quality gum wall tires?
09-22-09, 11:06 PM
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quality gum wall tires?
ok, i'm going to have to get new tires for the dx6k over the winter break and i'd like to go with some gum walls like it originally had. back in 87 it came with panaracer apex slicks. i still had them when i got the bike and one blew out this summer. i've got a black wall now mis matched with one of the original gumwall.
where can i find high quality gum walls now that won't break the bank and will last for a full season?
where can i find high quality gum walls now that won't break the bank and will last for a full season?
09-22-09, 11:32 PM
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www.biketiresdirect.com they have 27"s Specialized also has Armadillos, may or not be gumwalls by name but mine are.
09-23-09, 04:11 AM
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Panaracer Pasela's. Though I'm not sure if they come narrow enough for a DX-6000. But, personally I think mine looks awesome with dark tires, which are much easier to find.
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09-23-09, 05:49 AM
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https://www.niagaracycle.com/product_...oducts_id=1425
Not real high end, but the same tire Nashbar used to sell as their Prima. Looks like this on a bike:
Top
Not real high end, but the same tire Nashbar used to sell as their Prima. Looks like this on a bike:
Top
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09-23-09, 06:17 AM
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09-23-09, 07:14 AM
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https://www.ebikestop.com/panaracer_p...ead-TR2300.php
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09-23-09, 08:49 AM
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09-23-09, 10:27 AM
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Don't like blackwalls myself, but I do not think latex sidewalls are really ever coming back unless there's a real performance advantage that can be found with latex sidewall tires. Last latex sidewall tires i had on my bike were Specialized Turbo VS and I loved them. The latex sidewalls instantly turned into dust when I pulled out and rode test my bike from "retirement" a couple of months ago. It was a sad day when I dismounted the dead Turbos and latex tubes and replaced them with new blackwalled (yechh!) Vittorias and butyl Michelin Ultralight(?) tubes (blehhh)......
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09-23-09, 10:53 AM
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I know what you're saying, aesthetically, but they roll more smoothly than one might imagine from appearances.
09-23-09, 11:28 AM
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Paselas are the best I've tried, by far. It's an incredible tire at an incredible price.
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09-23-09, 11:45 AM
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So I guess I am going to be on the same boat. Currently, I am riding on Specialized Touring II tires and they are doing great. I never knew that the orangy sides (or walls) of my tires were called 'gumwalls'. After all of these years... DUH!
I will also be looking for non-solid black tires as I prefer this look.
I also noticed that today's 700x25 is not the same 700x25 as my Touring IIs. What's the deal? From my brief observations, current 700x25s look more like 700x32s.
Do I need to get something like 700x20? What should I look for if I would like to continue with the same size (footprint/diameter/etc) as my current 700x25 Touring IIs?
I will also be looking for non-solid black tires as I prefer this look.
I also noticed that today's 700x25 is not the same 700x25 as my Touring IIs. What's the deal? From my brief observations, current 700x25s look more like 700x32s.
Do I need to get something like 700x20? What should I look for if I would like to continue with the same size (footprint/diameter/etc) as my current 700x25 Touring IIs?
09-23-09, 12:04 PM
#13
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So I guess I am going to be on the same boat. Currently, I am riding on Specialized Touring II tires and they are doing great. I never knew that the orangy sides (or walls) of my tires were called 'gumwalls'. After all of these years... DUH!
I will also be looking for non-solid black tires as I prefer this look.
I also noticed that today's 700x25 is not the same 700x25 as my Touring IIs. What's the deal? From my brief observations, current 700x25s look more like 700x32s.
Do I need to get something like 700x20? What should I look for if I would like to continue with the same size (footprint/diameter/etc) as my current 700x25 Touring IIs?
I will also be looking for non-solid black tires as I prefer this look.
I also noticed that today's 700x25 is not the same 700x25 as my Touring IIs. What's the deal? From my brief observations, current 700x25s look more like 700x32s.
Do I need to get something like 700x20? What should I look for if I would like to continue with the same size (footprint/diameter/etc) as my current 700x25 Touring IIs?
09-23-09, 12:19 PM
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ok just to clarify, i'm looking for 700x23c tires. and yea, i know what you mean about the size. the old 23's were tiny the new conti's i have are huge.
