What’s the best clincher tire out there? Looking for something to race on. GP 4000’s?
Don’t know about the best, but Pro2Race have VERY low RR and are very puncture resistant AND are very comfy.
One of the few things that a majority of STers agree upon, Michelin Pro2’s are the best way to go.
Next time use the search function though 
Give the Conti GP4000S a try, they are conti tough, decently light and have a very low RR and mount a heck of a lot easier than PR2, some wheels are very hard to mount PR2’s but I haven’t heard of as many problems with conti’s.
B
you pretty much have all the info you need, but i’ll say itt to. pro race 2. just go pick a color you like and love’em
long time pro2 user, just switched to the new pro3 a month ago or so…every bit as good if not better…give them a shot if you can find them…
How are they to mount? (new PR3’s that is). Any other insight? Feel the same?
I’m a die hard PR2 user (with a narrow Vittoria Evo on front at times) but man they chew up my hands mounting with latex tubes (so 'gotta be careful with the levers)
I have the GP4000 and I do not see why I would change.
Great puncture resistance, which for me is as important if not more important as speed.
Fred.
PR2 for me. I have not had the problem that some have had with difficulty installing. I decided to let my racing set die and put them on my commuter. I have been amazed at how durable they are. I had much lower expectations. Just makes me more confident for next year. I just cant decide if I am going to buy the pr2s or pr3s
t
not bad to mount, however i have about 5000 tube/tire changes to my record over the years…certain rim/tire combinations are sure to be more difficult, but rarely have i ever had to use a tire lever with any install unless its a $10 dollar tire on a super old matrix or similar rim…
I recently read up on some of the MANY past threads about this subject to figure out what to buy for a new bike I’m building up. The Michelin Pro Race tires reportedly have decreased rolling resistance but some people report that they are more prone to cuts and other damage. Continentals don’t test as well for rolling resistance (but I wonder if this is noticeable in the real world) but they are very light and everyone who uses them seems to agree that they are bomb-proof. AND, Continentals can go to a higher pressure which may not be as fast (depending on road surface and rider weight) or as “comfy” but in my experience the higher pressure sure seems do a better job eliminating pinch flats and deflecting rocks, glass, and other sharp road crap.
I only use clinchers for training so saving a few watts on rolling resistance (Michelin) seems like a poor trade-off when you could possibly become stranded somewhere with a slashed tire. I went with the Continental GP4000’s.
Not sure how these compare to “race tires”, but I’ve been using Vredstein Fortezza’s for the past couple of years and have had positive results (once I find something I like, I tend to stick with it). The tires hold to the road pretty well, are pretty resistant to punctures, and last ~1k. Where I don’t know how they stand, is how the fair weight-wise.
Good Luck!
In my experience the Pro2Race are bomb proof. Very high puncture resistance. The only flat I have ever had on them (and I ride on some shit roads) was from hitting a HUGE pothole and the tube popped without damage to the tire.
Jodi
Awwww, Jodi cussed!
I agree, though, PR’s are the shizzle…
Bob
My experience has been that 130 psi or more seems to avoid flats from even the most bone-jarring monster potholes (sometimes these are hard to see or avoid, like when riding in traffic). The Michelins have a max of what, 116 psi?
Pro Race 2 Light (baby blue is the only color) with Latex michelin tubes is the best combo out there. I don those beauties only for races tho’, so it’s a weekly change up from regular tubes and PR2’s.
Keep in mind that if you are going to race with Latex, you’ll need latex tube patch kit if you plan on repairing vs just going with another tube.
SCHWALBE ULTREMO!! I’ve ridden/raced Pro Race’s, and the Conti 4000, vittorias, IMO overall best tire to train AND race on is the Ultremo! Amazing protection, while being light, and fast! I raced on my training tires all last year! Although I TT on ProRace2 Lights (the toothpaste blue ones).
I love the Conti GP 4000 for training, as they have amazing puncture resistance, but they feel slower while racing.
I feel like an outsider going against the curve here, but I’ve always found the PR2s to have only moderate puncture resistance. I use them only on race day because they are smokin’ fast, but I won’t use them for training anymore as I got too many flats. I don’t feel like the roads I ride on are all that rough, for the most part, but I am 195lbs so that might make a difference.
I normally go the pr2 route as well. Last year i used 1 pair all season on my everday wheels and got over 5000 miles before they finally quit. No flats. So this year, went same route since they are so cheap… Two sidewalls blown and one with a cut about 1" in length, so in about a month time (jan) i’ve gone through 3 tires.
So i’m giving the Continental GP 4000 s model a shot, yes not quite the rr of pr2 but hopefully a little better luck.
Ive ran over broken glass more times than i can count with the pr2’s, probably once or twice every single ride. Its amazing what ends up in the bike lanes and its equally amazing how my front wheel seems to gravitate toward things i would prefer not to run over. I think being prone to cuts is something that shouldnt be a concern with these tires.