bosox89

I just bought new wheels (Fulcrum Racing 7 LG Alloy Clincher) and I'm looking to get new tires too. I'm looking for some recommendations. I ride a few times a week, but I don't race. Most of my rides are to and from work (about 25 miles each way on a paved trail. I'm leaning towards getting a tire with a width of 25 for a little smoother ride. Price is a big factor, I'd say my max is $35 per tire. I'd like a tire with good performance, but I'd value it reliability higher. A few tires I was looking at:

Continental Gatorskin Hardshell 700c x 25
Schwalbe Durano Folding Road Tyre - RaceGuard 700c x 25
Schwalbe Lugano 700c x 25 Road Racing Bike Tires
Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ Road Tire
Vittoria Rubino Pro III Fold Tire
Vittoria Zaffiro Pro SLICK 700x25 Black Road Bike Folding Tire
Clement Cycling Strada LGG Clincher 60 TPI Tire

If anyone as opinions on any of these or if they have another recommendations I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

gsindela

Check out Bicycle Rolling Resistance | Rolling Resistance Tests for invaluable information on tires. I have no affiliation; just a fan of the site.

Sy Reene

Very worth considering
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/m...be&cat=product

noodle soup

it's hard to beat that deal.

Michelin Pro4 ENDURANCE V2 Black 25c + FREE Tube | Chain Reaction Cycles

gsindela

I have the Mich Pro4 Service Course tire. Nothing bad to say about it. i would imagine the Endurance is stellar as well.

reggieray

GP 4000S II, latex tubes.

/thread

Abe_Froman

Is there any real benefit to latex other than maybe 2 watts per wheel? Ride quality, etc?

99Klein 

Specialized Turbo Pros are fast. I run 26's and never imagined how well they could handle as well as the speed.

If you've ever gone from a "regular" tire to a Gatorskin, you know how slow Gators are.... Turbo's are that much faster.

Doge

They sound better.
No idea what the number is, but I know. Kinda like an $8 bottle of wine compared to a $20 one. You just know it is better.

scott967

I've had good experience with these tires (replaced Conti GP4000s II which were flatting too much).

scott s.
.

noodle soup

It's hard to beat Pro4 Endurance tires for most conditions. I used to use Pro4 SC and GP4000IIs tires, and I love their smooth ride, but they just get cuts too easily for me.

Pro4 Endurance tires have nearly the same soft ride, but are far more durable. There are better choices for true racing tires, but they are too fragile/expensive for the training miles I put in.

caloso

Pro4 Endurance are commuting tires you can race on. Or are they race tires you can commute on? Either way, they're my high-mileage day-to-day tires.

SWorksRoubaix

Really? Most folks here have quite the opposite experience (I think!)

noodle soup

yep.

they are a great compromise tire. Not the best racing tire, but a durable/comfortable alternative(and they are cheap).

reggieray

It's two watts per tire at 18mph.

What is it per tire at 25mph? 35mph? More than two watts, so instead of saving four watts at 18mph, you're saving six, eight, ten watts. Whatever it is, if I can go faster by making a very simple equipment change, I'm doing it.

Particularly on 300K, 400K and longer rides, the energy savings pile up. No reason not to do it, besides $4-5 more for latex.

rayzafc

Vote for schwalbe durano 25. I got it on sale around $32/pair

HTupolev

If you puncture, pulling a pink tube out of your tire makes you look more like a Serious Cyclist than a black tube does.

San Pedro

Schwable Durano has been a very reliable tire for me, and it wears very well. The Pro4 Endurance tire also rides great, and I would have ordered another, but the price went up. I just bought some Rubino Pro G+ tires, but haven't needed to put them on yet.

Sy Reene

If you bike for exercise, then you're cheating yourself.

ozgur.nevres

I always liked GP 4000 (s, s II) and Veloflex Master.

Veloflex is a small scale Italian operation built from the remains of Vittoria after that firm shifted production to Taiwan a few years ago.

ozgur.nevres

I was using latex but switched back to normal rubber inner tubes.
Latex is OK, but when I punctured them a few times (I know they are really puncture resistant but I managed to puncture them somehow), they used to go airless in zero time. Pure flat. I found it dangerous. Have you ever experienced that kind of thing with them?

Pridedog

Continental Gatorskins 700 x 25c. I just replaced a set after 8,800 miles. I ride a lot of chip and seal and rough rural roads. I run 85# in rear and 70# in front. I weigh 180#. No flats on this set. I also rotate every 1,000 to 1,500 miles. Usually can find them on sale for $35. I also have a set of 28c on another bike that currently has 6,600 miles on them. Works for me, as they say your results may be different. Good luck.

Abe_Froman

Erm, well because this is a bike I commute on...and I'd prefer not to have to fill tires up every morning if I don't have to..

Oh also...rolling resistance scales pretty linearly...so if it's a 2 watt savings, it would be around 3 watts at 27mph, and 4 watts at 36 mph. And I'm no racer....90% of my time is going to be around 18mph...I only hit 27mph at a dead sprint that I can't sustain for more than a minute on a good day.

ptempel

Another vote for Continental Gatorskin folding tires. I've used both 23mm and 25mm without too many probs. I still need to do a close inspection once every few days to try and catch tiny rock, glass and metal slivers stuck in the tires. There is a fair amount of debris that I roll through going uptown through Harlem and onto the bridge. Also get a a few tiny slices on both rear and front tires. The rear get beat up more as usual. The Michelin Pro4 Endurance mentioned above sound nice. Might have to try them next time. Chain Reaction also has some nice prices on the Conti:

Continental Gatorskin Road Bike Tyre | Chain Reaction Cycles

bosox89

Thanks for all the input. I'm loving bicyclerollingresistance.com. I'm leaning towards Michelin Pro4 Endurance. The Grand Prix 4000S II sounds great too, but the Puncture Resistance Test made the difference.