Gumwall clincher tire choices?

[petitelilpettit]

Hey everyone. Got a bike I am putting together, and I want to put some gumwall (skinwall, whatever term floats your boat) tires on it. This road bike will be used for my backup and travel bike, but I have a feeling this could transition into my primary ride. I want a good quality tire with a decent mileage, good puncture resistance, and a good solid tread, but I don't want to break the bank to buy these tires. They are going onto a set of Velocity A23's, if this makes any difference. The other limiting factor is that I am looking for either 23 or 25mm widths, as the frame and fork can't handle anything wider.

What's out there?

Thanks for all the input!

Pettit

[dancinkozmo]

i picked up some nice veloflex pave from PBK a couple of years ago....no complaints.
I think i paid about 35-40 bux shipped each.

looks like the price has gone up :0(

http://www.probikekit.com/us/tyres-tubes/clincher-bicycle-tyres/veloflex-master-22-road-tyre.html

[fiamme red]

I've heard good things about Gran Bois Cerf blue labels.

I'm cheap, so I just buy Paselas for $12-$15 from Nashbar.

[c-record]

They're still in the can-yes, they come in a can Gommitalias. They've been waiting for the right bike to go on and I think I'm going to get a new Waterford SR22 for them to go on. Not much choice in classic gumwall tires it seems.

[Liv2RideHard]

clincher or tubular?

Check out the Veloflex Master 22. They have a gum sidewall. I am running the older Pave version on my Cinelli. Clincher, 320tpi, cotton casing, very smooth rolling. I have yet to puncture and they are on my training wheels. You will sacrifice some mileage though, I rotate mine to make em last longer. Made in Italy in the old Vittoria factory (matters to me, I try to keep it Italian).

I also run the Vittoria Corsa Evo SC tubs on my race wheels. Traditional gum wall. I like the Vittoria gum wall better than than the Veloflex gum wall. The Vittoria cleans up easier too. The Veloflex gum wall is hard to keep clean. I have never ridden the Evo SC clincher. Can't comment on its ride characteristics but I LOVE my tubulars.

I get lots of comments on both b/c of the gum walls. You will pay more for the Vittorias. Veloflex can be had for a bit cheaper.

[christian]

Conti's Grand Prix Classic is "brown" wall, I would say.


http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/continental-grand-prix-classic

[fourflys]

Conti's Grand Prix Classic is "brown" wall, I would say.


http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/continental-grand-prix-classic

just remember most Conti's run really narrow... not sure it's a true 25mm...

[fiamme red]

just remember most Conti's run really narrow... not sure it's a true 25mm...From the biketiresdirect.com description: "The Grand Prix Classic is available in 700c x 25mm (23-622 ISO) with a folding bead." So while it's a nominal 25mm tire, they're admitting that it's actually 23mm. ;)

[tedschwartz]

veloflex record clincher comes in gum sidewall. Also i think you can still find conti 4000's with the brown sidewall.

[majl]

Victoria open pro evo sc clinchers are very supple. I actually prefer them to the veloflex paves (now master) as they are just a touch wider and offer a bit more comfortable ride.

[petitelilpettit]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

Have any of you tried or have seen a tire from Torelli called the Torino? I guess it's a rebadged Challenge tire.

http://www.torelli.com/tubes-tires-maintenance/tires/torino-open-tubular.html

Thoughts on either the Torino or a Challenge tire?

[phcollard]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone!

Have any of you tried or have seen a tire from Torelli called the Torino? I guess it's a rebadged Challenge tire.

http://www.torelli.com/tubes-tires-maintenance/tires/torino-open-tubular.html

Thoughts on either the Torino or a Challenge tire?

Challenge are great tires, lovely feeling, roll well but somewhat fragile. The Torelli are the same (had a pair of these as well) but I blew them up even quicker than the Challenge!

[cataño]

They might qualify as pricey, but the Soma New Express tires are really great - very similar in durability and ride quality to the Panaracer T-Serv tires (which in turn are like a nicer/more durable/lighter/less prone to poor QC pasela) but available in a bunch of different sizes and colours.

I've not found challenge tires to be durable enough for daily riding, but I know others who swear by them.

[mistermo]

just remember most Conti's run really narrow... not sure it's a true 25mm...
My 28c Conti GP 4seasons are a measured 26.