In the category of Best Tyres

i had a fucked up dream last night. i bought a continental cycling cap, and then had a dream that hippy was really angry and abusive towards me for doing so. i think i spend too much time on here.

You bought one? That would incur my wrath. RPM was spotted in a freebie one so escaped unscathed.

i do not as it is own any conti tires, schwalbe blizzard sport and maxxis refuse.

was just the cheapest hat i could find...

The conti travel contact I have on the utility bike outside of winter, are bullet proof. I bought them ages ago, as the tyres with the most acronyms. they've outlasted two bikes. Thing is I dont actually like them, they just wont feckin wear out.

I've used Vittoria Rubino, Continental (4 Seasons, Grand Prix 4000, Gatorskins) and Schwalbe Durano Plus. None are rubbish.

The rubinos felt a bit slippery in the wet and had a couple of punctures, but were quite fast.

The 4 seasons felt heavier, with slightly greater rolling resistance, but were grippy and largely puncture proof.

Grand Prix 4000 are possibly the fastest, almost up to if not equal to 4 seasons in puncture protection, plenty of grip.

Schwalbe Durano Plus felt a bit cheap and thin out of the box, but perform like the 4 seasons but with maybe a slightly harsher ride quality.

Schwalbe marathon plus are great, long-lasting grippy tyres that you can skid pretty well. But they are heavy and don't fit under the fork crown of my track bike, so Re-Fuse gets my vote.

vredestein fortezza tricomp

maxxis refuse ftw! coooommmeeeeee ooooonnnnnnn.

Something nice and grippy for the front, fast rolling, etc etc
Money no object, decent in the wet....one catch though.....I want it in 28C, anyone?

Oh and i've tried Bontrager hardcases, get cut up too easily, chunks of rubber coming out of the tyre within a month, want lighter than Rando's, and I think Marathon plus's are a little slow for my liking......

Hardcases are great for the money.... but they skid through in 5 minutes and they are shite in the wet.

Hardcases are great for the money.... but they skid through in 5 minutes and they are shite in the wet.

Yup like I said, been there, done that...in two different sizes, would never buy them again, i'm pretty set on a durano for the back now after good wear reviews, but i'm stuck on a decent 28c tyre for the front that is still good in the wet.

I like Conti SportsContact in 28's.

ducks

Bored one evening I decided to pick the glass out of my Maxxis re-fuse.

By the time I had finished I had enough to melt down and make a wine glass.

I'm quite impressed with their p-nct-r- resistance so far.

I am aware that I have just doomed myself.

i prefer schwalbe stelvios, but i haven't had a single problem with my gp 4 season's great tyres

Yup like I said, been there, done that...in two different sizes, would never buy them again, i'm pretty set on a durano for the back now after good wear reviews, but i'm stuck on a decent 28c tyre for the front that is still good in the wet.

you might have to make a sacrafice and go to 25, although schwalbe stelvios do 28's

Duranos are the new Stelvios apparently, Stelvios renamed it says on Schwalbe's site apparently?

i like the feel of a grippy race tyre and that's why i went for the Michelin Pro 3 Race - i have had them on my Chesini and my Pinarello. but i have also spent a lot of the last 18 months on the hutchinson fusion 2. and have to say i like them though know many do not.

i have also had beautiful tyres during that period. some that have only lasted 200 miles. which is not good.

Durano!

Continental GP 4 Season
Schwalbe Marathon Plus
Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX

In one poll. W T F.

Seriously, very different tyres for very different uses.

None is "best." Define "best."

Grip, rolling resistance, puncture resistance, weight, price, ride quality, surface versatility, durability, even resistance to skidding if you like. No tyre is optimal, any will be a compromise depending on your priorities.

To be honest Gatorskins are a good compromise to my mind for a commuter tyre, or touring on relatively good tarmac roads. They are relatively cheap and relatively puncture-resistant without utterly ruining the tarmac ride quality like Armadillos or being anchors like Marathons. With Marathons you can manage light off-road though which is impossible with Gatorskins. Gatorskins roll better on tarmac. They are not a race tyre and have nowhere near the grip and don't roll so well as the likes of GP4000s from the same company. But then they are cheaper and not sold as such.

What is the objection to Gatorskins?

Ultremos would get my vote for a summer/race tyre. GP4000s also good in this regard but I prefer the Ultremos. Have lost confidence in them with the "R" debacle though.

Currently looking for a 700x25 winter training tyre (to go on winter racer) and a 700x28 or 700x32 preferably slick, lightish, good rolling tyre to go on my commuter... just because I have the space and would like to give it a go.

It was a poll. The entries were by user nomination. It's not a best of category or anything so sensible.

bikeradar -->

The objection to Gatorskins, by the way, is that they are total shit.

i've been riding gatorskins for about 2 years (the same pair) and haven't had a single umm... p.. p... problem, so stick that in your midget hole, hippo.

the grip is pretty crap in the wet though. haven't used many others except for GP4's which I like, so i can't pass judgment. perhaps i should buy something else when these ones eventually cark it.

Same tyres for 2 years.. wow what great mileage you must do badtmy.
Sorry but that's a fail right there runner boy. Come back to me when you're doing more than 5mi a week. :P

I have been riding Specialised All Condition Pro II (note NOT the Armadillo version) and I must say they are jolly nice.

The objection to Gatorskins, by the way, is that they are total shit.

Just in case this isn't clear, Gatorskins are total shit.

The level of grip they offer in the wet can be re-created on your own tyres by coating them in a thin layer of soap.