AlphaDogg

The other day, I was near my favorite LBS and I noticed some slight dry rot cracking around the sidewalls on my tires. So I headed down there, and the mechanic said the cracking is not a problem, but he noticed a sidewall tear in the front tire. He found a lightly used Conti Gatorskin in 700x23c for me to use (free!). It corners much better than the old Kenda Kadence. But I still have the original Kenda on the rear. I would like to get a new set of tires, but I'd like to know what you all would recommend. Another Gatorskin to match the front? Two new tires?

I want puncture protection, folding bead, and good cornering. 700x23c highly preferred.

vandarye

I'm loving my Conti GP4kS's. They replaced a set of Vittoria Zaffiro Pros. Smoother ride, better cornering.

AlphaDogg

I knew that would be recommended, but they're a little on the expensive side for me. Gatorskins would be pushing the budget.

adefeatedman

Found a set of Michelin Prorace 3 for cheap. Only other road tires I've tried are the original Giant brand tires that came on the bike, as well as Specialized Armadillos which are more urban flat resistant tires that I use on my single-speed. Try the Michelins.

Flying Foot Doc

3rd flat on the rear of my Michelin Pro race3's. Just ordered Pro race 4's. Ask me in a few months, but the write up of the Pro race 4's is that they're supposed to be more flat resistant. I know of a set of 500 +/- miles Pro Race 3's available cheap, if you would like Andy

AlphaDogg

This thread is lacking recommendations, but full of personal experiences. Should I just stick with gatorskins?

hokie cycler

Michelin Lithion 2 are on sale at Performance. They are a folded bead with puncture resistance and I just put one on my rear wheel today. I have no idea if it's any good. It got a decent review on Competitive Cyclist.

datlas 

If buying at your LBS, yes.

If willing to wait 7-14 days for UK shipping, go for the GP4000s from one of the online sellers like probikekit or ribble, etc. If you shop carefully and use the 10% off coupon, you can often get a PAIR of them for 75-80 bucks, shipped.

zonatandem

Recommendation:

Maxxis Re-Fuse 700x23; kevlar folding bead; built-in Aramid flat protection layer; 120 PSI

In 2011 put 5,600 miles on the Re-Fuse tires (on tandem and single bike) and had ONE puncture.
I can install/remove those tires without using tire tools (and I am 80 years old).
Pedal on!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

canam73

If you have found a tire with a ride that you like that is affordable than stick with it. Gatorskins have a great durability reputation so I don't think you will be disappointed there.

milkbaby

I vote just running the current rear tire until replacement is needed due to wear or failure, then just get a matching Gatorskin. The rear tire will wear so much quicker than the front, so you probably won't have mismatched tires for too long unless you don't ride much.

bianchi10

HANDS DOWN my favorite tire to this day is the vredestein tricomp. hands down. Been bomb proof!

pdedes

I bought the conti gp4000s, and been underwhelmed. I prefer the schwalbe ultremos zx. With coupons and discounts got four for 32 each.

AlphaDogg

I will be buying tires from the lbs, not the Internet. They gave me a free gatorskin, so they deserve my business. Even if I spend a little more than I would on the Internet, that is fine because I will be supporting the local economy.

I think I'll stick with gatorskins. I'll get a pair of them and keep the free one as a spare.

bianchi10

lots of people love them. I wetn through 4 sets with nothing but sie wall blow outs. I'm not saying its a bad tire, but it has left a bad taste in my mouth. Plenty of other tires out there that I would ever buy before having to settle for gatorskins.

pgjackson

I have had good luck with Vittoria Rubino Pro Slicks. Get rid of that Kenda back tire ASAP. Get some real tires.

ColinL

I've heard at least one other person say this.

How is the cut resistance of the ultremo zx? I thought about the ultremo DD for daily use, but chose the Conti GP 4000S instead.

rdtompki

NP with Gatorskins, but you need to ride more if your sidewalls are showing age before the tread wears out.

AlphaDogg

It was due to a defect that had been in the tire since new. See the thread about it here: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...kay?highlight=

The tire only had 1300 miles on it. The bike was bought new in April. The rear tire is fine, but starting to get squared off on the contact patch. I'm hoping for at least triple the amount of mileage these tires have provided when I get Gatorskins.

Another option I have is to get Serfas Seca tires. I had them on my hybrid and I loved them! Very puncture resistant and fast rolling. Though it was a wire bead (kevlar beaded Secas are more expensive) and they were very tread cut-prone.

I think I'll get Gatorskins.

bikeme

I have Michelin Pro 3s that I'm loving. I've used that family/it's predecessors since the Axial Pros. I think it's a Pro 4 now. Good puncture resistance, cornering. Feels grippy, supple.

pdedes

Not as good as the conti. However, measured width is about a mm more than the 23 stamped on them, and the ride and road feel substantially better than the contis which are now on the backup bike.

Ghost Ryder

I put about 4000 KMs in 4-4.5 months on my Gatorskins(28 mm on my CX), no problems for me.
Not a flat yet(knock on wood), I picked them up off a buddy who's an avid cyclist,& I have no idea how many KMs he put on them.
I ride specialized turbo pro on my new build, & rode over pretty sketchy road the 1st 2 rides.
They held up to the abuse I put them through, I'm planning on getting a pair of either Gatorskins,GP4K,or Ultremo ZX. I've heard mixed reviews for the Michelins Pro 3s I can get them pretty cheap, buy am hesistant. I'm willing to spend a lillte extra $$$ for piece of mind.

dave1442397

I've put around 2200 miles on my GP4000S tires and had a couple of flats, but both were caused by running over sharp metal objects.

I was riding with a guy yesterday who has the Gatorskins and said he loves them.

Debusama

The Michelin crylion carbons are on sale all over the internet right now for around $30. I have been using them as my road race/race season training tire for a while now because I got sick of flatting out during open-course road races on flimsy race-specific tires. I don’t notice any difference in weight or rolling resistance, but I do notice that I almost never get flats anymore and I can use the same set of tires through a whole season. I’ve never had an issue with traction, but to the touch they don’t feel as grippy as the race tires I’ve used, so I don’t use them for crits.
Gatorskins are great tires too though, and if you are looking to save money and you already have one, you would only need to buy one more for a matching set.

Edit: here ya go:
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...82_-1___202471
Great tire, very puncture resistant.
For a little more grip at the expense of some durability
https://www.jensonusa.com/Bicycle-Tir...p-Folding-Tire

Commodus

I rode Gatorskins for about 50kms...very harsh, and very slow. I suppose they're more durable, I wouldn't know and I'm not going to find out. My suggestion is to try some decent performance tires, you may decide that the ride and speed improvements are worth carrying a tube around.