StargazeCyclist

Since I began cycling last year (less than 3000km) I've got two sidewall cuts. I am supposed to replace the tire every time and it gets expensive quickly. Is my Conti grand sport tire particularly weak? Is there any fast tire that would last long (I heard the gatorskin is slow and a low TPI Kenda/CST would be just as durable but I don't want to go that route...).

canklecat

Yep, many road tires with lower rolling resistance and considered "supple" have thin sidewalls. That includes a couple of my favorites, Continental Grand Prix Classic and Soma Supple Vitesse SL. Great riding tires, especially on chipseal. And I like the classic look of skinwalls and gumwalls. But the sidewalls are so thin they're translucent. I try to avoid gravel and patches of debris as much as possible, to avoid nicking the sidewalls.

To be honest, for the money (about $15 each) it's hard to beat Continental Ultra Sport II. The ride quality is nearly as good as the above tires and the sidewall is stronger. I've used those for a couple of years on two road bikes, and a lot of hours on a Cycleops trainer. They're really good, tough tires. Despite lacking a puncture shield they're still remarkably puncture resistant. I've had maybe one puncture flat in thousands of miles on Conti US2 in 700x23 and 700x25 on two different bikes. Very few minor nicks in the tread. Decent grip for slicks.

The only downside is they're a beast to mount and remove for flats. You'll want -- probably *need* -- a bead jack, like the Kool Stop bead jack. That ultra tight fit is the single most common gripe about the Ultra Sport II. I always stuff the bead jack in my jersey pocket when I ride with US2 tires. I don't need the bead jack for the GP Classics or Soma tires.

Try a pair. They don't cost much. And if you don't like 'em for everyday riding, they're fine on a trainer. Or just keep 'em to put on a bike that you sell. Most folks selling good used bikes seem to put on tires like Vittoria Zaffiro or Michelin Dynamic Classics, but the Conti US2 are better.

Iride01 

Have you figured out why you are getting sidewall cuts? Might be too low a pressure you are using unless you are riding roads littered with trash.

popeye

HIgher pressures are more prone to cuts. Got popcorn? Here we go.......

Iride01 

That's where the riding through littered roads came in. The low pressure part was going toward the very low pressure where the rim is cutting the tire.

Boy, you low pressure tire followers come out quick when your mantra is threatened. Sort of like the ebike people when motor bikes are mentioned and many other things here on BF.

popeye

You don't get snakebites on the sidewall. I was referring only to the fact that rubber cuts and punctures more easily when stretched (or wet). I saw nothing mentioned about snake bites. I'm not an advocate for low pressures as I ride nothing wider than 25's at 140 lbs (me). Please stop projecting your biases.

StargazeCyclist

This is how the cut looks like

https://www.bikeforums.net/21688171-post1.html

certainly due to foreign objects.

Iride01 

Oh... well if you are riding at night it is going to be a little harder to avoid things even with a bright light. I can't tell about the cut and whether it's compromised the tire casing, but I'd probably ride it till it gave way. Unless I was going to be riding far from help if all my roadside repair went awry. Or I was doing the most important ride of my life and it had to go perfectly.

For certain have a spare tire ready at home. And a boot to use if it give out while riding. If you are a die-hard make it work till it's last breath type person, then maybe get some sail repair tape with the sticky stuff on one side and put it inside the tire at that position.

But for all that trouble I'd just change the tire.

Bah Humbug

I've been a vocal supporter of the Michelin Power Protection+, because it has bead-to-bead Aramid instead of only under the center strip combined with 110tpi construction. Usually those two aren't put together. It's not as nice as the GP5000, but it rolls a lot better than most durable tires. Some people don't like them, but they might be worth a shot.

canklecat

^Ditto^, I have some Michelin tires for my hybrid with their heavy duty Aramid fiber shield from bead to bead. Never a single puncture flat, even when I've plucked shards of glass, brads, staples, etc., from the tread. It's been gashed down to the yellow Aramid puncture shield and still didn't get a puncture flat.

On my hybrids I've used heavy duty puncture resistant tires from Continental and Michelin, and generally the comparable Michelins ride a bit better. Conti and Schwalbe seem to use thicker rubber, while Michelin uses a fabric that's similar to Kevlar. Might account for the perceived difference in ride quality.

Based on that, if I needed road tires with better puncture resistance, I'd try Michelins with Aramid fiber puncture shields rather than Conti Gatorskins.