Re: Best 28C tire?
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 11:24 pm
My 2c, from tyres I've used personally:
Challenge Parigi Roubaix open clincher: I've got 3000km on a pair and yes, they are fragile. After a few punctures in my first couple of rides I chucked in some mr tuffy liners and have only had one flat since, from a goats head thorn through the sidewall. The liners lower the ride quality a bit, but they're still better than a tyre with built in kevlar strips or such, a la gatorskin. These ride beautifully (even with tyre liners) and measure out to 29mm on dt swiss 1.1s. Also really nice on gravel and even single track
Continental Gatorskin: ride is okay. Better than most puncture proof tyres, but obvs not as supple as a gp4000 or the like. Puncture protection is outstanding. I also use 25s on my commuter and I average one puncture per 1500km or thereabouts on some really shitty Sydney roads. Some people complain about their grip in the wet, but I've never really had an issue except on my fixed gear.
Maxxis detonator: can't comment on the ride quality as these spent most of their time deflated from punctures.
Schwalbe Ultremo ZX: I have a brand new set waiting to go on my bike this weekend, will report back after a few hundred kms.
As for fatter than 28: I've never used grand bois, but really want to try them out as everyone raves about them. Schwalbe Kojaks are great, supple, reasonably puncture-resistant, and super-fat. Vittoria Randonneur Hyper (changed name to something else now) are really good too. Hypers and Kojaks are both really fast for such a fat tyre.
Challenge Parigi Roubaix open clincher: I've got 3000km on a pair and yes, they are fragile. After a few punctures in my first couple of rides I chucked in some mr tuffy liners and have only had one flat since, from a goats head thorn through the sidewall. The liners lower the ride quality a bit, but they're still better than a tyre with built in kevlar strips or such, a la gatorskin. These ride beautifully (even with tyre liners) and measure out to 29mm on dt swiss 1.1s. Also really nice on gravel and even single track
Continental Gatorskin: ride is okay. Better than most puncture proof tyres, but obvs not as supple as a gp4000 or the like. Puncture protection is outstanding. I also use 25s on my commuter and I average one puncture per 1500km or thereabouts on some really shitty Sydney roads. Some people complain about their grip in the wet, but I've never really had an issue except on my fixed gear.
Maxxis detonator: can't comment on the ride quality as these spent most of their time deflated from punctures.
Schwalbe Ultremo ZX: I have a brand new set waiting to go on my bike this weekend, will report back after a few hundred kms.
As for fatter than 28: I've never used grand bois, but really want to try them out as everyone raves about them. Schwalbe Kojaks are great, supple, reasonably puncture-resistant, and super-fat. Vittoria Randonneur Hyper (changed name to something else now) are really good too. Hypers and Kojaks are both really fast for such a fat tyre.