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Recommend a 28mm tire thats smooth riding

Old 04-28-21, 11:56 AM
  #1  
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Recommend a 28mm tire thats smooth riding

Out of my 4 bikes that I ride the most I believe only 2 will take a 28mm tire. My 83 Univega Super Strada and 84 Fuji Team are out. They barely take a 25 mm tire
I put a 28mm gatorskin on my 86 Panasonic DX 5000 and it rides great. I'm pretty sure my 87 Ironman Expert will take a 28mm tire but I'm wondering if there's a
better option than Gatorskins that aren't overly expensive?
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Old 04-28-21, 12:03 PM
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If you don't mind blackwall tires, I have heard good things about Soma Supple Vitesse, and they are on sale here for $30 each:

https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/pro...&category=2790

I have a pair of 33mm that I have yet to install, so I don't yet have first-hand experience.
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Old 04-28-21, 12:10 PM
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conti gp5000
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Old 04-28-21, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by squirtdad
conti gp5000
I’ve read conflicting reports on these. Some people say the ride quality is any better than the Gatorskins
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Old 04-28-21, 12:44 PM
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My advice would be to start trying things out. We can tell you this and that, but your definition of a good smooth tire is subjective to your perceptions.

So far I have not really been disappointed by anything. I read a little and then make a choice. Continental makes some great tires. Michelin and Panaracer do as well. Lots of folks like Vittorias and Veloflex in one flavor or another. I personally would never choose a Gatorskin, but they are plenty popular. I have 25mm GP5000 and think they are extraordinary. Some disagree.

The internet will give you information, but can't really tell you what you like. No teacher like experience.
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Old 04-28-21, 12:50 PM
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I've just mounted a set of 28 Supple Vitesse tanwalls on my Mercian after almost a decade of Michelin Pro 23s. I took a ride through upper Manhattan and the Bronx 2 weekend ago and was pleased with the ride.
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Old 04-28-21, 01:16 PM
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The two clincher tires I've really loved over the past year for their smoothness have been the Soma Supple Vitesse (though I have them in 33 and a tan sidewall), and the Veloflex Masters in 28's--- these are great, though I guess Veloflex doesn't make that exact tire any more? Looking at their web site, the Corsa Evo clincher seems to be the closest to the Master. I've really liked all the Veloflex tires I've used, mostly their tubulars...

I really don't love Continental tires, though I rode them for years. And the one set of Gatorskins I tried, well.... it felt like riding on rocks. When people talk about how durable they are, I say "well, they better be!" I ride through Boston city streets, and I feel like with a little care I can avoid most sharp debris--- I still like my supple tires. Life is too short to ride on stiff tires. I wish I felt otherwise, as the price of good tires is by far the most painful part of this hobby....

N
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Old 04-28-21, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by robertj298
I’ve read conflicting reports on these. Some people say the ride quality is any better than the Gatorskins
Interesting. Do you have a link to those reports?
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Old 04-28-21, 01:26 PM
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Panaracer Race A Evo 4.
Michelin Krylion II, though the measured width after mounting more like 26mm.

Last edited by leftthread; 04-29-21 at 10:53 AM. Reason: Added a tire
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Old 04-28-21, 01:48 PM
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I haven't tried them all, but I like the Veloflex Masters and Panaracer (folding) Paselas. The latter are my default tires for mixed road touring and events like L'Eroica, because of their looks, light weight and robustness.

If you have a little more room (like 31mm), the Challange Strada Bianca folding tire is worth consideration as well, IME.
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Old 04-28-21, 02:14 PM
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Another one check off the list are Panaracer Ribmos. I just happened to have 2 that I've had lying around for a few years and finally mounted them a couple of weeks ago. They aren't bad but I will never buy them again. I've used Paselas and Gatorskins and both are nicer than the Ribmos.
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Old 04-28-21, 02:20 PM
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I feel like a salesman, but I love the Zaffiros and Rubinos. Sometimes you can find deals on the Rubino's that bring it to around $18/tire. The Pros are a bit pricey and I haven't tried them in 28s yet.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/14401681842...IAAOSwf4hggXoR

I've never used these but it seems like a decent deal for 3 tires...and it has make an offer.
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Old 04-28-21, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by squirtdad
conti gp5000
Originally Posted by robertj298
I’ve read conflicting reports on these. Some people say the ride quality is any better than the Gatorskins
of course all subjective, but I have had good results....in general these are considered one of the best high performance clinchers. and I would expect them to be better riding than gatorskins

I switched to these from vittoria corsa g clinchers.....28 mm also and rode even a touch better, but I had huge flat problems with those.

also remember inflation and the rim are are factors.

