Could you please comment on the suitability of the SC/CX as an everyday training tire? I’m specifically interested in flat protection and durability of tread. A comparison to something like the Michelin Pro2/Pro3 in this regard would be great.
Thanks.
i can absolutely comment on that (from one man’s perspective), as i have been riding the corsa series as everyday tires since mid-2008. i’ve tried other tires, but i always come back to the corsas.
i find the ride quality to be fantastic. it was good with the 290tpi series and slightly better with the 320tpi versions. i ride mainly rural roads, so there is chip seal of varying quality, cattle guards, and the like. there is some road debris, but it tends not to be as much as one might find in an urban area. one of my favorite 50-mile loops involves 1.5 miles of dirt and gravel at >=20mph.
first off: these are not tires that will last forever. you have to realize they offer AMAZING ride quality, but it is at a cost: longevity. i’ve ridden tires that have serious puncture protection, but they are no fun (for me) to ride. my opinion is that life is too short to ride poor rubber, and (this could be blasphemy!) i feel that tires may be the single component that most impacts the quality of one’s ride – maybe even moreso than a frame selection.
in any event, when viewed in that context, the tires do great on smooth roads and the roughest chip seal. under mostly dry conditions (i tend to ride the pave when it is wet), i find that i get about 1,500 miles for the rear tire and around 2,500-3,000 on the front. i ride about 1,000 miles a month, and this observation has been formed over riding them the last 4 seasons. that is NOT a huge amount of miles.
occasionally, i can get more miles out of them. what i have found is that once i get a flat, it is time to toss the tire (assuming it’s not some aberration like a nail in the first 5 miles of riding). i RARELY have flats – very rarely. when i get a flat, it’s a sign the tire is done. if i ignore this rule, i will surely get 1 or more additional flats in the next 50-100 miles.
last summer, i inadvertently forgot this rule. i got a flat while riding and repaired it. for years i’d been following the “toss it” rule. the next day, i forgot about it and did a 45-mile loop without incident. the day after that i set out for an FTP test and got a flat in the first 5’ of the interval. i repaired the flat, then decided to repeat the test. BOOM! another flat. had to abort the test and head home. (i later went out and did the test on a new tire.)
so…if you can afford the tires and know that they will only be good for ~1,500 miles in the rear, then i’d say get them. if you ride in particularly crappy and/or wet conditions, it might be worth sacrificing ride quality and getting something else with a BETTER puncture resistant belt.
however, if you value ride quality above all else, give these a shot. i’d recommend starting with the CX or SC. i actually prefer the CX styling, but i like the cornering of the SC a little bit better.
hope this helps.
ps the MSRP on these tires is really, really high, but i often find excellent deals. a little patience goes a long way.
