22cm, PSI 110, 190 grams; Rear 23 cm, PSI 125, 210 grams. $75-85/pair. Sound great, but flats?? Too light????
Conti GP 3000 – 130 PSI, 210 grams. $37-45. I hear the sidewalls are now better!
Mich Pro Race PSI 110, 220 grams. $45. Nice but somewhat flat prone.
Any suggestions, comments????
Thanks in advance.
tires
Thu, 05/27/2004 - 10:02am
Thu, 05/27/2004 - 1:32pm
#1
Tires
I went back to the gp3000s after a long hiatus. (switched to the Vredesteins after encountering too many problems with the conti sidewalls.) The vredesteins were okay but were not as supple as the contis. Also required air pressure of 140 psi. I was getting too many cuts in the vredesteins so I decided to switch back. So far I haven't had a problem particularly with the sidewall. Actually, the sidewall has a new design which is kind of neat. Bike tires direct has a pretty good price. About $37 per tire, but you must order at least 2 plus $6 bucks for ground shipping. (Takes about a week or so) With the shipping it works out to about $40 bucks per tire. Much better than the regular price of $50 to $55 plus tax at the lbs. (The club discount just about covers the sales tax depending on the shop)
Al
Thu, 05/27/2004 - 2:35pm
#2
Huh?
"Al wrote:
The vredesteins were okay but were not as supple as the contis. Also required air pressure of 140 psi.
Required 140 PSI??? Required? Yikes, no wonder they didn't feel supple!
FYI: When a tire says ""inflate to XXX PSI"", that's the MAXIMUM recommended pressure, usually arrived at by inflating until it blows off, and dividing by half.
Some tires ARE tougher than others, in terms of casing durability and flat resistance, but HOW a tire rides is entirely a function of air pressure. I'm convinced most folks put way too much pressure in their tires, then complain that their bike's too ""harsh"", hence the need for extra padding in their gloves, shorts, saddles, bar tape, etc.
Don't be afraid to let a little air out! I can hit 200+ lbs, and I never put more than 105 PSI in a 23mm clincher. Fatter tires, even less. And I can only remember getting 2 pinch flats in the last 15 years, not a bad price to pay for thousands of miles of comfort."
Thu, 05/27/2004 - 7:10pm
#3
OK BUT
OK BUT which tire would I buy and not inflate to it's max???
Fri, 05/28/2004 - 7:06am
#4
YMMV, but...
I like Panaracers. They've been in business as long as I can remember, make good stuff, very reasonably priced, no hype, great QC.
Check out their website (panaracer.com) - certainly one of the more prolific lines out there.
Remember, bike tires cost less than a buck to make, high prices don't necessarily mean better stuff.
Thu, 05/27/2004 - 5:44pm
#5
Vreds @ 140psi
"Harsh, indistinguishable from any other over-inflated tire.
MUCH more comfy at 110 or even 120psi, but I switched to Conti GP 4-season after the Vredestein lump epidemic* and haven't gone back.
Check out worldclasscycles.com too, note that prices include tubes and (for 2 or more) shipping.
*The last batch of ""Handmade in Holland"" tires were significantly out-of-round, reportedly due to disgruntled workers who found out their jobs were headed East. The tires now say only ""Handmade"" (in Thailand, IIRC)."
Fri, 05/28/2004 - 7:47am
#6
"theres a sayin that goes ""if it ain't broke, dont fix it""
if you like the vittoria's, stick w/ em! i have them on my bike and i havent ever had a flat with them."
Sat, 05/29/2004 - 4:23pm
#7
Freddy Kruger
Well, the Rubinos are starting to look like Freddy was stroking them. They are/were a fine, tough winter tire for me. Now, I want to go back to either my original Conti GP 3Ks or Mich Pro Race. Speed is now a greater consideration. Sheesh, I need all the help I can get.
Thanks all,
Sat, 05/29/2004 - 4:50pm
#8
Michelins
No experience here with the Pro Race model, but I do find Michelins are more prone to severe cuts (as in trashed) if you inflate them over the recommended max pressure.
