My 2c of real world experiences......
Caveatsa) All tires used in conjunction with Michelin Latex inner tubes
b) All tires used on "wide rim" technology e.g. HED Ardennes or Velocity A23
c) Always run 95-97psi front and rear (I weigh 72kg)
d) Surfaces ridden on range from perfect asphalt to rough chip and seal and occasional gravel/dirt road.... flat, mountain climbs, switchback descents, high speed descents
e) Roughly 1000km+/- put on each set
Michelin Pro 3 Service Course 23mmOMG how grippy!! And OMG how quickly did these slice up and cut up and puncture, barely lasted 500k...
Michelin Pro 4 Service Course 23mmCurrent tires, not a cut on them even after 1000km+, grip is spectacular especially switchback descents at high speeds and even in the wet, feedback is good (they squeal near their grip limit), puncture free to date and feel fast.
My current "go to" clincher......
Vittoria Pave 24mmVery comfortable, roll well, very puncture resistant (one puncture in two winters a self induced pinch flat trying to bunny hop a huge pot hole at 45km on a rough road pretending to do my best impression of Museeuw at Paris Roubaix....). But they do get lots of nicks in them easily and the green centre strip whilst great when it possesses tread once it goes smooth "slips" on damp surfaces especially climbing.
I consider these a "go to" winter tire albeit one that probably needs swapping out once tread shows signs of wear....
Vittoria Corsa Evo Tech 23mmMediocre. Roll ok, don't seem to cut up as much as the Pave's but seem prone to punctures (4+ over the course of use). The side wall grip whilst meant to be specific to wet conditions actually seem to grip well in the wet and then suddenly "slide out" thankfully my few experiences of this have been with the back tire and have been able to keep the bike upright.
Not a tire I'd purchase a second time round.
Vittoria Corsa Evo CX 23mmThe biggest let down to my mind. Never really inspired on any one front but rather just seem good generally. Roll well and do feel fast, but like the Pave seem prone to cuts and nicks. Only 2 punctures over their time served. Felt comfortable definitely.
Mavic Griplink/Powerlink Combo 23mmDAMN these are fast, especially on good road surfaces!!
Wear well and didn't experience any punctures.
Definately a dry weather only tire IMHO.
Grip doesn't inspire as much as the michelin Pro 4's though.
However in the wet/damp my experience of these is that they are freaking lethal!!! "Slide out" in the front and rear very easily and rear slips on uphill gradients.
A dry surfaces race tire certainly....
Challenge Parigi Roubaix 27mmI had really hoped to test these over the winter, sadly discovered 27mm tires don't fit in my S2
So they are sat in a draw awaiting the chance to be used but would happily sell them (in the hope I could then go get some of the same in a smaller size
)
As for
Continental GP4000s they are next up once the Pro 4's wear out
Regards
David