walrus1

I was thinking of picking a pair up for my commuter. Anyone have any experience with them?

revchuck 

I don't commute, but I've used these tires for the last two years. They're excellent. I got ~3200 miles on the rear last year, and am currently using the front from last year on the rear. I've gotten two flats since I started using them, one from tire wire and another from a gravel shard; either of these would've happened with any other tire. They stick well enough to race on (I did last year).

caloso

Excellent tires. Commuting tires you can race. Or racing tires you can commmute.

chas58

I like them. Replaced some gatorskins with them. They are very fast and easy. The endurance seems to be a good tire, with bead to bead protection.


I got a 28mm tire and it is the EXACT same size as the 25mm tire. I found that wierd. I did notice the tread width is a wider and the recommended pressure is 10psi lower (which is a good thing). Looks to be the same tire, designed for lower pressure and a smoother ride.


The 28mm tires are so small I'm thinking they will fit just about any bike outside of the most dedicated race machines.


Fast enough to race, strong and durable enough to commute on.

caloso

Yeah, good point on the sizing. I don't have calipers but the "25mm" is the fattest 25 I've ever seen. They just *barely* clear my calipers.

walrus1

Thanks everybody! So if I want 25s I should order 23s?

velocity

I have got two freak flats with them this year. But again they were above and beyond normal flats. One was a staple and the other was a pinch flat. I run 23's but 25 's are better if your heavier. They have lots of colors to chose from. The only downer about them is they are expensive.
I WOULD BUY ANOTHER, TELL A FRIEND TO BUY AND WAIT FOR A SALE.
V

revchuck 

My 25s measure 27+mm wide on 19mm wide rims.

walrus1

@revchuck thanks I'm going to go with 23s then since they should be about 25mm.
@velocity Thanks! They seem to be very durable tires. I'm going with 25s since they should give a slightly softer ride.

revchuck 

IIRC, the 23s are pretty much true to size. It doesn't have to make sense.

RoadTire 

No. We are running a pair of 23's, red ones, and they pretty much measure 23.

RoadTire 

ProBikeKit on sale early in the year around $30 each. This January we did under that. Get 3, no shipping, and have a spare.

RoadTire 

Mich did the same thing with the P4SC - 27 is the new 25.

walrus1

So the 25s are oversized and the 23s are true to size? Then what sized should I get?

revchuck 

Since you'll be using them for commuting, I'd go with the larger tires, assuming they'll fit on your bike.

velocity

I also want to give a shout out to another great Michelin tire the Krylion Carbon foldables -great price, tough, reliable, and fast tire -but I am not sure the colors are more than pinstripes on grey/black.
V

chas58

Get the 25s. They will fit about anything. I even have one that I use sometimes on my track bike (i.e. something I race at the velodrome with) and it barely fits.

For road, I personally prefer the 28's as they are designed to run at 60-90psi
Michelin specifications (min/max):
28: 60-90psi
25: 75-110 psi
23: 90-115 psi

You will be just as fast on either of the 3 sizes, it rather depends on how stiff you want the ride to be.


I see no reason to use a 23, other than style or frame clearance. With a tire like this, a 25 or 28 is just as fast on a smooth road, but faster on rough or imperfect roads.

caloso

+1

revchuck 

Pretty sure the Krylions were discontinued about two-three years ago and replaced by the P4Es. The Krylions out there now are NOS. I went through a few of them, too, and they were good.

kingston 

I just measured my PE4 25s, and they are a hair over 25mm on an 18.2mm rim. I like them a lot, but Shwalbe Marathon Plus HS440 is my favorite commuting tire followed closely by the Vittoria Randonneur Pro

velocity

How are you guys with the Pro Service Courses? I have not tried those yet.
V

chas58

For the service course - I use one on the front, since I typically don't get front flats or tread wear. I think for commuting they would wear pretty fast in the rear (and they don't have sidewall protection).

I don't know what was wrong with the early tires, but I bought mine in the fall, and it dry rotted over the winter (to the point I could see the cords at the tread/sidewall boundary). It took some work, but I got a replacement that so far hasn't fallen apart on me.

That is an expensive tire to fall apart in the garage. I'm hoping this one lasts longer, or its going back too. So far, so good.

indjke

one puncture in two seasons (4000-5000 km each)
very durable. love them

RoadTire 

a few hundred miles on a a new pair last season, one small sharp teardrop shaped glass caused a flat. I run the 25's, measured 27, 90-95 rear 85-902 front. I'm about 165 and change. No discernible wear, but I'm not hard on tires either. Really comfortable.

walrus1

Hey all,

I ordered the tires a couple days ago and went with the 23s since I got them for $6 cheaper each then the cheapest 25s on Amazon. They should get here in the next couple days. Thanks for all the advice!