Pro Race 3's

Triathlon Forum
1

I bought a new PR3 the other week, installed it and all that good stuff. It was on the rear wheel. I hit a pothole, which is not uncommon on some of the roads around here and it destroyed the tire. About 1.5cm of the bead part tore from the tire and then there was about a .5cm slit in the tire. The tube flatted instantly. From one pothole that was not even that bad.

Are the PR3’s not as durable as the PR2’s? My PR2’s have lasted many many miles and never has this happened to any tire I have ever had, even on some crappy bontrager tires I had on years ago.

Should I still stick with the PR3’s or should I find another kind to use?

2

Tough break.

I have a PR2 front and PR3 rear on my training wheels and PR3’s on my race wheels. The PR3’s seem about the same to me. I destroyed a PR2 earlier this year. They are both fast tires with OK toughness. The rough WI roads I ride chew up tires. That being said, I can get 3500 to 4000 miles out of a set. If you want a tough tire, you’re going to have to go to a slower tire.

3

I’ve had no issues with my PR3s. I’d guess you either got a lemon -or, more likely- you hit the pothole just right to destroy the tire.

Steve

4

Thats kinda what I was thinking. The one random pothole got the best of me.

5

I haven’t had great long term wear out of my Pro Race’s but your blowout seems unique- Bad pothole!

6

I’d say it’s simply a bad break. I can get 2600 miles out of the Pro Race 3’s before they loose their roundness a bit. I could get another 1000 miles out of them if I pushed them to their true end of life. The pro Race 3’s are a nice improvement over the Pro Race 2’s. I’d say mount another pair of new Pro Race 3’s and set aside the front tire for the trainer.

7

I got PR3s and the same thing happened to me. I thought it was just a tough break, but others at my bike shop said it’s happened to quite a few people. I’d say 3-4 others. Probably not a large enough sample size, but something to keep in mind in case it happens again.

8
  • 1

Never had a problem.

9

PR3’s suck. From my n=4 experience. I’ve had 2 sets, thinking the first was a fluke. Nope, they all split.

10

I’ve had zero issues with PR2/3’s. On my 3rd set (crits kill tires fast), but I get about 1,5-2K out of 'em. Very good combination of rolling resistance, comfort, grip and durability. Can’t have it all. My other wheels have the Bonty RXL Pros: very fast, but terrible grip (good for TTs/easy road races) and Vittoria Evo CX (good Crr, comfy 290 tpi versions, less grip?). Previous Conti tire user that seemed much more durable, but didn’t roll near as nice as any of the above 3.

11

maybe you installed it wrong, you are kinda dumb… just kidding i love you luke, oh and its because you werent riding with me, my guess is its just a bad break

12

Had a practically new (< 200 mi) PR3 develop a split along the center line at BSLT 70.3. Not bad, no blowout, but bad enough that I replaced it. I know I hit at least one hole pretty hard, and I also have a tendency to run them ~ 5 psi over the rating…

13

I have hit some potholes hard with my pro 3’s and even flatted once from it and tire made it out okay. Think I was told the slice easy but no problems with that either.

14

NO problems here. I blew through a set in a couple of thousand miles and moved them onto my fixie to finish them off. I couldnt believe how many miles of skidding they took.

Not the most durable tire in the world. But they seem to be a good combo,

t

15

+1. No problems. Very good luck with the tire.

16

i found the durability of the pr3s depends a lot on the roads and hazards you encounter in your area. When I lived back East, Pr2s and Vittoria Open CXs were fine. I’ve had too many flats here in CO due to goathead thorns, glass etc. It was costing me a furtune replacing tubes at least once a week. I switched to the Conti GP4000s for training, to me they feel a little sluggish, but the durability is much much better.