Best tubular for all-around riding.

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

nutty
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:09 am

by nutty

could low PSI (40-50) increase the chances of getting tubular punctures?

FHKJ
Posts: 57
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 5:42 pm

by FHKJ

Hi there

Off to the Pyrenees in a week and have just bought some new wheels that need tubs. Happy with the process, I'd just like some recommendations as to the best current tubs for roads, climbing and descending.

Obviously, weight an issue (!) but so is a little durability...

Thanks, FJ

PS - I've searched, before anyone abuses me!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Ghost234
Posts: 397
Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:21 am

by Ghost234

I really like the Continental competitions. They seem to be very well equipped as a go anywhere, do anything tub. Very fast rolling, good cornering, very durable. For all but the best tarmac I think they are the best tires widely available.

Evo Corsa's are my favorite race tire in good conditions, but they aren't very durable and aren't very good in wet conditions.

User avatar
sugarkane
in the industry
Posts: 1797
Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:14 am
Location: SYD
Contact:

by sugarkane

Veloflex carbons.. Fast, good protection if at least 6 months old and great in the wet..
Plus they stick like sh@t to a blanket in the dry

angrylegs
Posts: 166
Joined: Mon May 21, 2012 2:32 pm

by angrylegs

sugarkane wrote:Veloflex carbons.. Fast, good protection if at least 6 months old and great in the wet..
Plus they stick like sh@t to a blanket in the dry


+1. Pretty much all I use is Veloflex Extremes, but these are fantastic as well.

User avatar
mellowJohnny
Posts: 492
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:56 am
Location: YYZ

by mellowJohnny

Ted - what did you end up deciding on?

User avatar
LouisN
Posts: 3510
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:44 am
Location: Canada

by LouisN

The only tubular I bought with absolutely no defects are the Veloflex Carbons.

My Vittoria Corsas almost all had too much basetape around the valve hole and it creates a bulge on the wheel. I had to cut the excess portion around the valve to reduce that effect.
(I bought all my tubulars at Ribbles, I hope they don't systematically sell rejected tubs)...

I'm using Challenge criterium 22 tubulars on my everyday wheels now. I must say I'm pleased with the ride so far (800 km). I used them in a very turny criterium in pouring rain, and I didn't feel they lacked grip. They hold air better than the Vittorias, for as long as the Veloflex's.

For Crr values and "better tubular or tire", it all depends on wich protocol you choose to look at. I chose this one, the Veloflex is best (the Gommitalias ARE also Veloflex) :thumbup: : http://ddata.over-blog.com/xxxyyy/0/02/ ... specs.html"

Louis :)

bikeboy1tr
Posts: 1395
Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2013 3:19 am
Location: Southern Ontario Canada

by bikeboy1tr

I have been using Vittoria Rallys for a trainer tire for many years and within the last few years found that the tires dont seat proper around the valve stem until it has a few miles logged on but it really is annoying with the squish noise that it makes upon every revolution. The higher end Vittorias dont seem to have this problem. The Rally is also puncturing sooner then what it used to so I am now trying the Schwalbe Montello out for trainer tire. This tire is certainly as nice riding as the Rally maybe even nicer and I like it so far. The next big factor will be longevity which will hopefully take some time to find the limits of.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=154188
2018 Colnago V2R Rim Brake
2019 Colnago V2R Disc Brake
2014 Norco Threshold Disc Brake
2006 Ridley Crosswind Rim Brake

bman11
Posts: 71
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:07 am
Location: San Antonio, TX

by bman11

Conti Competitions for me. I found the Sprinters to be a little harsh, but very durable.
Just dig in and climb it!!!

bm0p700f
in the industry
Posts: 5777
Joined: Sat May 12, 2012 7:25 pm
Location: Glermsford, Suffolk U.K
Contact:

by bm0p700f

I use the Pave tubs or the Conti sprinters. Both work really well but the ride from the Pave well it is smooth.

padde
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:36 pm

by padde

In my mind "all-around riding" would be training, racing (+commuting to races) in rain or shine on the danish roads and bicycle lanes. People will usually throw the Sprinter at you if you inquire about a durable Tubular tire. I endured about 1½ season of Sprinter mixed with Corsa EVO with many flats and races destroyed (flat frequency about ~1 in 500 kms). I think that most tubulars, also the so-called "durable" ones, are racing oriented and/or light and will puncture (here in DK often by the "the flint") too frequently when used as all-purpose.

chiumomo
Posts: 99
Joined: Tue May 29, 2012 1:38 pm

by chiumomo

Has anyone tried Conti Competition 25c?

Zigmeister
Posts: 938
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:09 pm

by Zigmeister

Ive been using Vittoria Corsa Evo CX exclusively, but the last two tires didn't seem to mold/seat well to the rim bed when gluing and edge were peeling off. Im very liberal and good with gluing, disappointed really and was losing confidence about crits and hard cornering at high speed when they were doing that.

As another poster above, the valve area was a mess and lumpy with rim tape.

Seems like the QC and quality went downhill over a years period, not sure if anybody else has this issue. They seemed to ride and seat very high on the rim bed. Instead of going outward into the rim bed edge, they would sit higher.

Veloflex sound nice, but dang, pricey...
Last edited by Zigmeister on Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

civdic
Posts: 150
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2011 8:58 pm

by civdic

I just mounted up a set of Pave's. Stretched out nicely and went onto my Zipp 303'w without any issues. My Sprinters were brutal to get on even after stretching them for four days.

I did like the fact that the air stayed in much longer in the con ti's.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Geoff
Posts: 5395
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2003 2:25 am
Location: Canada

by Geoff

@chuimomo, I have run the Conti 25 as a rear tire on all my deep Hed wheels. My friends in the World Tour advised that the new, deep rim beds caused pinch flats with 22s. That is why Conti made the 25 as a special 'Team-Limited' tire for a few years prior to producing them for the public. I like them just fine. They are just a fat Conti Comp!

@Zigmeister, one of the things that I have found with post-Italian Vittorias is that the base tapes seem to fit tighter around the valve stem. If you trim the area around the stem with a razor, it seems to seat-in better on the rim bed. As for the other problems, which rim are you running for your crit wheels? I have found some rim beds don't work well with the CX.

@civdic, the Vittoria Pave is a much nicer tire than the Conti Sprinter. Good choice for an 'all-arounder'. The latex tubes are a blessing and a curse. For the pave or pot-holed roads, the pain of the constant pumping of latex tubes pays back big time.

Post Reply