Oh No! Not Another Lame Tire Thread!
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Oh No! Not Another Lame Tire Thread!
Sadly, yes. I'll be putting some different skins on my Bilenky for my tour this year, and I would love to hear if there is any fresh new hotness that anyone recommends. My go to has always been Schwalbes, but despite their inherent ruggedness, they handle like wooden wagon wheels. I'll be toting about 40lbs of kit, not including water, and I hope to be running something like a 32mm, which are the gatorskins that I now have on it.
Can anyone offer me some good advice? Oh, I'm 71" and weigh 200lbs.
Can anyone offer me some good advice? Oh, I'm 71" and weigh 200lbs.
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Most of my touring has been on Schwalbes & Continentals, as you've already mentioned, but right now, I have a Specialized on the rear, and a Serfas on the front. This is a matter of availability, but both are holding up quite well, so far, with the required Slime inner tubes. 👍
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#3
My wife fears flats more than death itself, so recently I put Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires on her touring bike. Peace of mind for her, but secretly I did this in hoping that it might slow her down a bit and I just might not get dropped so easily.
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Most of my touring has been on Schwalbes & Continentals, as you've already mentioned, but right now, I have a Specialized on the rear, and a Serfas on the front. This is a matter of availability, but both are holding up quite well, so far, with the required Slime inner tubes. 👍
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Schwalbe makes a lot of tires besides the heavy-duty models, what about the Marathon Supreme? OTOH while I haven't tried Gatorskins they seem to get good reviews. I've been thinking about Schwalbe G-One tires--pretty light yet with a semi-knobby tread, seems it would work pretty well on-road or off.
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#7
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Yeah, the OP seems to assume a lot about a tire based on the brand. Schwalbe, Continental, and most brands make a wide range of models. As a result the question is kind of muddled. That said it sounds like the Op is planning on fairly heavy touring and I am guessing on pavement, so yeah maybe the Supreme or Gatorskin. I have been pretty happy with Gatorskins, but for my usage (much lighter packing style) I am thinking of going to a lighter tire.
#8
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Supremes wear super quickly and they aren't all that punture resistant. They are very fast though.
It's always a compromize. Would be nice if there were more thicker tubeless tires, like a between model of marathon plus and supreme
It's always a compromize. Would be nice if there were more thicker tubeless tires, like a between model of marathon plus and supreme
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Yeah, the OP seems to assume a lot about a tire based on the brand. Schwalbe, Continental, and most brands make a wide range of models. As a result the question is kind of muddled. That said it sounds like the Op is planning on fairly heavy touring and I am guessing on pavement, so yeah maybe the Supreme or Gatorskin. I have been pretty happy with Gatorskins, but for my usage (much lighter packing style) I am thinking of going to a lighter tire.
#10
I've had no issues with Panaracer Pasela PT 700 x 35c tires.
They've brought me 1500 puncture free km. I inflate them to max pressure. I still watch what I go over because you can't expect a tire to do all the work. Also, they look great and are really light per tire.
They've brought me 1500 puncture free km. I inflate them to max pressure. I still watch what I go over because you can't expect a tire to do all the work. Also, they look great and are really light per tire.
#11
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I’ll second the Pasela PT’s. We’ve used them on gravel for years, done extended tours and they’re decently light for a touring tire. We’ve run 28’s, 32’s and 35’s the last couple summers for touring, the 35’s being my favorite for gravel tours like the GAP, C&O & Katy. We run them at lower pressures and they hold up well.
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Did they ever improve the sidewall durability of the Panaracer Pasela Tourers ? I know it was a long time ago but those darn things were notorious for blowing sidewalls.
#18
I also carry a spare tire with me in case something does go wrong. You really can't avoid a tire malfunction. It will either blow out, puncture, or tear from a piece of glass or something sharp.
I like going fast and traveling light. Pasela PT gives me all I need to have a great yet supple, reliable ride. I had marathons and disliked how slow and heavy they felt.
I rode them through the Rockies in some pretty rough terrain and they held up just fine.
#19
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Are you riding on pavement or gravel or Dirt?
Why not try some Gator Hardshells in the size you desire?
Why not try some Gator Hardshells in the size you desire?
#20
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Oh, another tire to try is the:
Clement X'Plor USH, 35mm, 120TPI.
They are lightweight, with some tread, and the center rib. I had a pair and thought they rolled quite well, although I did eventually start getting excess flats as they started to wear down. But, I was generally happy with them up to about 1000 miles more or less.
Clement X'Plor USH, 35mm, 120TPI.
They are lightweight, with some tread, and the center rib. I had a pair and thought they rolled quite well, although I did eventually start getting excess flats as they started to wear down. But, I was generally happy with them up to about 1000 miles more or less.
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I'll be riding pavement, Cliff. It'll be the ACA Northern Tier. I've got Gator Hardshells on it now, and I really like them. Guess I'll just reshod the bike with a new set.
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Schwalbe makes a lot of tires besides the heavy-duty models, what about the Marathon Supreme? OTOH while I haven't tried Gatorskins they seem to get good reviews. I've been thinking about Schwalbe G-One tires--pretty light yet with a semi-knobby tread, seems it would work pretty well on-road or off.
If you are willing to live with a touch less durability for a vastly improved ride then the Schwalbe G1s are really good, the Vittoria Terreno Dry or Terreno Zero is crasy fast and tough, the Panaracer Tourgard is also very plush.
Most people that recommend touring tires however are going to recommend flatproof bricks, just so you know... Marathons, Gatorskins, commuter tires, etc...
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#23
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#24
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I think the Gator Hardshells are slightly more durable than the Gatorskins.
My most significant issue with them is that I did have a blowout about 75 miles from new. 700x23, Gator Hardshell, I think. 110PSI or so inflated during the cool evening the night before the ride (some warming the next day). I've backed off of the pressure slightly. While I like midnight tune-ups before heading out on the road, it might be best to let things like the tires settle in for a week or so.
Anyway, my blowout terrifies me. It is aggravating trying to make a road boot on 3" of bead separation. However, I still like the tires. But, I'm not beyond experimenting with something new either.
My most significant issue with them is that I did have a blowout about 75 miles from new. 700x23, Gator Hardshell, I think. 110PSI or so inflated during the cool evening the night before the ride (some warming the next day). I've backed off of the pressure slightly. While I like midnight tune-ups before heading out on the road, it might be best to let things like the tires settle in for a week or so.
Anyway, my blowout terrifies me. It is aggravating trying to make a road boot on 3" of bead separation. However, I still like the tires. But, I'm not beyond experimenting with something new either.