SD,
In your signature, you are a rep for Tufo and Zipp. In light of all the recent threads regarding Rolling Resistence on the Tufo’s, I thought I’d ask your opinion.
For example, what tires are you riding and why? Do you prefer one tire over the other? Do you have any insight on the RR conversation?
Thanks,
Mike
Bump
.
Bump… This certainly deserves more notice than the “Purple Menace” thread…
I’m glad you asked, I’ve learned however that when I speak about a product I sell, people typically see it as a mouthpiece for that companies sales department, and that I couldn’t possibly have a genuine honest opinion.
I use:
Tufo S3 Pros
Tufo S3 HiCC Lite <215s
Tufo S3 Lite <135s
Tufo S3 Lite <125s
&
Tufo Elite Road
on the wheels I’m currently riding. I’ve also got a pair of Continental Competition 25MM wide tires I do rough road races and dangerous/wet crits on.
I have a set of Zipp tires on my 999s, but I’ve never ridden the wheels with those tires on them. I had some S3 Pros on them when I raced the disc last. I’ve never used the front 999 as I have a H3C I’ve been riding that I need to sell. Since I use the Zipps for selling as well as riding, I’ve let Demerly borrow my 999s recently and had him glue up the Zipp tires “triathlete” style so they could be changed. I’ll use them June 11th-13th at our District Championship/National Qualifier on the track.
I’m a huge fan of the S3 Lite HiCC <215 tires as they last forever, have great grip, even on a 50 degree wood track, and are very light usually around 200-205 grams. The Elite Roads are a close second, but most consumers think that 23mm is a bit wide for a tubular and they are $100 retail so they don’t sell nearly as well.
I’ve ridden tubulars for 15 years and have flatted every Vittoria I’ve even ridden. I’ve never worn one out. They may coast downhill a bit faster than the Tufos, I’m not so bold as to put my name on such comparisons. I will say I can’t feel any difference between my favorite S3 Lite HiCC <215 and the CX/CG combo I used for years, unless you run them at MAX pressure, then the Tufos ride much worse than the cotton cased Italian tires. I run Tufos around 100-120 psi depending on road conditions, 120-145 on the track.
I’ve done hundreds of flying 200s and other short timed TTs on the track. My fastest 200 is on Vittoria, my fastest Kilos have been on Tufos as have my fastest Pursuits. This I don’t use as evidence in making such tire decisions, I just think thats what I happened to be using when I had a good day.
I’ve lost at least 4 races because I’ve flatted a non-Tufo tubular. Just last year at the infamous Cadieux Cafe crit over Labor Day I punctured a Conti and dropped out of a breakaway. I’ve also ridden in on a flat at the old Holland Road Race in a break I could have won. I flatted and limped in for 8th. I flatted at the Willow TT in 2002 as well, again on a non-Tufo resulting in a DNF.
I guess the only comment I’d make with certainty is that you’ll seldom win on a flat tire (Olano’s Worlds’ notwithstanding) so I ride the tires I don’t flat. Most of my races aren’t won in rolling resistance contests down hills. Most of the midwest crits I participate in are won in the corners, they are won with tactics, not glue choices.
There looks to be compelling evidence that shows that Tufos are in fact slower than many other choices in tires, but the same can be said for the countless other components that make up your bicycle. Are you riding the most aerodynamic wheels? bars? pedals? cranks?
Looking at my bikes, you can pick out many products that I don’t sell. That isn’t because they are “better” they are typically either parts I prefer for fit, sentimental, or finacial reasons.
Thanks for asking.
Dave,
That was about the most well-considered post I’ve read on Slowtwitch in as long as I can remember.
Agreed - thanks for the informative post. Well written and well said considering the attention Tufos have been getting as of late.
jsarge9
Dave works in the industry but he is pretty pragmatic about equipment. To him it is largely just a tool. He is also rather parsimonious, and his decisions on equipment are frequently influenced by that tendency, one that I can respect.
Tom -
I’d start prepping that new roll if you are already in the P’s on that word of the day toilet paper. 
Thanks for the info SD. So if I could trouble you for some advice…I am doing IM CDA on my Hed wheels and Tufo tubulars. I put some sealant in them a month ago just to see how it went in. Should I put more in right before the race and more importantly, what do you think about carrying a spare?
I am seriously thinking of carrying no spare but only spare C02. If I do flat will the installed sealant really plug the hole and allow me to just reinflate and continue on?
Thanks,
Mike
Carry a spare, the sealant should still be ok if it is only a month old, but your race and season should not be decided by luck and a $50-100 tire. You’ll likely finish with no problems, and when you do, subtract the 7-10 seconds the tire added to your time and you’ll have your “no spare tire” time.
Good Luck, that’s a tough bike I’ve heard.
_SD
hmm, I was going for ambiguous endorsement. Good Stuff is mostly good. Tough to find a well made, high priced piece of crap.
Don’t encourage me 'cause I’ll babble on all day about such sillyness.
-SD
SD–This could have been written by Demerly and that says alot. Not just in content, but form, including the good old fashioned practical advice.
He’s my technical editor.