Originally Posted by
Germanrazor
I think the point is, we could never afford their gas or most recreation riders like ourselves. So why care. Buy what we can afford and run what does not require a loan to get.
That's too simplistic. If pros prefer Tire X to Tire Y, there are reasons for it. Knowing those reasons can help us make a more informed decision ("yes, I want the same speed", "no, I cant risk the same likelihood of punctures b/c I dont have a support car" or "no, i dont want to pay so much for a tire with a shorter lifespan").
No one is saying we have to ape the pros - as you say, they have different needs than us. But a blanket disregard for data seems self-defeating.