Track Tire Questions
#26
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[QUOTE=carleton;16680083]I like Vredestein Fortezza TriComp because they are relatively inexpensive, durable, and support high PSI for a clincher (up to 160, I think).
Conti GP 4000s are a good standby. The upsides are that they are easy to find and the rubber is nice grippy and supple. But they can be expensive at MSRP and only go up to 120PSI, which is fine if you aren't a heavy rider.
Well I'm, 210ish and I agree with you on the Conti's. In anycase I think I'll try the TriComps.
Question>>Can I use the Colors ones as most of my racing will be on concrete or Asphalt. I have 404 Tubulars that will be my main wheels.
Conti GP 4000s are a good standby. The upsides are that they are easy to find and the rubber is nice grippy and supple. But they can be expensive at MSRP and only go up to 120PSI, which is fine if you aren't a heavy rider.
Well I'm, 210ish and I agree with you on the Conti's. In anycase I think I'll try the TriComps.
Question>>Can I use the Colors ones as most of my racing will be on concrete or Asphalt. I have 404 Tubulars that will be my main wheels.
#27
Elitist
Color should be fine. Just avoid any tires that have two different rubber compounds. Some tires have hard (fast) rubber in the middle and grippy (slow) rubber on the sides for cornering. That can be unnerving on the track as you will transfer from sides to middle and back based on your speed.
#28
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Color should be fine. Just avoid any tires that have two different rubber compounds. Some tires have hard (fast) rubber in the middle and grippy (slow) rubber on the sides for cornering. That can be unnerving on the track as you will transfer from sides to middle and back based on your speed.
Thanks
Last edited by Not the Slowest; 04-17-14 at 09:00 PM.
#29
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I will be using Conti sprinters for my training/backup race wheels this year.
#30
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Just adding anecdotes:
Just wore through the Sonderklasse II on my 88s. Actually, the front still has life, but the rear developed a small pit (3-4mm) exposing the layer below. I know a lot of you use tubulars until failure, but it seemed like a good time to replace, considering that the season is just heating up. I got considerably more life out of these tires than I expected, doing a ton of racing and training, both indoor and outdoor on these tires. I had one episode where I slipped a couple times during a warm-up on the wood at Carson, but it was such an unusual/isolated occurrence (and during the usual paceline warm-up so speed was fine), that I have to attribute it to some external factor. Highly recommend these tires.
Since I have new set of race wheels for indoor, the 88s have been knocked down to outdoor race wheels (and probably training, since my wife now has my clincher wheels). I decided to save a few bucks and try the Tempo II this time. I think they are virtually the same tire as the Sonderklasse II (Tempo II have a super fine tread pattern).
On the new race wheels (disc/4-spoke), I went with the same Vittoria Crono CS that were the first tires on my 88s. Those did not last very long, as I raced them both indoor and outdoors. But they seemed very fast, and I will only be using them indoors this time around.
Just wore through the Sonderklasse II on my 88s. Actually, the front still has life, but the rear developed a small pit (3-4mm) exposing the layer below. I know a lot of you use tubulars until failure, but it seemed like a good time to replace, considering that the season is just heating up. I got considerably more life out of these tires than I expected, doing a ton of racing and training, both indoor and outdoor on these tires. I had one episode where I slipped a couple times during a warm-up on the wood at Carson, but it was such an unusual/isolated occurrence (and during the usual paceline warm-up so speed was fine), that I have to attribute it to some external factor. Highly recommend these tires.
Since I have new set of race wheels for indoor, the 88s have been knocked down to outdoor race wheels (and probably training, since my wife now has my clincher wheels). I decided to save a few bucks and try the Tempo II this time. I think they are virtually the same tire as the Sonderklasse II (Tempo II have a super fine tread pattern).
On the new race wheels (disc/4-spoke), I went with the same Vittoria Crono CS that were the first tires on my 88s. Those did not last very long, as I raced them both indoor and outdoors. But they seemed very fast, and I will only be using them indoors this time around.
