Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix 4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.
Rod March wrote:> Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase > comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix > 4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also > considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or > suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.
i've had great success in both aspects with michelin & hutchinson road tires. in the wet, i've had huge slashes in the rubber of my hutchinsons and zero punctures. that's experience over the last 4 winters. i'm 205 & ride 23's - can't see any need to change.
"Rod March" <rsmarch@ptialaska.net> wrote in message news:426c55e4$1@news.acsalaska.net...> Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase comfort > and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix 4-Season > and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also considering > switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or suggestions? I am 6'5" > 215 lbs. Thanks.
There's no such tyre. DuraSkin is a kind of (supposedly tough) sidewall material used on some Continental tyres. Examples are Grand Prix 4-Season and Ultra GatorSkin.
Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase > comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix > 4-Season.
Grand Prix 4-season is a good, tough tyre which isn't too far away from the serious racing tyres in terms of rolling resistance. I've used it on unpaved roads without any problems with flats, and I think it should be a good choice for you as well.
Because you're not a light-weight rider, I'd suggest going with 25 or even 28 mm version instead of 23 mm.
Rod March wrote:> Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase comfort > and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix 4-Season and > at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also considering switching > from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. > Thanks. Hi Riding one set Continental Grand Prix 4-Seasons 700x28 for almost a year now. 4000 km (mostly on the road, but in the Alps also on gravel and stones), no problems at all and very comfortable. They "feel" good. I am 6'6'' x 250 lbs. Koert
At your size and weight, you should be riding at least a 700x28 tire,>> if not a 700x32. I'm 6'4", 225 pounds and I'm very happy with the>> Panaracer Urban Max 700x32 for all-purpose road riding. Inflated to>> 110psi, they're very fast and very comfortable. If you want something>a>> little lighter, the Panaracer Pasela is similar, only with a>sliightly>> thinner casing.>
Pasela's are really nice, inexpensive tires, I use them, but I wouldn't>call them a "high-end" tire. If you want to spend the $$ and sacrifice>some durability, you can get tires with lighter weight and less rolling>resistance. I used to spend $40-50 on tires like Continentals, switched>to $12 Pasela's, didn't notice any difference. I don't race, but do a>lot of fast club pace line riding. At 6'10" and 235, I'm ok with 25mm>tires, I used 23's before, never pinched, but 25's are a little>smoother. Pasela's in 28mm are actually 25mm. We have good pavement>around here, for broken pavement or chip seal, I'd probably go to>28-32mm just for the ride quality.
While we're on the Panaracer bent, I'd heartily recommend the T-Serv if you are riding in an area that makes "normal" tires subject to flats. They're really quite light and supple for an "armored tire", much MUCH more so than the Specialized Armadillo, for example. They feel very much like the Conti Gatorskin, but are much less expensive and last longer to boot.
Steven M. Scharf 25 April 2005 18:19:32 [ permanent link ]
"Rod March" <rsmarch@ptialaska.net> wrote in message news:426c55e4$1@news.acsalaska.net...> Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase> comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix> 4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also> considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or> suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.
Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase> comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand> Prix 4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also> considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or> suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.
I think anyone over about 180 LB is probably better off on 25mm tires anyway. 23mm is just a silly tradition. I'm a little lighter than that and even I see the difference. "Big" 23mm are great for me but the skinnier ones are annoying in comparison. So go with 25mm or 28mm. There are plenty of good choices.
FWIW, Performance has 25mm Continental 2000/3000 on sale for $10, and 28mm for $18. Nashbar probably has similar prices. They might not be my very first choice, but for that price you can hardly go wrong.
Alex Rodriguez 25 April 2005 20:45:10 [ permanent link ]
In article <426c55e4$1@news.acsalaska.net>, rsmarch@ptialaska.net says...>
Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase >comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix >4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also >considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or >suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.
Switching to the larger size and making sure your tires are pumped up to the max is the way to go. ------------- Alex
bfd wrote:> If you want more comfort, definitely switch to 700x25. With 25mm wide> tires pumped up to 100-110psi, you will get more air volume and thus> more comfort than 23s. 25s will also provide a larger contact patch> and thus handle better. 25s will arguably have *less* rolling> resistance too!>
I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between> 24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it> doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:>
I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between>> 24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it>> doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:>>
Not many people know this, but that photo was taken at Daytona International Speedway, on the exit from corner 4. Jobst is actually sitting bolt upright - it's the road that slopes, and the camera was tilted to match the angle of the track.
He's got that strange look on his face because they didn't bother to stop the stock car test session while he was riding there, and he hears something loud and fast coming up from behind..
