Thoughts on the best tubular tires for Ironman racing? I was thinking Continental Grand Prix 4000 700x22. Or is there something better our there?
Thoughts on the best tubular tires for Ironman racing? I was thinking Continental Grand Prix 4000 700x22. Or is there something better our there?
Schwalbe Ironman
this thread will undoubtedly get into a whole CRR debate, however I’ve been a long time fan of the Continental Competitions, pretreated with Stan’s sealant and Continental Valve Extenders on my 808’s. I’ve used them at all distances.
Not the lightest or the fastest but quite durable. And the tread pattern just grips like tank treads. I just wish Conti sold a clincher with the same tread pattern.
cheers
S.
Thoughts on the best tubular tires for Ironman racing? I was thinking Continental Grand Prix 4000 700x22. Or is there something better our there?
I went to Shwalbe IM’s this year. The disadvantage over say Corsa evo’s is that I couldn’t find them cheap any where. Best price I got was actually from my LBS and they came in 2 days….about 100$ per tire after club discount.
According to Tom A’s testing they roll very well. In terms of anecdote……hard to say really, they feel like a great tire and after 300km they still look new. Just by looking at the wear so far, they “might” be a little tougher than the corsas.
Maurice
Schwalbe Ironman x22. Very fast (both aero and crr), pretty durable from my limited experience.
FWIW - I did 9 Ironman races mostly on earlier generation Continental Competition GP tubular tires. Never flatted.
By todays standards and knowledge it seems this was not the best choice, but back then ( late 80’s to mid '90’s) we knew know better!
I just switched from Conti Competition to Schwalbe One and have been pleased so far.
BTW, and the One and the Ironman the same tire (without the price upgrade)?
Bike shop swears by the Continental Competition Tubular. What size is the best to get for 180lbs male? 28x22?
That’s what I have used. The 22s actually measure 23ish.
Best by what measurement? Fastest? Most durable? Road feel? Been racing since 1988, the tires I’ve flatted with are Conti GP19 race morning (not during the race)…and Tufo S-3 Lite (in transition at IM California from a volunteer accidentally decking me onto my bike as he stepped in front of me). The only tire I have not flatted with is Vittoria CX, which also have given me the most comfortable road feel/ride. Honestly for most riders it isn’t really going to matter much for 95% of the athletes out there–bigger things like pacing & nutrition will be more of an issue than tire choice or helmet choice for example.
If the competition grips well, it isn’t because of the pattern of the trad, but because of the compound of the rubber.
I can understand the desire for a durable, slow tire when using tubulars, since it is so hard/expensive to replace the tire.
That is a great thing about clinchers, you can use a fast tire, once it is worn a little bit, retire it to trainer duty or training duty. Or if it looks like rain, take the supersonic off and put the 4000S on for extra flat protection.
clinchers 4 lyfe
this thread will undoubtedly get into a whole CRR debate, however I’ve been a long time fan of the Continental Competitions, pretreated with Stan’s sealant and Continental Valve Extenders on my 808’s. I’ve used them at all distances.
Not the lightest or the fastest but quite durable. And the tread pattern just grips like tank treads. I just wish Conti sold a clincher with the same tread pattern.
cheers
S.
Bike shop swears by the Continental Competition Tubular. What size is the best to get for 180lbs male? 28x22?
It is durable, but it is slow as shit.
The schwalbe Ironman and the new Zipp Tangentes are both excellent options.
If you are flat paranoid, run them with sealant.
I think tire choice and pacing are on the same order of magnitude importance really.
Honestly for most riders it isn’t really going to matter much for 95% of the athletes out there–bigger things like pacing & nutrition will be more of an issue than tire choice or helmet choice for example.
What tire size should I be looking at? Are 21s too narrow?
What tire size should I be looking at? Are 21s too narrow?
The new zipp tubie only comes in 24 and 27, I’d go 24.
The schwalbe ironman is 22mm, so, go 22mm if you use that =)
The reason I ask is the bike shop has 700x21 in the Zipp Tangente Tubular that they will sell super cheap to me. I wasn’t sure because of the size being to narrow front and back.
The reason I ask is the bike shop has 700x21 in the Zipp Tangente Tubular that they will sell super cheap to me. I wasn’t sure because of the size being to narrow front and back.
That is the old one, you don’t want that one.
Ok thanks…maybe this is why they wanted to sell so cheap.
if its flexibility you want and durability I am going for Veloflex Arenburg (25mm) this year
.
I’m looking for a fast tire with good puncture resistant.