#31
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I do not. I use them until I see the tread is mostly gone in small parts or there is damage, but rarely do I wait until failure ... that could be far more costly than replacing them early. Especially on the track, but even for clinchers on the road.
Racing on end of life tubulars is not a fun way to end a season.
How much life did you get from the crono cs? I just bought two of those to replace mine and I am curious what you got. I will be racing at Alpenrose and Marymoor, so not the smoothest of tracks.
Racing on end of life tubulars is not a fun way to end a season.
How much life did you get from the crono cs? I just bought two of those to replace mine and I am curious what you got. I will be racing at Alpenrose and Marymoor, so not the smoothest of tracks.
#32
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I wish I could give a better answer here. I'm keeping more precise track of this now, but from what I can put together I think I did about 15 events (mostly omniums, a little more than half on concrete). I may have also done a little training on them, but not much.
#33
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I do not. I use them until I see the tread is mostly gone in small parts or there is damage, but rarely do I wait until failure ... that could be far more costly than replacing them early. Especially on the track, but even for clinchers on the road.
Racing on end of life tubulars is not a fun way to end a season.
How much life did you get from the crono cs? I just bought two of those to replace mine and I am curious what you got. I will be racing at Alpenrose and Marymoor, so not the smoothest of tracks.
Racing on end of life tubulars is not a fun way to end a season.
How much life did you get from the crono cs? I just bought two of those to replace mine and I am curious what you got. I will be racing at Alpenrose and Marymoor, so not the smoothest of tracks.
#34
Elitist
I had another inexplicable flat with a Conti Steher today at the track.
I have had set on my training wheels since last year. The front flatted today sometime after my event and packing up to leave. Time to find a new favorite tire.
I guess I should be grateful that it didn't happen while on the track. None of the Stehers ever flatted on the track. Only when hanging on the bike rack. Weird.
I have had set on my training wheels since last year. The front flatted today sometime after my event and packing up to leave. Time to find a new favorite tire.
I guess I should be grateful that it didn't happen while on the track. None of the Stehers ever flatted on the track. Only when hanging on the bike rack. Weird.
#35
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I had another inexplicable flat with a Conti Steher today at the track.
I have had set on my training wheels since last year. The front flatted today sometime after my event and packing up to leave. Time to find a new favorite tire.
I guess I should be grateful that it didn't happen while on the track. None of the Stehers ever flatted on the track. Only when hanging on the bike rack. Weird.
I have had set on my training wheels since last year. The front flatted today sometime after my event and packing up to leave. Time to find a new favorite tire.
I guess I should be grateful that it didn't happen while on the track. None of the Stehers ever flatted on the track. Only when hanging on the bike rack. Weird.
funny after all that the 2 stehers that are mounted are getting really good wear.. so the quality issues are spotty for sure..
maybe I'm not totally giving up on Continental- i am stretching a set of Sonderklasse II
#36
Elitist
I'm seriously considering going clincher for training wheels. What is the current word on that idea? I really liked my Mavic Ellipse when I had a set.
I have a beefy rear clincher wheel that I had made up as a backup being that it takes so much time, energy, and money to get a tubular replaced. I don't have a clincher front though...yet.
Thoughts?
I have a beefy rear clincher wheel that I had made up as a backup being that it takes so much time, energy, and money to get a tubular replaced. I don't have a clincher front though...yet.
Thoughts?
Last edited by carleton; 05-01-14 at 11:59 PM.
#37
Senior Member
I'm seriously considering going clincher for training wheels. What is the current word on that idea? I really liked my Mavic Ellipse when I had a set.
I have a beefy rear clincher wheel that I had made up as a backup being that it takes so much time, energy, and to get a tubular replaced. I don't have a clincher front though...yet.
Thoughts?
I have a beefy rear clincher wheel that I had made up as a backup being that it takes so much time, energy, and to get a tubular replaced. I don't have a clincher front though...yet.
