I've been debating on buying a set of Zipp 303 firecrest and I planning on running 25mm tires for a comfy ride, I've searched for 25mm tubular tired I've come up,with these 3, anyone have a preferences to these three brands?


http://www.vittoria.com/en/product/cotton-tires/#

http://www.veloflextires.com/veloflex_roubaix_tubular2.htm

http://www.contionline.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/race/tubularroad/competition/competition_en.html (seems harder to find)

I tried the vittoria's in 25 and they were good.
The Veloflex Roubaix is a very nice tire too. 6/9 bar pressure. I used those as well and they come out a bit more narrow as compared to the vitto's. The roubaix's are more designed to run at lower pressures - they do roll great but for a pure road tire i'd go with the vitto.

Forget the Conti's

The Vittoria's are nice: But way to puncture prone... I prefer Conti's, because of their best overall performance (puncture resistance, rolling resistance and price).

I'm riding Continentals only for the last 4 years and had never a single flat on the road , and I'm talking 50.000 + miles. I used the Sprinter, Gatorskin, GP 4000 and since available the Competition in 25mm and they are by far the best and changed the ride feel to a Cadillac. They also fit perfect to my wider HED wheels. I also would like to mention that I only ride carbon tubular wheels and don't have special wheels for training, like clinchers.

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Pfeiffer's Rennrad Camp and Cycling Coach
Independent HED Wheels/Powertap Dealer

So it between the veloflex & competitions

Veloflex

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Wilier Cento Uno
Colnago Master X-light
Wilier 18carati

Unfortunately the Vittoria vs Veloflex arguments are more often than not based on brand loyalty. I for one would be genuinely interested how the Vittoria Pave (24mm) stacks up against Veloflex' Paris Roubaix (between 24 and 25mm apparenty).

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Bikes: Raceur, Beateur

Do yourself a favour and get the Veloflex
Roubaix, if you like skinwall - Arenberg, if you prefer all black

shiny, it would be great if you could go into some detail about your recommendation -- particularly regarding protection from cuts and punctures. Cheers.

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Bikes: Raceur, Beateur

I'd say the vittoria pave get cuts easier than the veloflex roubaix but neither actually puncture easily. The roubaix rolls better so between those two, I would take the veloflex roubaix. For normal roads I'd take the CX II. For 22 or 23mm tires, the Veloflex Carbon.

what strobbekoen said.

the Roubaix/Arenberg is everything you could want in a tire - grippy wet or dry, supple and they certainly seem to be harder wearing than the Vittoria's

Interesting about the puncture protection. Does the Paris Roubaix / Arenberg have a protection strip as well, like the Pave? I thought the latter might be better for that reason.

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Bikes: Raceur, Beateur

Ensure you will have enough clearance in your frame. Sounds like a wide combo.

Will a tubular tyre stretch on a wider rim like a clincher would ?

Yes it has a protection strip - not sure if it's kevlar though

No. A tubular tire is a self contained pressure vessel. It will measure the same regardless of the rim.

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