Homebrew01

I'm riding tubulars on my old steel race bike with modern drive train. Solo rides 30 - 50 miles, not racing.
I'm currently riding more expensive tires, such as Vittoria Corsa and others, so might be bummed if the Y.J. ride like rocks.

Any opinions ?

"....Now, our Servizio Corse tubulars are a nice, round Thai casing of fine-stranded cotton but with a smoother, more modern tread, premium long-staple cotton laid to a high 127tpi thread count with trendy black sidewalls or traditional natural tan sides. They are a true 300g with a nice hefty butyl tube so you'll find they hold air for weeks. (That makes a difference for us commuters!) Same 21.5mm tire casing, same brass removable core valves, same factory, new label...."

crank_addict

No argument on cost and gets one rolling for little. Mostly used as carry spares.

Though I'm not familiar with what's described as new type from them. Last purchased three years ago and expected as cheap low thread count but the rubber tread carcass might've been better and natural rubber from Thailand.

Worst of the disposable class are Challenge Vulcano, Vittoria Rallye Competition, Continental Giro.

My goto budget USABLE tubulars are now Panaracer Practice and then a step up to Tufo S33 Pro. My press to purchase is when priced at $25 and packaged with free shipping.

Regarding the comment 'tubular for commuter', the Tufo wins hands down. You can't repair them but have removable core to fill with sealant. ATMO ;")

DiabloScott

YJ comes up in virtually every tubular thread... have a search.

They're not rocks, but they won't deliver that sweet ride that sew-up connoisseurs appreciate.

verktyg 

About 7-8 years back I bought a bunch of them for cheap throw away sewups. They've held up well but back them, sometimes 1 out of 3 looked like a snake that swallowed a mouse or they were twisted on the rim.

I use Tufo sealant and haven't had any flats with them.

Over time many of Thai made tires have gotten better so for now I'd give the the benefit of the doubt.

verktyg

Steelman54 

I stopped riding tubulars for just the reasons Verktyg cites, rolled with a hump in them. Never did flat though, last ones from some years back were from Thailand also. Depends on what you want.

scozim 

I've probably bought 12 of them of the years (usually in sets of 6). I like the look and have had maybe two that felt lumpy while riding. I just threw those out - at roughly $18 a tire it was the best option. I have these running on two bikes all the time and the ride is decent. However, I typically don't go over 110 psi with these tires in case they are a little uneven. I normally run around 120 psi. I also use these for spares on several other bikes that have Continental Sprinter tubulars on them.

Homebrew01

I have a brand new Vittoria with a similar "mouse"...bummed...so it's a spare under the saddle.

Bad Lag

How do you guys rank the various brands and models available? Let's make a list.


Inexpensive or lower performance

Yellow Jersey (3/$50)
Challenge Vulcano
Vittoria Rallye Competition
Continental Giro
Clement Futur CX
Sprinter Gatorskin

More expensive or better performance

Panaracer Practice
Tufo S33 Pro
Veloflex Masters
Vittoria Corsa w/Graphene

Expensive or top performance

crank_addict

^^ Just crossed my mind but I have two bikes sporting cheapo Clement Futur CX tubulars. Also as spares. Nabbed deals when priced $9.95 to $19.95.

Taiwan sourced. I rate them above Vittoria Rallye and Conti Giro but not quite good as the PanicSonic Practice. One has developed an outer tread separation splitting but I gooped it with 'Goop' glue by Loctite, shaved it down. Holding good. Lol

Realistically, all the above can get you by as an occasional rider but if after the real bike experience - I don't recommend. Splurge or at least be patient for when the finer quality tubulars are heavily discounted. Vast differences.

While on my rant, I've been rotating my rides for each day, 20-24 mile loop on dirty early Spring roads. Some bikes with tubular and others clinchers.

The only clinchers I'm liking are new Veloflex Masters in 25mm and then... ready for this?
.. Vintage N.O.S. Vittoria Oscar X in 19mm. I'm actually disappointed in brand new Vittoria Corsa w/Graphene 25mm on a Tange Prestige frameset bike. Sluggish compared to even the budget tubulars.

nervgs

I've been through plenty of them - you really can't beat them for that price. I think a similar tub is a Vittoria Rallye, which I'd rather have a Yellow Jersey since they have a removable core and I can throw in some sealant if it's not too bad to get me home.

