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Experience with Soma Tires and Rims?

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Old 11-24-23, 12:58 PM
  #1  
VRJAKE 
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Experience with Soma Tires and Rims?

Asking for any experience with SOMA tires and rims, considering buying on their Black Friday Sale.

Considering buying a pair of SOMA supple Vitesse EX 700x33 tires. Any experience out there? Compare to Gran Bois or Rene Herse tires?

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/som...attr=3482,4273

Also considering buying a pair of SOMA Eldon rims for a wheel project. Any comparisons, say with Pacenti or other classic silver rims?

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/som...#attr=4098,153
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Old 11-24-23, 01:08 PM
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The Soma Supple Vitesse tires are really great but expensive. Comparable to the Rene Herse and GB tires, made by Panaracer like all of them. I can't comment on the rims.
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Old 11-24-23, 02:04 PM
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The Soma tires have a few positive reviews on-line. the tires are said to be light, comfortable, fast and measure on the narrow side. The $35 price looks like good value.
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Old 11-24-23, 02:10 PM
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Lol I just bought a set of the Eldon rims and Supple Vitesse.

I've used the Supple Vitesse before in 700c by 32 and like them a lot. I think I'd say I like RH more, but I think most of the difference might be in my head, and getting a set for the price of one RH tire is good deal. That said, I've mostly used RH in quite wider tires, the 26x2.3 and 650bx42, which are quite different sizes.

I've never used the Eldon rims, but I'm going to match them with some Suzue Classica hubs this winter.
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Old 11-24-23, 02:19 PM
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The supple vittesse Extralight (I forgot the exact name) are what I bought a while ago, 28c. I like them.
‘they were a tight fit initially. Tire jack tight. The aramid bead does stretch and after a month probably tire levers only if you keep them reasonably inflated.

the rims I know not, I think they were on sale at a tempting price, 490grams…. I really want a rim 40-50 grams less. Might be a daydream.
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Old 11-24-23, 02:36 PM
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At $34.95 for Black Friday pricing (+free shipping over $100) this is seriously nice pricing!

Ps. Anybody know if the Tanaka pump valve Soma sells fits a Silca pump? I'd like to replace the basic push-on presta valve on a spare Silca I have but don't want to pay $90 for another Hiro valve...
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Old 11-24-23, 02:43 PM
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I've had several pairs of the Supple Vitesse on different bikes, both the 32mm and the 38mm widths. Fwiw, I had a pair of the 38mm ones on a new build and was working up some serious disappointment about how that bike as a whole felt. Then I switched to RH 44mm tires, and the bike was transformed in a good way. Ymmv.
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Old 11-24-23, 03:14 PM
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Originally Posted by VRJAKE
Considering buying a pair of SOMA supple Vitesse EX 700x33 tires. Any experience out there?
I have a set of 700x33 EX on one of my bikes. You are welcome to stop by (I'm in Oak Hills), ride it and judge for yourself. This bike has about 23" seat tube.
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Old 11-24-23, 06:09 PM
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I've been using both Supple Vitesse and RH tires on my bikes for quite a while. They both ride sublimely and seem pretty much interchangeable to me. $35 is a great price.
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Old 11-24-23, 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by WGB
At $34.95 for Black Friday pricing (+free shipping over $100) this is seriously nice pricing!

Ps. Anybody know if the Tanaka pump valve Soma sells fits a Silca pump? I'd like to replace the basic push-on presta valve on a spare Silca I have but don't want to pay $90 for another Hiro valve...
It should fit, but you'll need some hose clamps. You can buy Oetiker clamps in Home Depot/Lowes in the plumbing department (for PEX tubing), no absurd costs to Mr. Portner necessary. I had a few of the spring-steel clamps that used to come on Silca pumps, but I recall them being super loose on modern hoses.
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Old 11-25-23, 08:42 AM
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I had Soma Shikoro tires. They must have been a model designed for puncture protection. They rode like rocks, and I didn't appreciate how bad they were until I recently replaced them with 32mm Continental GP 5000 tires. So be sure to choose the model well for your purpose. I'm perfectly willing to sacrifice puncture protection for a good ride.
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Old 11-25-23, 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by WGB
At $34.95 for Black Friday pricing (+free shipping over $100) this is seriously nice pricing!

Ps. Anybody know if the Tanaka pump valve Soma sells fits a Silca pump? I'd like to replace the basic push-on presta valve on a spare Silca I have but don't want to pay $90 for another Hiro valve...
Fyi, silca hiro chucks are only $30 right now

https://silca.cc/collections/black-f...k-black-friday
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Old 11-25-23, 09:08 AM
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morri869 That is a seriously fair price!

For the tires, have the people with the Vitesse tires been happy???

Last edited by WGB; 11-25-23 at 09:15 AM.
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Old 11-26-23, 08:37 AM
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Originally Posted by morri869
Fyi, silca hiro chucks are only $30 right now

https://silca.cc/collections/black-f...k-black-friday
Also on Amazon for the same price if you roll that way. The Hiro chuck is really nice. I think I paid more than that for mine used.
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Old 11-26-23, 09:46 PM
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Originally Posted by noglider
I had Soma Shikoro tires. They must have been a model designed for puncture protection. They rode like rocks....
That is correct. They have an bead-to-bead puncture protection layer, no doubt the cause of the unpleasant ride.
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Old 11-27-23, 08:08 AM
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Not exactly helpful in terms of current sale/availability, but I've got Soma Grand Randonneur SL 650bx42 tires on one of my bikes and I really like 'em (and wish they'd go back into production/stock). Nicer/more comfortable than the GB Hetres on another bike.
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Old 11-27-23, 02:17 PM
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Thanks for all the feedback. Ordered some Supple Vitiesse EX 700x33 tires, enough to get free shipping. Was very tempted on the Tanaka valve, probably should have ordered that too, though the Silca at $30 seems also a screaming deal if you are committed to floor pump inflation for the long term.
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Old 11-27-23, 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by VRJAKE
... if you are committed to floor pump inflation for the long term.
I cannot get any pump, at any cost, to satisfactorily pump for the long term. No matter how much I spend on the pump, my latex tubed (and quite expensive also) tubbies are too low to ride in two days.
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