Ok, you guys have me freaked. Last year, I got the tubular racing wheels, used Continental tires. After 8 races, I noticed cracks in the tires. Based on many opinions here, I bought a pair of Tufo tires for this season, with tape.
Should I use these as training tires and get a new set of racing tires? Vittoria? I’ve already decided to use glue, anyone want to buy some tape?
I feel your concern Froggie! I’m in the same boat…
I waited all this time and I finally picked up a set on nice tubular racing wheels and decided to go with Tufos, mostly based on the favorable opinions I read here. Now that they are all glued up and ready to mount, here comes the doubts, just in time!
Maybe there is “some” more rolling resistance compared to other brands… maybe not… These recent “tests” are by no means conclusive.
All I know is that I choose Tufo mostly based on its feature of being puncture resistant. If that amount of peace of mind costs me 30 seconds or so on the bike leg, I’m fine with that. I’m not standing on a podium anytime soon…
Count me in the “jumping on the Tufo” bandwagon. Have been using the Zipp tires on my Zipp 909’s for a couple of years. Been happy with them but after reading all of the hype here on the Tufo’s figured I would give them a try. I just ordered three of them and now wondering if it was a mistake:(
sell them on eBay and get Zipps or Contis…
Ride the Tufo’s, subtract a few seconds from your bike split when you think what you “could have” done. It’s yet to be proven they are any slower anyway.
I didn’t care for the tape compared to glue anyway…once you put it on a tire there is no getting the tape off the tire…so remounting is sort of a gamble. Gluing is really not that hard as long as you do it over the course of a week (assuming fresh rim).
Out of my last 3 races on Conti tubs, I’ve punctured twice. Once losing the race.
IF the Tufos are slower (and I can’t imagine it’s by much) you have to weigh that against their extra resistance to punctures.
I’m looking at getting a set anyway.