09-23-09, 12:28 PM
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I agree with the others michaelwc, Panaracer Paselas are pretty nice for the price if you can find them in 23s
One other thing, and I could be wrong... I thought gum wall meant, tan colored rubber like the kendas on Schwinns. Whereas the Paselas or other "nicer" tires would be called skin wall because sides are actually exposed from under the black rubber.
One thing I have noticed, very high end tires have a consistant, smooth edge between the black and tan areas where even on the paselas... not so much.
BTW, thats not a knock... I have Paselas on 2 bikes
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09-23-09, 01:40 PM
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They're not really gumwalls, they're not really blackwalls, what are they? Continental Ultra Gatorskins!
Not the best (and certainly not the cheapest), but they look okay on vintage bikes (in my opinion, at least) and offer pretty good flat protection. For me, a blend of form and function trumps form alone.
Not the best (and certainly not the cheapest), but they look okay on vintage bikes (in my opinion, at least) and offer pretty good flat protection. For me, a blend of form and function trumps form alone.
09-23-09, 02:11 PM
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Panaracer Pasela TG are my favorite tires I have them on 3 of my bikes. Not sure about the standard Pasela but if they are as nice as the TG's go for em.
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09-23-09, 02:12 PM
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I second the motion to go with CHALLENGE tires. They are a top quality tire with great performance and they are foldable.
Here is a selection of great tires in various sizes.
https://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/Tires.html
Here's a write-up on some of the modern tires - https://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/i...64TireTest.pdf
Personally, I run a Parigi-Roubaix in the rear and a Criterium in the front. Both are "gumwall" (black tread with tan sidewall). These tires ride like fine tubulars, offer a great feel and offer the ease of repair of a clincher. Once you see them and mount them, you will understand.
Here is a selection of great tires in various sizes.
https://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/Tires.html
Here's a write-up on some of the modern tires - https://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/i...64TireTest.pdf
Personally, I run a Parigi-Roubaix in the rear and a Criterium in the front. Both are "gumwall" (black tread with tan sidewall). These tires ride like fine tubulars, offer a great feel and offer the ease of repair of a clincher. Once you see them and mount them, you will understand.
Last edited by Mike Mills; 09-23-09 at 02:36 PM.
09-23-09, 02:28 PM
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09-23-09, 09:40 PM
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They're not really gumwalls, they're not really blackwalls, what are they? Continental Ultra Gatorskins!
Not the best (and certainly not the cheapest), but they look okay on vintage bikes (in my opinion, at least) and offer pretty good flat protection. For me, a blend of form and function trumps form alone.
Not the best (and certainly not the cheapest), but they look okay on vintage bikes (in my opinion, at least) and offer pretty good flat protection. For me, a blend of form and function trumps form alone.
I should check out those Continentals one day.
09-23-09, 10:15 PM
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They're not really gumwalls, they're not really blackwalls, what are they? Continental Ultra Gatorskins!
Not the best (and certainly not the cheapest), but they look okay on vintage bikes (in my opinion, at least) and offer pretty good flat protection. For me, a blend of form and function trumps form alone.
Not the best (and certainly not the cheapest), but they look okay on vintage bikes (in my opinion, at least) and offer pretty good flat protection. For me, a blend of form and function trumps form alone.
I should check out those Continentals one day.
09-23-09, 10:38 PM
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I also noticed that today's 700x25 is not the same 700x25 as my Touring IIs. What's the deal? From my brief observations, current 700x25s look more like 700x32s.
Do I need to get something like 700x20? What should I look for if I would like to continue with the same size (footprint/diameter/etc) as my current 700x25 Touring IIs?
09-24-09, 01:52 AM
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A lot of older tires were a lot narrower than their sidewall listed sizes. Frank Berto in his 1988 book on upgrading road bikes had quite a section on tires. Undersized tires were a weight weenie thing so a manufacturer could claim his tire for a given size was lighter than the competition. The worst case of this I saw was some Vittorias which claimed to be 700 x 25 and when mounted were barely 20.5mm wide.
Per the same source gumwall is a tire construction method, NOT a sidewall color. Tires with lots of rubber in the sidewalls were gumwall tires, regardless of color. These were low end tires. Lighter weight high performance tires were skinwall tires with so little rubber on the sidewalls that normally you could see the fabric outline through the rubber.
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