If you want more comfort, definitely switch to 700x25. With 25mm wide> tires pumped up to 100-110psi, you will get more air volume and thus> more comfort than 23s. 25s will also provide a larger contact patch and> thus handle better. 25s will arguably have *less* rolling resistance> too!>
I use 700x25 Avocet Fasgrip SL tires that *actually* measure between> 24-26mm wide. A very comfortable tire that handles well. Hey, it> doesn't hurt Jobst cornering in this pic:>
Not many people know this, but that photo was taken at Daytona> International Speedway, on the exit from corner 4. Jobst is actually> sitting bolt upright - it's the road that slopes, and the camera was> tilted to match the angle of the track. >
He's got that strange look on his face because they didn't bother to> stop the stock car test session while he was riding there, and he> hears something loud and fast coming up from behind..
LOL! But why is the fencepost in the background tilted?
Rod March wrote:> Looking for a high end road tire for rough roads, both to increase > comfort and decrease flats. Currently looking at Continental Grand Prix > 4-Season and at Specialized '05 All Condition S-Works Tires. Also > considering switching from 700x23 to 700x25. Any comments or > suggestions? I am 6'5" 215 lbs. Thanks.
I appreciate the variety of feedback on this issue. From the comments here, it seems like I could justify staying with 700x23s, but it seems like most people are recommending a wider tire.
This comment from Continental's web site on the benefits of wider tires has also influence my leaning towards a wider tire: "Incidentally, whoever uses the GrandPrix 3000 mainly on touring and long-distance events should give the 25mm version a try. The enhanced comfort and additional handling reliability and puncture resistance are well worth it for these type of events."
So, I will probably try a set of 700x25s. Comments have made me consider an even wider tire but I think I will have trouble taking the wheels off without deflating the tires if I go wider than 25's, so there is a convenience factor involved. I've got Shimano 105 Brakes and the 23's that I am replacing only have a little clearance; I think the 25s will just make it and 28s wont quite make it without partially deflating them.
Now the question of brand. Many of the high end tires don't come in 25s or if they do from the manufacturer, you can't actually find them in a mail order store. So that narrows it down somewhat. Bicycling Magazine used to have good comprehensive reviews of road tires, but unfortunately they seem to have stopped doing this. Sorry that no one has experience with Specialized. They don't seem to be very widely available. In the late 90's they had the top rated road tires in multiple reviews. It is their tire that I'm currently replacing and I've really enjoyed their feel where the pavement is good. But unfortunately, our local DOT keeps patching and repairing asphalt with chip seal and the frost cracks here in Alaska are pretty bad.
The Continental Grand Prix 4-season (with Duraskin) sound pretty good as do some of the Panaracers, but from specs, these are two different categories of tires and a big difference in price. My Klein (cheap Klein) originally came with a mid level Continentals and when I wore them out and tried a high-end tire, I found a huge difference in feel that I liked, so I am hesitant to go back to a mid level tire. But my experience is only with 2 specific tires and it was 7-8 years ago that I made the change. So maybe the mid level Panaracers like the Pasela would surprise me as at least one poster suggested.
Still pondering about brands, thanks again for the feedback, Rod.
In article <426f2611@news.acsalaska.net>, Rod March <rsmarch@ptialaska.net> wrote:
<Usenet bris - wider tires for comfort>
So, I will probably try a set of 700x25s.
I was following this threat with interest because I was looking for a little easier ride myself. I decided to try out a set of 700x25 tires.
Previously I had some mid-level Continentals on the bike, I had been looking at Specialized as well.
The LBC had a set of Vittoria Pro Team tires that someone had special ordered but had never picked up. Their loss = my gain.
I finally had a chance to get out on the road last night and was frankly surprised at how much better the ride was. I ride mostly on what we in the South call "Macadam roads" which is gravel mixed with tar. It's a popular pavement in rural areas. Anyway, the new tires really smoothed out the vibration.
Now the question of brand. Many of the high end tires don't come in 25s > or if they do from the manufacturer, you can't actually find them in a > mail order store.
I'm very happy with the Vittorias, and apparently QBP has them in stock. When my LBC orders things from them, they are usually delivered within four days.
The Continental Grand Prix 4-season (with Duraskin) sound pretty good as > do some of the Panaracers, but from specs, these are two different > categories of tires and a big difference in price.
The Continental was my second choice, but it was a jump in price from the Vittoria tires as you note.
Still pondering about brands, thanks again for the feedback, Rod.
Best of luck to you, and thanks for raising this issue just as I was getting ready to buy tires myself.
-- Strayhorn
іExcuse me, brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" - F.Z.
