I’m curious as to what clinchers everyone’s riding for racing and training. Up until a few months ago I was training and racing on Conti GP3000’s. I wasn’t crazy about the ride or the handling, but I never had a flat in over 3000 miles on these. At the recommendation of my LBS I tried a set of Vittoria Open Corsa CX’s. Very comfortable tires, even at 140psi, but one rear got a large cut within 150 miles. It’s replacement let me down big-time at Wildflower- flat at mile 48 and then shredded on a pothole at mile 52.5. I honestly don’t think that pothole would have phased the GP3000’s. I think I’m fed up with a tire that’s that finicky, so I’m looking to try other tires. Recommendations?
I have only ridden the old michelin axial pros but man those are some seriously fast, grippy, awesome tires… definately were not long lasting though… from what I hear, the new ones are just as fast but tons more durable… if that is true I would definately go with those…
right now I have some heavy ass, low tech tires with a kevlar belt in them… trying to avoid those nasty flats…
I have to say I am amzaed that you never even had a flat for 3000 miles…
I use Michelin Pro Race clinchers as well. They are great riding tires, but not the most durable. It’s not that they puncture easily, but the tread gets little cuts and chips rather easily. When I was using them for racing and training I was buying a lot of them as I wasn’t comfortable racing on a tire that wasn’t pristine. Now that I only use them for training, I’m fine letting them get pretty torn up. It is a pretty pricy training tire though. (For racing I’m now using tubies)
As far as tire reccomendations go, one man’s trophy is another man’s @hit!!! With that being said, I can make some reccomendations: 1st. If your bike is a 700c, some of the Ritchey WCS Pro Race Slicks have proven to be an awesome tire, but they do not make them in a 650c. Secondly, the Hutchenson Carbon Comp, has also proved itself among my close circle of friends. One Junior rider got 5k out of a pair!! The Mich. Pro Races are also a great tire, but more costly than the aformentioned.
Open Corsa CX on all my bikes…tubular and clincher. (and the yellow “King Mario” looks great on the Litespeeds)
Hutchenson Gold . They get looking like heck but seem to wear forever
I agree on the Open Corsa CX’s. I have been running them on my bike now for about a year with only one flat due to puncture (several flats due to failure of the tube/valve stem connection though–if anyone knows how to prevent that, please let me know). I run mine at 130 PSI–maybe you are overinflated at 140. But, the Kevlar belt seems to prevent puntures and provide reduced rolling resistance. Used Vredestein Fortezza TriComps before the Vittorias. Not at all cut resistant and the sidewalls kept unraveling–I was trailing little strings all over the place, but a good ride.
maybe you are overinflated at 140
I’ve ridden them at 140 before, just to see what they felt like, but I agree that 130 is a more reasonable pressure. I was racing them at WF at 130. The only thing I can think of regarding the pothole damage is that when I re-inflated the tire after the first flat the CO2 cartridge didn’t get it as high (maybe 100-110) which could have made it more susceptible to damage. Although, this wasn’t a pinch flat, it was literally a flap torn out of the contact patch of the tire. Thanks to all for the feedback. It sounds like there are some that really like the Open Corsa CX’s, and maybe I’ve just had a run of bad luck with them, but at $60 a pop and having to replace them after only a few hundred miles I have a bad taste in my mouth.