Race Clincher Tyre

[sawyer]

Turbo Cotton with latex is obviously the fastest, if more expensive and fragile

If going Conti (and it's a good choice) then as a faster alternative to the GP4000S2, consider the Supersonic (much thinner) or the GP Force (24mm and a fraction thinner)

[oldturd]

Looking for Turbo Cottons myself.. can anyone recommend good vendors?

[tochnics]

turbo s are nice
cannot recommend them for durability
they seem to cut easy

[c60rider]

The only downside to the GP4000s is perhaps a very slightly less supple ride than other tyres. But this is more than made up for with puncture resistance, wear, grip and low weight. If using alloy wheels then coupled with latex tubes would improve the ride feel. With a C17 rim then a 23mm is the optimum for racing. A 25mm ends up with a lightbulb effect so although it may be more comfortable isn't faster. I don't think you can call it a racing rim if the inner is wider than that.

[cmcdonnell]

Got a set of Specialized Turbo Cottons 24mm's on at the moment and have done over 2000 miles so far. They come up at 25mm on my 17C Bora's. They feel lovely. Very smooth and much better on all surfaces than my go to GP4000’s and also feel more comfortable at the same time.

Also tried Michelin Power Competitions but didn't like them for various reasons and also Specialized S-Works.

I only use 23 (24) mm tyres which always seem to come up between 24 and 26 mm on the 17C Bora's.

[morganb]

The only downside to the GP4000s is perhaps a very slightly less supple ride than other tyres. But this is more than made up for with puncture resistance, wear, grip and low weight. If using alloy wheels then coupled with latex tubes would improve the ride feel. With a C17 rim then a 23mm is the optimum for racing. A 25mm ends up with a lightbulb effect so although it may be more comfortable isn't faster. I don't think you can call it a racing rim if the inner is wider than that.

There are plenty of racing rims with substantially wider internal widths, the newer Roval wheels, ENVEs, Bontrager Aeolus. I don't think I regularly ride any wheels under 19.5mm internal width any more.

[Torchy]

Continental Grand Prix 4000s

same for me - quality tyre.

[TiCass]

My wheelset in 27mm external and 19mm internal... should I buy 24mm or 26mm Specialized Turbo Cotton?

[romalor]

26 mm
even pros use 26 mm on wide rims
not less aero and better rolling resistance

Specialized 24 mm are more like 23 mm from others brands
Specialized 26 mm are more like 25 mm from others brands

[c60rider]

The only downside to the GP4000s is perhaps a very slightly less supple ride than other tyres. But this is more than made up for with puncture resistance, wear, grip and low weight. If using alloy wheels then coupled with latex tubes would improve the ride feel. With a C17 rim then a 23mm is the optimum for racing. A 25mm ends up with a lightbulb effect so although it may be more comfortable isn't faster. I don't think you can call it a racing rim if the inner is wider than that.

There are plenty of racing rims with substantially wider internal widths, the newer Roval wheels, ENVEs, Bontrager Aeolus. I don't think I regularly ride any wheels under 19.5mm internal width any more.

The fashion in recent years is to go wider and that is the perception for a lot of the consumers that wider is faster. Only if coupled with the right tyre. A C15 with a 23mm tyre is no different than a C17 and a 25mm if comparing the profile of the tyre and rim. Too wide a tyre on a rim causes it to lightbulb so losing the aerodynamic effect. Which is why a 23mm Conti or Vittoria (measures at 25mm+) fits so well with a C17. A Conti/Vittoria 25mm (which measure over 27mm) starts to lightbulb. But then you can start to mistake larger tyres having a greater volume of air in them, thereby being able to run them at lower pressure and that being more comfortable and feeling faster. So for training comfort is possibly the priority over speed so a bigger tyre is always better but if it's outright speed you're after, and if you're racing that's what you want, then comfort is sacrificed a little for the aerodynamic benefits. Otherwise you would see the pros running 40mm tyres and mountain bike rims at Paris-Roubaix. They only really go up to 26/28mm tubs but then you can't compare clinchers and tubs at all when it comes to rim width and the effect on tyres. Rim width has no effect on how wide a tub is but has a huge effect on the profile of a clincher. Bigger internal width of rims need bigger tyres to maximise those aero benefits.
This article that's been used here before explains it far better than I ever can https://intheknowcycling.com/2016/04/03/best-wider-road-bike-tires-wheel-sizes/
I think the differences we're getting with a certain rim width, tyre width, pressure and so on are far less significant than the manufacturers would have us believe. Anything to get us to buy the latest as if what we're currently using is now no good.

[spdntrxi]

Turbo Cottons with latex tubes! they come in 24 and 26. I raced the 24s on my 4.5s all year. No flats, cuts, and high miles.

Yep ... my setup exactly

[kgt]

Veloflex

[themidge]

+1 for veloflex
I've had my master 25s for a few months now and they've been great. I don't know if they are but they certainly feel faster than the tyres I had before (hutchinson equinox 2)

[rossjm11]

S-Works Turbo Cotton 26mm, you will not regret it

[mpulsiv]

The only downside to the GP4000s is perhaps a very slightly less supple ride than other tyres. But this is more than made up for with puncture resistance, wear, grip and low weight. If using alloy wheels then coupled with latex tubes would improve the ride feel. With a C17 rim then a 23mm is the optimum for racing. A 25mm ends up with a lightbulb effect so although it may be more comfortable isn't faster. I don't think you can call it a racing rim if the inner is wider than that.

There are plenty of racing rims with substantially wider internal widths, the newer Roval wheels, ENVEs, Bontrager Aeolus. I don't think I regularly ride any wheels under 19.5mm internal width any more.

The fashion in recent years is to go wider and that is the perception for a lot of the consumers that wider is faster. Only if coupled with the right tyre. A C15 with a 23mm tyre is no different than a C17 and a 25mm if comparing the profile of the tyre and rim. Too wide a tyre on a rim causes it to lightbulb so losing the aerodynamic effect. Which is why a 23mm Conti or Vittoria (measures at 25mm+) fits so well with a C17. A Conti/Vittoria 25mm (which measure over 27mm) starts to lightbulb. But then you can start to mistake larger tyres having a greater volume of air in them, thereby being able to run them at lower pressure and that being more comfortable and feeling faster. So for training comfort is possibly the priority over speed so a bigger tyre is always better but if it's outright speed you're after, and if you're racing that's what you want, then comfort is sacrificed a little for the aerodynamic benefits. Otherwise you would see the pros running 40mm tyres and mountain bike rims at Paris-Roubaix. They only really go up to 26/28mm tubs but then you can't compare clinchers and tubs at all when it comes to rim width and the effect on tyres. Rim width has no effect on how wide a tub is but has a huge effect on the profile of a clincher. Bigger internal width of rims need bigger tyres to maximise those aero benefits.
This article that's been used here before explains it far better than I ever can https://intheknowcycling.com/2016/04/03/best-wider-road-bike-tires-wheel-sizes/
I think the differences we're getting with a certain rim width, tyre width, pressure and so on are far less significant than the manufacturers would have us believe. Anything to get us to buy the latest as if what we're currently using is now no good.

What aerodynamic effect? Per data from wind tunnel, wider tire (e.g. light bulb effect) is sure-footed with less rolling resistance, lower tire pressure is ~1 watt slower. Unless you are a Cat 1/pro chasing podium, ~1 watt is utterly meaningless. Every time you pull a water bottle out and take a sip, you penalize yourself with ~ 15 watts.

Keep in mind that, 95 % of road cyclists don't even race! I find it humerous as to why riders mimic pros and train on pure race machines with deep carbon wheels and narrow tires.