Though my litmus test for how bad something rides is a Gatorskin clincher which I still have mounted when I commuted last year. I am kind of curious of Gatorskin tubs though now.

-glenn

Bad Lag

Are there any out there that are top performers, maybe top performers at a good price?

Tell me about Schwalbe tubulars.

How are the Challenge Paris Roubaix?

How about Dugast Paris Roubaix or Strada?

If I mistake your intent and you want me to change my list, let me know.

scozim 

I picked up a set of Sprinter Gatorskin tubulars last year and really like them. They're a little heavier but ride great over the tougher chip seal areas we have around here on our roads. I would definitely buy another set. Just need to wear out the other tubulars first.

nervgs

Ah nice! They don't ride like the clinchers, do they? I only had the Gatorskins mounted because I rode 50 miles a day on my commute, and was tired of getting punctures. The tires did their job 100% as I don't remember getting any for the remainder of time I was riding with them, but the things rode like I was going over rocks & cobbles - I hated the ride - and this is with a carbon endurance frame.

-glenn

scozim 

Definitely ride better than clinchers. Maybe a little stiffer than normal Sprinters but not by much. The tubular ride is so nice I've got them on 6 different bikes.

Here's a review that helped me decide to give them a shot:
Continental Sprinter Gatorskin Tubular Tyres - The Tall Cyclist

squirtdad

I have had similar 'what to get but not break the bank" for a bike I won't ride a lot I got Challenge Elite prod 220 tip..... at about 30 each https://www.probikekit.com/bicycle-t...caAgvDEALw_wcB

specs are decent, the have a removable core, and look well made...... I have not got them mounted yet so can't comment on ride......within a week or so I hope

• Use: Road Training
• Tire Width: 25 mm
• Internal Rim Width: 13-15 mm
• Weight: 295 gr
• TPI: 220
• Casing: Poly
• Flat protection: PPS
• BAR: 7-12
• PSI: 100-175
• Inner tube: butyl

fietsbob

20+ Years ago, one of my friends commuted on 'Cycle Pro' sew-ups on those, there were no removable core presta stems,

so he cut a few stitches injected sealant thru the inner tube, then patched the tube where he pushed the sealant in..

& sewed the tire back together.. ...






....

Lord Donnington

Servizio Corse tires:
I have had excellent use out of the Yellow Jersey sourced Taiwanese tubulars. My front has 1062 miles while the rear has 867. Tread is still good. I fix any punctures with a syringe of Stan’s that I carry with me and it works very well. Vittoria Pit Stop needs to go back to the drawing board...

alexihnen 

I recently bought 4 of these. One set is mounted but not glued. They look good so far. They’re likely to see only a couple hundred miles a year so I’m hoping they work well.

Dylansbob 

Oooo. Those look nice.

I recently bought a set of Maxxis Velocitas that were probably mispriced online at $6. Never the less, they showed up in my order. They look paperthin with 60's dragster-looking yellow "MAXXIS" written hugely across them. Someday I'll stumble across an equally cheap set of tubular rims or wheels and use them.


My only experience with sewups was a pair of green Rallys I installed on the first fixed gear wheelset I built in '00. They were installed on a Raleigh Sports, complete with fenders and chainguard. Needless to say, that experiment didn't last long as I learned about the importance of lockring tightening

SJX426 

Ta Da!

Tjhe spare is being sewn up.

1983 Colnago Superissimo on Flickr

I use thread count as my first decision criteria. Although the 3/50 are true sew-ups, there performance does not compare to say a Vittoria Corsa G+, 120TPI vs 325.

OldsCOOL

I’ve done the threesie deal and was satisfied with every aspect. They aren’t high mileage but for initial start-up cost you can’t beat the deal. I’ll echo the comment on using them for a spare.

75lechamp 

Wow, that is a dead ringer for the 83 Superissimo I had back in, well, '83... Nice! I sure do miss it

Ronsonic 

My only Schwalbe tub experience was with their exceptionally good cyclocross tires. Remarkable rollers - good on pavement and then when you roll off into the grass you don't feel any more resistance.