If you really want smooth you can go tubular. I am running some Vitorria corsa control 30m on the same bike I ride the conti gp5000. Have to true the tubular wheelset so will have anothe compare ride later today on the gp5000
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Old 04-28-21, 07:11 PM
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Some of my friends like the Panaracer Gravelking in 28. I'd hardly consider them to be gravel tires at this width, but to me they feel like nice supple road tires.
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Old 04-28-21, 07:15 PM
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I've had a good experience with the Conti Ultra Sport IIs. They're nice and 'round' with good grip and road feel. They're definitely way better than a $20 tire should be.
They've been superceded by the Ultra III, which has a little bit more of a 'city' tread pattern, but the IIs are still out ​​​​​​there.

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Old 04-28-21, 07:27 PM
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Latex tubes also help, in my opinion. I also like the old GP4000's and agree with most of the statements above.
Too, it depends on your riding conditions - I don't recommend the GP4000's for gravel roads...
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Old 04-28-21, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by scarlson
Some of my friends like the Panaracer Gravelking in 28. I'd hardly consider them to be gravel tires at this width, but to me they feel like nice supple road tires.
I personally have GK slick in 26 and love them. Good all rounder. They do measure small (narrow) in my experience, but present a great value. Superior in every way in my experience compared to paselas, and roughly the same price or cheaper.

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Old 04-28-21, 08:47 PM
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I have 28mm Gravel king's on a bike, and they seem like a good ballance between cost, ride and durablity. I'm going to try 32mm's next.
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Old 04-29-21, 12:31 AM
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My friend @ctak loves his GP5000s and has many miles on them. I would certainly consider them. I've had a lot of good experience with Soma Supple Vitesse EX (extra wear tread thickness, same carcass as the lighter SL, EX is still light!) in the 33mm size and find they are around 29-30mm wide on "normal" vintage and semi-modern rims (Mavic MA2, CXPs, Open Pros all at 19-20mm external). Height is about 29mm as well.

Depending on your weight, you can experiment with pressures. This will really help. I'm just below 200 lb and have found, thanks to ctak's suggestion, that dropping front pressure to 65 psi (rear at ~75 psi) is a noticeable improvement over pressure at 70-73 psi. I don't know how the roads are for you there, but in Seattle, there's plenty of pavement breaks and general junkiness that it makes riding smaller tires not fun. Out on country roads is a lot better, but that's a bit of a drive.

I've spent many years with smaller tires and have only in the last month or two finally ridden on something properly large (48mm and 42mm, both 700C, both Soma SV EX tires), and that was a watershed moment. Both 42 and 48mm tires measure small by a couple of mm on the aforementioned "normal" rims, though I'd bump the internal rim width up to run the 48s. 42s measure 38.5mm wide and do extremely well on the CXP21 rims they're mounted to.
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Old 04-29-21, 01:56 AM
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I've got a couple of bikes with the 700x28 Vittoria Corsa G's. So far, I haven't had any trouble with flats, but I know it's all about the road conditions where you ride. If I used them on my old commuting route (back when I was allowed to go in to the office) they'd flat because every tire does on that route. They're a great tire if you don't need something tough. Otherwise, I like Conti's upper end tires. I always loved GP4000s. The only GP5000s I've tried so far are 700x25, but I like 'em. The GP 4 Seasons are nice too. Just be sure to get the Continental GP 4 Seasons, not 4 Seasons Total Landscaping.
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Old 04-29-21, 02:56 AM
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I tried fitting a 28mm Continental GP4000 on my skinny tire bike but they measured 30mm on CR18 rims and rubbed on my fenders. 28mm Gravel Kings are tight but so far so good. I might pick up a 32mm Continental 4 season to go with it, as they supposedly are closer to 30mm actual, and would be a more durable tire to put on the rear wheel, but then I would need to have add a fenderless skinny tire bike to the herd.
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Old 04-29-21, 03:57 AM
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Challenge Paris Roubaix open tubulars are as smooth as it gets but they aren't a budget tire.

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Old 04-29-21, 09:10 AM
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Originally Posted by robertj298
....... but I'm wondering if there's a better option than Gatorskins that aren't overly expensive?
Unless they have changed Gatorskins from years ago = one of the hardest riding tire I have experienced. Maybe it is more flat proof but the sacrifice in ride quality used to be huge. IMHO.

Two rides on the Wolfpack clincher tire has me liking that one for a 23.5mm tire billed as being durable. On sale for $30 @ 1/2 price.
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Old 04-29-21, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Ironfish653
I've had a good experience with the Conti Ultra Sport IIs. They're nice and 'round' with good grip and road feel. They're definitely way better than a $20 tire should be.
They've been superceded by the Ultra III, which has a little bit more of a 'city' tread pattern, but the IIs are still out ​​​​​​there.
I still have the II's on a couple of bikes. They are fast and smooth. The downside for me: more flats after a lot of miles.

Review of the III's: "...the Ultra Sport III still offers the most bang for your buck when we compare it to other tires in the lowest price class."
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance...sport-iii-2020
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Old 04-29-21, 11:15 AM
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Originally Posted by squirtdad
conti gp5000
+1
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