Anti-Puncture Tyres At-a-glance

Any recommendations for tyres suitable for the white gravel of l'eroica?

I'll be riding on Mavic MA-2 rims 13mm width so Sheldon says tyres should be 25 max (ideally).

I rode on a different bike with wider rims last year so would be grateful for any suggestions. I was going to go for Pasela Tour Guards but have read that they're not so good at 25. Vittoria Paves seem to be popular but are quite pricey.

Cheers!

Has anyone here used Continental Grand Prix (not 4 Season) tyres in the 28mm size?

I'm interested to know how large they actually measure to see if they'd likely fit my Concorde.

28c is usually the max you can go, I'd be more worry about the brake clearance rather.

**Conti Gatorskin Hardshells Vs Bonty RaceLite Hardcase...?
**
Thoughts/opinions/etc?

My own experience says that Gators roll much much quicker, but the Bonty's have superior puncture protection and more grip in the corners.

I am conflicted.

I've not used the Gator hardshells, but I've never had a problem with Conti's in the past. I much prefer Re-fuse for a 23c option.

Whichever you want, they're tyres.

Go for the cheapest.

Unrelated to the above post. I've been using my halo twin rail courier berlins for well over a year now and have had one puncture so far (the first day of fitting them after riding over a broken bottle hidden by leaves). They seem to be lasting well too, I reckon there's a few months left in the rear and more in the front. The handling is really dodgy to begin with for some reason but it's great now, really grippy. Just my experience of them, I know the cheaper ones get a bad rap, but the berlins seem great!

I punctured using a standard gator....Because I had skidded the whole way through it without realising. Go for a hardshell - you'll forget about punctures altogether as you won't get one!

Congratulation on not receiving many puncture ltc, you must be very excited by this promotion., I sincerely hope you will go very far in life, I wish you the very best.

Cheers edscoble! Means a lot.

I searched but I couldn't seem to find anything... Does anyone have an idea of how the Halo Berlin Courier 700x24 fits in comparison to Gatorskin 700x23 for tight clearances? I have a few millimeters with the Gatorskin on the front under the fork but I'm exactly sure if the Berlin's are much bigger than that or no? (Basically yes or no question)

It would be crap to buy and then find out they don't fit.

It wouldn't be providing you have the original invoice for a refund.

I searched but I couldn't seem to find anything... Does anyone have an idea of how the Halo Berlin Courier 700x24 fits in comparison to Gatorskin 700x23 for tight clearances? I have a few millimeters with the Gatorskin on the front under the fork but I'm exactly sure if the Berlin's are much bigger than that or no? (Basically yes or no question)

It would be crap to buy and then find out they don't fit.

Do you need to stick a Berlin on the front? How many punctures have you had using a Gatorskin as a front tyre?

23 is pretty uncomfortable, which would make sense.

But it's only 1mm, and tougher side-walls/thicker puncture protection layer, so likely to be less comfortable.

I haven't had any punctures on the Gatorskin, I just wanted to try out a different set of tires to see which one I like more as I've only had Marathon Plus 32c on my old bike and never got a puncture so I stuck with the same tire. With this bike I was in a rush as I need tyres to ride it home from buying it so bought gatorskins. Maybe I'll be reasonable and just wait until I need to replace the tires and then try them out.

And I'm more of a shop online kind of person so fair enough about returning but it's a pain in the ass online and I'd rather avoid.

Also I like matching tires, front and back. Is that wrong?

I'll stick to the gators for now. I have very little experience with them but looking at them they look slick and not so great for winter? Next thing you know I'll be looking for studded tires, but that's for another thread....

But it's only 1mm, and tougher side-walls/thicker puncture protection layer, so likely to be less comfortable.

Also I like matching tires, front and back. Is that wrong?

Possibly. I try to stick a more puncture resistant tyre on the back. Something more comfortable on the front.

For the front tyre, you can really have either of gatorksin or bontrager, doesn't really make a difference as they are pretty good with punctures, (as edscoble said, go withthe cheapest) the rear I'm using hardshell gatorskin 25 (for comfort) and its been a month an i've skidded through them easily, but that just me, if you skid alot then i recommend soma tyres, they apparently last the longest for skidding and for puncture resistances! but if your gear/SS 23 gator at the front and 25 at the back! =)

You really got to stop skidding like a loose duck on ice.

I have Grand Prix 4 Seasons for a year on my brakeless bike, if you're burning through tyres, you're doing it wrong.

You really got to stop skidding like a loose duck on ice.

For the front tyre, you can really have either of gatorksin or bontrager, doesn't really make a difference as they are pretty good with punctures, (as edscoble said, go withthe cheapest) the rear I'm using hardshell gatorskin 25 (for comfort) and its been a month an i've skidded through them easily, but that just me, if you skid alot then i recommend soma tyres, they apparently last the longest for skidding and for puncture resistances! but if your gear/SS 23 gator at the front and 25 at the back! =)

A 25 gatorskin hardshell would last me 3 months riding brakeless. You need to learn to slow down with your legs, not just skidding. Soma Everwear are meant to be good, but apparently have quite high rolling resistance and don't last as long as hardshells, however they can come with yellow sidewalls which look like gumwalls and therefore awesome. Doktor P has started using Panaracer Ribmo's now and rates them highly. Lasted longer than a Marathon Plus and Vittoria Rando already

I'm currently of the view that I will probably get a puncture whatever I ride and so am looking at just getting a cheap set of tyres, probably one of these,

Schwalbe Lugano
Schwalbe Blizzard
Vittoria Rubino
Continental Ultra Sport (Although I have heard that this is pretty shocking in every respect and so will probably steer clear)

Anyone had any experience of any of these, want something with decent all weather grip really.

Or is it worth paying more and getting some GatorSkin Hardshells or something similar?

Pay more.

I personally go for Maxxis Re-fuse and haven't had a puncture in months.

I've heard bad things about Rubinos. Getting tyres that cheap is a false economy.

Either pay more for quality puncture resistance road tyres, or pay less for touring tyres (that's thicker than the Elephant Man's skin).