Anyone have tough inexpensive training tires they like (700c clinchers)? I tried flak jacket tires and the sidewall blew out 20 miles into the first ride. The kendas that came with my bike are falling apart after only 2k miles. I don’t care about speed or weight, just about durability/reliability, comfort coming in after reliability.
Has anyone run across a good internet site selling a lot of different tires? All the LBS in town carry just one or two types of tires
They may not fit the inexpensive bill (check the net for a better price), but I think I’m sitting on the best training tires I’ve ever had. These Michelin Carbon Comps have lasted 5k plus miles and I’ve yet to get a flat with them. There are a few nasty marks here and there that don’t grow or tear. I use the 700cX23 and they have good grip and even though they are getting thin, there is still tread left. I suppose these are double what you’d pay for cheap tires, but if you can double or triple the miles, it’s a better bargain. I was planning to replace these mid summer with some Michelin Bi sports (another great option), but they never wore out. I even wanted to replace them to keep the chance of a flat down, but I just keep on going.
They’re not necessarily inexpensive, but I definitely recommend the Conti GP3000’s. you can find them at www.biketiresdirect.com or on e-bay for ~$35 each, or less. I put over 5k miles on my first set before I replaced them, and never once had a flat.
I also like the Conti GP3000s. It seems like I ride over a ton of glass every weekend on the bridges in NW Florida and I have yet to have any of it puncture (of course now that I have said that I’m sure I’ll get a flat this weekend). They are tough and have a nice ride feel to them.
----->Trent
I am a big fan of Specialized Armadillos. They’re a bit heavy and tough to work with (getting them on and off my Mavic rims is a challenge, but they’re quite bombproof. Also a bit expensive, I think they retail around $39, but they usually last far longer than cheaper tires for me.
Hutchinson Excel Kevlar. Super cheap (£13.99 here in UK), heavy, great for worry-free training
A recent 1000-mile, 8 day tour proved a perfect testbed - two guys on GP3000s, two on the Hutchinsons.
Puncture count?
Conti: 12
Hutch: 1
I also recomend the specialzed armadillos. I live in an area that has crappy road conditions, goat heads, glass, etc. These things have never failed me.
Ritchey Pro Slick with the “Fortress” casing. I’ve never had a flat on them. I’ve tested them for a miles and miles. I’ve got numerous cuts in the tread, but not one of them can penetrate the casing.
No flats, and I don’t think I’ll even bother knocking on wood.
-SD
I’ve had success with Continental Gatorskins. They’re cheaper than the GP 3000s and the sidewall seems much more resistant to punctures. They’re not the lightest tire in the world, but I’d rather be out there riding my “heavy” tire than out there changing tubes all the time.