rkaleda

Looking for a good road tire for my try bike. High quality without getting ridiculously priced. Always ride on pavement, usually pretty dry.

Suggestions greatly appreciated!

datlas 

Continental GP5000? You could go 23F and 25R.

BobsPoprad

If you don't mind compromising a bit of weight and perhaps handling, continental Gatorskins are a favorite of mine. Less prone to flats.
I know, can of worms and all.
Having said that, GPs are good too😁

Iride01 

Right now, GP 5000's are my tire of choice. They ride comfortably and roll very well. And they don't flat. I'm 16 months on a set with no flats. So the $35 each they cost is a bargain. Though they are a little higher now so you have to search for deals.

GlennR

Triathlon or tricycle?

BobsPoprad

Maybe I'll have to try the 5000.

CliffordK

I like the Gator Hardshells for general riding. I think they have quite a bit more longevity than the gatorskins.

If racing, I'd consider a training tire and a race day tire (or wheel set).

deacon mark

Conti GP5000 is the tire of choice for me nothing can compare. I used the 4000s and the 5000 are even better. I now use 25mm but used 23mm. I ride on the road and avoid bad roads but I easily get 5000 miles on a set and so far not much flat issues. One I had was a huge pothole I could not avoid pinch flat, it was a deep hole. I have gone through I believe maybe 2 sets of the 4000's and no flats.

MinnMan

Wow- what kind of surfaces do you ride? As far as I'm concerned, Gatorskins are damned near immortal.

MinnMan

FWIW, I ride 5000s and many in my general riding group do also. They roll great, but when you get the statistics that come from the experience of 20 riders (the group), they certainly do flat. Not that I think they are overlyl prone to it, but if your highest priority is avoiding flats, the Gatorskins are better.

OTOH, as many here will tell you, the ride quality on Gatorskins sux.

ClydeClydeson

Panaracer Paselas are available in many widths and constructions (skin wall/tan wall, wire/foldable bead, flat protection/no flat protection), and roll nice and fast, esp. the non-flat-protection versions, and are relatively inexpensive if you can find a set.

masi61

Can you give us some back story about your tri bike? Like what tires are you replacing? What width are they? What rims do these mount on? How wide is the internal width and/or the outer width? Are you interested in running latex tubes or maybe even tubeless? Are your rims even compatible should you choose that option?

To me there are many, many good affordable clincher tire choices out there. Everybody automatically concludes that flat avoidance is the number one attribute of a "high quality" tire. We kind of need to know what top attributes you look for in your definition of a "high quality" tire. Other than Continental there a plenty of good brands that will work just fine for you.

I have used Michelin Power Race and Endurance, Challenge Strada and Criterium, Continental Grand Prix 4000, Tufo Calibra, Schwalbe One, Panaracer Race A Evo3 tubeless and many others all with good results... If you want "high quality" performance and your rims are older and not tubeless ready I would suggest you use latex tubes and really dial in the ride of your bike by accurately checking your front and rear tire pressure prior to each ride. This requires that you have an accurate tire gauge and a good track pump. When you replace your tires be sure to make sure your rim tape is in good shape too and if in doubt, replace it.

CliffordK

I'm down in miles a bit, but a couple of years ago I was putting about 7,000 miles a year on my bike.

Very few "immortal" tires liked that kind of mileage on the rear.

sw20

Another vote for GP5000!

Symox

Where the heck did you find them at that price?

Lazyass

My newest bike came with Conti Ultrasport II's that you can buy for $20. I was originally assuming I was going to swap them out for something more high end when I got the bike but they rode so nice that I just used them up. If I had been smart I would have replaced them with the same thing but I'm not that smart.

Iride01 

BikeCloset had them for 35 dollars back before COVID hit and still were less than forty during most of 2020 when I looked. UniversalCycles also had them less than 40 bucks a while back too, but not now. Things are going up in dollars as the inventory continues to diminish.

I've either misplaced some of the extra tires I thought I had or I was mistaken thinking I had more on the shelf. I'm going to have to see if I can't beat y'all to the better deals still out there. <grin>

However what I have now will last me well into 2022 maybe 2023 if I don't get any cuts that ruin the tires.

MinnMan

PBK usually has them for near that. Right now $80 for a twin pack (you have to pay for shipping, though).

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​I am so very happy to pay for tires more often to get out of having to ride 7,000 miles on Gatorskins!!

Symox

I’ve been very happy with Gatorskins in 28 size at lower pressures (85 rear/65 psi front). The ride quality seems quite good on decent roads, especially on curvy hills. I don’t like the Gatorskins ride quality at higher psi though. I really don’t worry about flats anymore which is fantastic.

that said, I want to give the gp5000 a try if I can find them someday.

vascof1

A vote for the Pirelli PZero Velo tires. Good alternative to the gp5000s.

canklecat

My favorite for the past couple of years has been the Continental Grand Prix Classic, with the reddish brown skinwall and package photos of the two very stern German women who, presumably, hand made my tires. I ride them dutifully and responsibly.

Seriously, tho', when the price was around $30 they were an outstanding value. Prices have gone up over the past year and at around $40 or so it's still a great tire but not an outstanding value.

It's a nice compromise between racy but somewhat fragile or fast wearing tires, and lead filled garden hose like Gatorslugs. Raised center tread for longer wear. Minimal puncture shield. Grippy including in the wet. Long wearing and reasonably cut resistant. Supple, plush, etc., especially with latex tubes. And they look good, if you like skinwalls.

Only drawback is they're 700x25 only, no x23 or x28. To fit my older steel bike I have to first run the tires for awhile on another bike to wear down the tread just enough that it won't rub the rear brake calipers. The tire will clear when dry and clean and the rim is perfectly trued. But any road grit will immediately rub the rear brake calipers. I supposed I could file down the brake calipers or install another brake set. But, nah, I'll just ride them for awhile on my newer bike, then swap over to the old Ironman. However, no problem clearing the chainstays on any of my road bikes, all of which were primarily set up for 700x23 or narrower tires.


You WILL enjoy these tires. Or else you will answer to these stern women who handmade these tires.

ls01

Currently testing on a pair of Panaracer raced Evo 3 tyres. 120 miles so far I have to say I like them. Very similar rolling resistance to gp5000. Very nice riding Tyre.

jaxgtr

Or concrete tires, same ride quality as the Gatorskins

I've been riding the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR and have the P Zero Race on my non TLR rims...really nice tires.

cave12man

Another vote for GP5Ks!