CV-6 

I would not recommend Challenge tires to anyone. My experience with them is dismal, and I will leave it at that.

I think you should consider the Specialized Turbo Cotton which last check come in several widths running 24, 26, and 28mm. Maybe other choices. I am running the 28mm version on Mavic Module rims. They are after several months measuring at 27mm, A bit of effort to mount, but easy compared to my attempts to mount Challenge tires to the same rims.

Lordgun has them at around $60 each.

79pmooney

Now I had issues with the bead not being tight enough and blowing off the rim, destroying the tube in the process. (New tires, Velocity Aero (or perhaps Open Pro) rims.) A couple of days later I blew two Challenge Latex tubes when they separated at the tube/valve section juncture. (Two miles apart 10 miles into a 80 mile ride.) Never mounted Challenge tires again. Expensive mistake.

I really wanted to believe those were going to be "the" tires for the big rides. But after that, no way was I going down a high speed descent on them. A couple of years later the Vittoria G+ came along. Now all is good (and the G+s are "the" tire).

Ben

Drillium Dude 

The Criteriums are well within my stated price-range so that works for me as long as I can find them in 25s - and preferably tan-wall. I know some of these tires don't seem to be made with tan-walls anymore.

I was going to test these on a set of Mavic Open Pros, the 90s versions with the welded/machined sidewalls. The bike would be a 1981 Bianchi Super Leggera or a 1983 Colnago Mexico. Both have pretty tight clearances. The Bianchi is currently wearing Vitttoria Open Corsa SCs and there is only about 4mm clearance between the sidewall and the inside of the chain stay.

Yeah, the higher pressures were kind of a necessity when I gained some weight. I did a pretty close job this summer getting under 200lbs, but still not at my fighting weight. Hence, I want to avoid flats from bottoming out and until I'm under 190 the lower pressures you've noted would be just too iffy for me to run. We've got some crappy roads around here - and our MUPs aren't in all that great of shape, either!

Plus, I do tend to get a lot of miles out of my tires because they wear slower with higher pressures. I usually swap rear to front once the middle tread ribs have worn off, which helps extend tire life, too.

DD

masi61

In actual practice I have found little change in mileage runnning lower tire pressures. If anything, it might prolong the life of the tire because the contact patch may be slightly larger, leading to a more even treadwear pattern with less of that squared off look that some high mileage tires get.

Our Dayton, Ohio roads are not that great either. I have never had a pinch flat at the lower pressures I have listed. My pressure readings are measured with a Lezyne digital tire gauge and adjusted to those pressures prior to each ride since I’m using the Vittoria latex tubes.

I had had a Challenge latex tube fail too, this is why I switched to the Vittoria’s. Latex tubes I believe are the missing link here - you would think they would flat easier but in actual practice they don’t. They can resist some punctures better than standard tubes. I had to practice up on my tube and tire changing technique. I did pinch the latex tube a few times upon installation leading to pinhole leaks that I put regular butyl inner tube patches on successfully. I ran a rear latex tube with 2 Rema TipTop patches contact cemented over 2 small punctures with no further problems.

verktyg 

I bought a set of these Old Challenge Parigi-Roubaix 700C x 27mm tires years ago when they first came out. I tried mounting them on several different brands of rims to let them stretch - no go.



They sat around until 2015 when I decided to try them again. I was putting together a 1971-72 Motobecane Grand Record.

I had a set of wheels built with 23mm wide 700c Super Champion Mod 58 rims and Normandy Luxe Competition hubs and wanted something that looked like the old 27" x 1 1/4" tires. The Parigi-Roubaix tires measured 29mm mounted.




They were a bear to mount and should have taken Michelin A2 tubes for 25mm - 32mm tires. I had to use the smaller A1 tubes for 18mm - 23mm tires to get them to go on the rims.

After a month or so of use, I picked up a goat head the first time I had it out on a CR group ride, just as we were stopping for a break. I thought I was going to have a problem replacing the tube but I was lucky because the bead had stretched enough that I could get it off with just one tire tool and put it back one with just my thumbs.

The tires ride, coast and climb beautifully. They feel just like the big 30mm Clement Paris-Roubaix red label cotton sewups I used to ride back in the 70's.

