Kobe 

I use to think black tires just looked faster. You never see Indy cars with whitewalls, right

About 5 years ago (probably when I turned 50) skinwalls seemed to look a lot nicer than they did before.

noglider 

Skinwalls look better. Blackwalls are more practical. I'm in the process of giving in to blackwalls. I haz a sad.

Gurge

I tecenrec had the issue if finding 27x1.25 tires and the only ones I could find were kenda skinwalls. They're cheap but good luck on corners. Although I really want to upgrade from the original steel rims to 700cs so I can have a few more options.

dwing

I think Specialized is offering the Turbo Cotton (tan sidewalls) for 80$ buy1 get 1 @ 50%off which brings the cost to a reasonable 60$/tire. I put a set on my Roubaix last season and they're very smooth riding tires. Supposedly a top performing tire in the resistance testing. The normal concern for most is how prone the tire is to flats and punctures (I was because of the mix of road surfaces I ride) but it didn't take long to dispell that with these. No flats, no punctures, they're wearing nicely with no unexpected slits or cuts in the contact strip. I don't abuse them but I dont baby them as i run over the usual road debris on shoulders.

The thing I like most about these tires is eat up chip seal and rough road surfaces which I ride a lot of. They smooth the vibration, they're light for spinup, and they elicit a feel of "faster". And the tan wall is a nice color that.starts a bit yellowish but becomes nice vintage tan. I'm surprised I don't read more posts about these but I guess you have to like the tan walls which not many are into. All that being said I just ordered a set of Vittoria Corsa G+ Competition "skin wall" at 60$/tire thru Amazon. Was going to try the Corsa G+ "Speed" but I wanted them in tan sidewall and can't find them at a reasonable price. I'm interested to see how the Comps feel versus the Turbo Cotton. The Vittoria's appear to have a lighter tan look.

athrowawaynic

joesch

How about the Wolber SL 19 Cotton 700 x 20 tires for a classic look ?
Pretty nice ride on Araya 700c low aero rim wheels with Campy SR on my Masi Columbus SLX-SP Manganese alloy, Super Butted ...

joesch

How about the Wolber SL 19 Cotton 700 x 20 tires for a classic look ?
Pretty nice ride on Araya 700c low aero rim wheels with Campy SR on my Masi Columbus SLX-SP Manganese alloy, Super Butted ...

jet sanchEz

I love this Paramount that I recently picked up (thanks Steve!) but Gatorskins are just so bleagh to ride.

I put on some Michelin Classics and wow, everything is much much better.

ascherer 

My International wearing Compass Bon Jons and my Wife's Synapse with Pasela PTs that I just mounted to replace black Schwalbes, and they look way better than I expected. She likes 'em too.

Drillium Dude 

I'm a fan of the Wolber SL 19 Cotons, too, and bought in bulk on Ebay a number of years ago. Most are still going strong, tho the sidewalls are drying a bit. But they're hard to come by, and pretty dear, too, it seems: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Old-Sto...QAAOSwYvFZLK9f



DD

ThermionicScott 

@joesch and @Drillium Dude, what do those Wolbers caliper out to in real life?

altenwrencher

Bike Tires Direct has a bunch of tires on sale just today (Friday 5/4) including Paselas.

Salamandrine 

Yep! That's how it was. Black tires = cheap tires. Now all bikes look like cheap bikes!

Strangely enough, black tires have grown on me. I prefer them on my black Mercian. Looks better to me than skinwalls on that bike. Perhaps only because now it looks a bit like the old Hercules I had as a kid. So I'm still a grumpy

shoff535

Slightspeed

Im very happy with my 28c Panaracer Paselas. They did better on Eroica than the rider did. The rider walked, but the Paselas just kept rolling along. I have almost 2000 miles on them in less than a year, 1 flat (on pavement). They roll fast, and look good, a lot of gumwall for the money. I like how they look with the dark finish MA40 rims. Top photo shows Blackwell Gatorskin 25c for comparison.

Steve Whitlatch 

Sweet! Looks great too.

joesch

Yes very dear indeed. [MENTION=72219] @ThermionicScott will need to take an action on the actual caliper spec ... Thanks for that pic

wernst

I'm surprised no one suggested Gran Prix Classics. I love 'em.

Wileyone 

I had a set of those and thought they were pretty good, until I bought a set of Veloflex Masters.

texaspandj

​​​​​​​I think tan walls look ok on almost any build but black tires only look good on dark wheels.

Oldbikeride

I agree with you and Jon T. If you want that stock orginal look I believe to go with what came on the bike from the factory. I practice what I preach when it comes to my 1981 Schwinn Super Sport. I just purchased new gumwalls for it. The only exception I make is the seat. I ride it with an updated Schwinn seat, but have the orginal seat for pictures or show.

canyoneagle

Lucky man! Not just one, but THREE MX Leaders. Such stunning frames. I agree that a classic frame deserves skinwalls.

I have a modern build on a classic frame, with black rims, so mine can go either way. I'd like to try some skinwalls on it to see which I prefer. To the OP - your build is a no-brainer - skinwalls all the way!!

styggno1

Thanks!
Your Zullo looks likewise stunning. With your black theme - post, stem, bars, rims, etc. the black wall tires are a part of it. Very well executed.

Regarding my three MXL: s - there are only two of them presented here. The third one is a Corsa Extra in MAX tubing. The Merckx specific MXL tube set and the MAX tubeset are quite a lot different in ovalisation and the direction of it. MAX Merckx: s was a very short run production compared to the MXL: s.

I actually got four MXL: s but two of them are not built (yet)... Got them while they were just plain old unfashionable steel frames. Not very sought after at the time. I have always liked them and thought I had to have a lifetime supply... The Corsa Extra MAX I got just over a year ago and I have not regretted it - but it is treated as a collectors item and not used very much.

ryansu

+1 On the Panaracer Pasela's and Swift Sand Canyon's, plush ride and not too dear -full disclosure I am not concerned with going fast, if I was the tires wouldn't be what was holding me back that said I used to run Kenda 27 inch tires a lot and there is a world difference between them and the Panaracers

jwolfe

I have the Michelin Dynamic Classic's on my Bianchi. Thus far they ride great for the value. ($40 for a pair)