Opinion Needed: Best tubular tire for the $?

Triathlon Forum
1

I am going to be putting some new tires on a Hed 3 front and Hed disk and want some opinions on tubular tires. These wheels are going on my triathlon bike and they are 650c wheels. They will mainly be used for short course triathlons. What is the best tubular tire and also the best one for the money? The Continental Competition and the Tufo S3 Lite seem to be pretty good.

Also, what is the difference between 650x19mm(3/4) and 650x21mm(1) other than the width of the tire, being more aerodynamic, lighter, and probably a harsher ride with the smaller tire? What is the reasoning or purpose for the different size tires?

~Travis

2

Tufo S3 lite is the best for the money. I run 19 in the front and 21 in the back.

3

I second Bones vote and also gives two thumbs up to the TUFO Jet Special, which are glued on my race wheels right now.

4

Ditto to Bones. Also the regular S3, if you have road issues.

-Robert

5

I use continental 23 mm sprinters, front and back. If it is good enough for Hincapie and the Postal TTT crew (tradeoff between speed and puncture resistance), then it is good enough for me. I believe that Cobb and Steve Hed actually did a study some time ago and the 23 mm tubular actually worked better aerodynamically with some of the deep rims wheels, such as the HED CX (which is what I use in the rear).

6

Thanks for the feedback! It looks like Tofu’s are the way to go.

~Travis