The bike was a big disappointment however. It has relaxed angles and a long wheel base with a large fork rake. I figured it would be a lot more cushy riding than my 1974 Grand Jubile which has steeper angles.

They're both made with the 3 main tubes butted Reynolds 531 but the forks and stays on the Grand Record are the same as used on the lower priced bike boom gas pipe models.

It rides like a tank. The only positive things I can say, the yellow and black bumblebee colors look great and It's the only bike I own that I can ride comfortably hands off.

Back to the Parigi-Roubaix tires, there were a lot of failures reported when they first came out and even later on. I attribute the many of the problems to tire pressure - most people run them inflated too high. The recommended pressure on the side wall is 95-125 psi. That's way too much for these types of delicate tires.

I run mine at 85 psi front and 90 psi rear. Pinch flats be damned!

verktyg

daviddavieboy

These are a year old with about 500 miles on them on a old Jackson. They are measuring 27.6 mm @ 100PSI. FWIW all summer i have been north of 230 lbs. They are the tubular version but the wear should be similar to a clincher. They handle gravel well, the ride is sublime and they look great.

I re-read the original postand I see you were asking about the Parigi-Roubaix. I have no experience with these - sorry

santa fe 2926 

Riding and enjoying Veloflex 25 clinchers. I weigh in around 182, and pump them up at 100. They feel great on the PSV10, and the Roberts SLX. Probably not the most long lived, but really enjoy the ride. And even with sticker flickers, goat heads in OK will give you a flat. When new, need a kool stop tire mount, which I always carry. Anyone else have any thoughts on Veloflex?

gomango

Just checked.

I have the Strada Biancas. 700x30. Clinchers.

Little bit wider and they give a nice ride.

You are welcome to them if you can fit them.

Be prepared for bleeding fingers to get these tires on the first time when new.

A truly miserable puzzle to solve.

63rickert

This is so odd. I had maybe ten of the P-Rs. Mounted them on a variety of rims. Never a problem to mount. After being mounted initially they always went on and off without tools. On wider rims they mounted first time no tools. They did not blow up. They did not flat often enough to notice. Wear was good. High price paid was 2 for $70. They have become slightly obsolete but I'd have no reluctance to use again or to recommend.

Drillium Dude 

I am sure 30s will not fit if 27s end up fattening to 29. Just not going to be enough clearance at the stays with 30s.

Good thing 25s seem cushy enough to me, although I would like to go just a little bigger. Maybe I should think of more modification (stay indenting) on the Casati - that bike's a work in progress, anyway!

Thanks anyway for the offer, Grady

DD

Drillium Dude 

It is interesting the range of experiences people seem to have had with these tires. Lots of information to digest; don't think I'm going to give up on them yet, but I am going to stick with 27s as the largest I'll try as it seems sizes tend to run bigger than advertised.

DD

snowball123

Have the 27 PR Challenge tires and on the box it's called open tubular/clinchers. Tough to mount but not insurmountable.

First time I road them, I had a flat on the rear at 95psi. After that flat, I inflated them to 80psi and they have been fine.

Have grown to like the tan sidewalls vs. the more whiteish Vittoria Corsa G+.

They ride better than the 28 Corsa G+ in my opinion.

Bad Lag

Funny, I run my Parigi-Roubaix 27 mm rear tire at 110-120 psi to preclude flats.

I run the front tire at 100 psi - the Criterium (their 25 mm tire).

Drillium Dude 

Wow, another unicorn!

Seriously, we might be the only two here that will admit to consistently running pressures over 100psi. It works for me, though; the only punctures I get anymore are from foreign objects - no more snakebites from bottoming out.

DD

Bad Lag

Some variation might be due to the rider's weight. I am over 200 lb. At lower pressures, I would get flats. At higher pressures, I do not,... almost never. <knocks on wood>

Drillium Dude 

Oh, for sure. In fact, when people ask why I run them so high, I tell them two things: (1) higher weight equals higher pressures and (2) they're rated for high pressures.

Also, I still hold onto the belief that hard-blown tires result in lower rolling resistance.

DD

Road Fan

I have the tubular version of that tire - marked 27 and it measures 27 on tubular rims. My mid'80s Mondonico is certainly a steel race bike, and the wheels fit perfectly with about 5 mm clearance at all points.