Thoughts?
#38
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Im going to try the Vittoria Pista CS next. I have a set stretching that cost me about $50 each, ordered from the UK..
#39
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#40
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I had a pair maybe 4-5yrs ago and they were totally unimpressive.
the new set has a really nice look- sort of look to be a little narrower profile than the Stehers.. we'll see soon. I'm getting close to needing to mount a rear.
#41
............................
- I've used the Tufo S3 Pro on the track, but never the lite (and I think I have S3 pros on most of my wheels right now). There are apparently a lot of differences among the various "S3" tires, but I know the pro works well, even at Carson. The Lite comes in various colors-- any that aren't black are probably a bad idea in Carson or any other steep smooth wood track.
..............................
- I've used the Tufo S3 Pro on the track, but never the lite (and I think I have S3 pros on most of my wheels right now). There are apparently a lot of differences among the various "S3" tires, but I know the pro works well, even at Carson. The Lite comes in various colors-- any that aren't black are probably a bad idea in Carson or any other steep smooth wood track.
..............................
Thanks
#42
I've never used the tape- I generally use Vittoria Mastik 1.
#43
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no one I know uses tape on the track. glue. Fasttack (which is on the way out, even for me) and mastik are the only two most everyone I ask uses for the track.
I am going to be cleaning off fasttack and going mastik this month for my race wheels. Training wheels still have fasttack, but I am watching them closely.
I am going to be cleaning off fasttack and going mastik this month for my race wheels. Training wheels still have fasttack, but I am watching them closely.
#44
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I have been using Vittoria Pista EVOs on my race wheels for the past 2 seasons. All racing has been on concrete outdoor tracks. My experience has been the same as others, a very nice race only tire... My single complaint with these is that they often don't fully seat at the valve stem when mounting. Due to the removable valve core there is a larger than normal bump at the valve which causes the tire to sit up on the rim. Has anyone else experienced this? Any solutions?
#45
Quinn - any new thoughts about the Pista CS? I'm curious how they stack up to Stehers.
#46
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I'm seriously considering going clincher for training wheels. What is the current word on that idea? I really liked my Mavic Ellipse when I had a set.
I have a beefy rear clincher wheel that I had made up as a backup being that it takes so much time, energy, and money to get a tubular replaced. I don't have a clincher front though...yet.
Thoughts?
I have a beefy rear clincher wheel that I had made up as a backup being that it takes so much time, energy, and money to get a tubular replaced. I don't have a clincher front though...yet.
Thoughts?
araya super aero 16h laced to custom phils. i use vittoria corsa sc tires for the bling.
#47
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Just installed the Pista Evo II CS tires, very nice tubulars indeed. Everyone at my shop was blown away by them, we had a good time trying to get 200psi as a test into them haha. Oh and pressure lasts maybe a few hours, don't even bother pumping them up before you get to the track.
Im pretty paranoid of them lasting, well not at all. Racing this weekend on them (outdoor wood) but thats probably it until Nationals in October (indoor). Kind of wishing I put the Chrono tires on instead, then I could have used them more.
Im pretty paranoid of them lasting, well not at all. Racing this weekend on them (outdoor wood) but thats probably it until Nationals in October (indoor). Kind of wishing I put the Chrono tires on instead, then I could have used them more.
#48
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Ha. Yes, I swear Vittoria uses the thinnest latex possible. My Crono are nearly entirely flat by the next morning. While my Continental Sonderklasse/Tempo (butyl) will lose like 10psi over a week.
#49
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I don't even bother letting the air out of mine after a workout now because I have found that they are down 20-30 psi by the next morning. Nice tires to ride, though.
#50
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I chickened out. Im convinced these tires are made out of fairy dust and unicorn farts and are only going to last a few rotations, so decided to save them.
Track is super smooth though, next time Ill bust them out for the flying laps.
Track is super smooth though, next time Ill bust them out for the flying laps.