Pick one tire for road riding

[tv_vt]

The 700x23 clincher choices are:

Continental grand prix 4000s II

Michelin Pro 4 Service Course

Schwalbe Ultremo ZX V-guard

Vittoria Open Corsa SR, or

Vittoria Open Corsa CX III


If I knew how to set up a poll, I'd do it. But I don't.

Thanks for input. And sorry to beat this dead horse again...

[Cornfed]

Of the choices, I've used (and liked) the Continentals, but my favorite road tire is the Hutchinson Intensive. Kind of hard to find, but worth a try, imo.

[Lovetoclimb]

Of those choices, the Schwalbe. Why may I ask are you limited to just those and that size?

[LegendRider]

Continental GP4000s.

There may be clinchers that ride marginally better, but there are none better with regard to wear and durability. If you could only have one set of "do-it-all" clinchers, the Contis win hands down in my opinion.

[dave thompson]

I use the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX but in 700x25' superb.

My 2 pesos.

[zmudshark]

GP4000S, at 95 lbs. I'm ~165lbs and hopefully dropping ;)

[phcollard]

The 700x23 clincher choices are:

Continental grand prix 4000s II

Michelin Pro 4 Service Course

Schwalbe Ultremo ZX V-guard

Vittoria Open Corsa SR, or

Vittoria Open Corsa CX III


I never rode Vittorias - or not long enough - but my fav is the Michelin Pro 4. That's one subtle tire with awesome comfort and great rolling feeling. It's comfortable but it does not feel sluggish if you see what I mean. Also although it's light and thin it's quite resistant. I don't remember I ever had a flat on those things and that includes riding on gravel roads.

Close second would be the GP4000S. Bomb proof and sricks to the road like crazy but a bit less comfort than the Michelin.

Ultremos are very nice too but my experience is that they cut easily.

[saab2000]

Thanks for input. And sorry to beat this dead horse again...

Chat forums exist specifically for the purpose of beating dead horses. :D

[gforce]

Agree with your comments about the Michelin Pro 4. Those tires wear really well for
the performance they provide and are usually a good value when found on sale.

[Tony T]

If I knew how to set up a poll, I'd do it. But I don't.


Continental grand prix 4000s

And for future reference: New Thread, then at the bottom under Additional Options, [✓] Yes, post a poll with this thread.

[tele]

continental gp4000s.

There may be clinchers that ride marginally better, but there are none better with regard to wear and durability. If you could only have one set of "do-it-all" clinchers, the contis win hands down in my opinion.
+1 but in a 25c

[Ralph]

I prefer the Michelins, for their all most tubular ride and handling. but with that soft compound and supple carcass, you get faster wear, and maybe more flats. The Continental is hard to beat for all around use. But I would still ride the Michelins (and do). When I really want something that doesn't flat, and lasts forever, like if I'm on a trip or something, I take my wheels with Gatorskins.

And BTW.....I'm back to 700X23's also. I weigh 155, and learned so much from using 700X25's, I'm back to 23's at slightly less pressure than before on 23's.

I imagine you will find fans of all those tires. Pick the one you get the best deal on, adjust the pressure for your weight and rim type, and I imagine they all are terific.

[deechee]

IF money were no object, Vittoria Open Corsas for sure. But they wear quick and I seem to have a lot of bad luck getting them sliced.

Michelin 4s are my go-to cheaper tire. One of my buds has had too many issues with QC on the Schwalbes so I'll never try them.

So ... last two summers, riding combo is Vittoria Open Corsa/Pave in the rear, Michelin Pro4 in front.

[Gblumenstock]

Just switched to 25c Conti GP4000 on the dear from 23c. Feels smoother but I am on the heavier (CD) side.


GB

[moose8]

I really like the vittoria open corsa cxIII

[mcteague]

I like the Michelin Pro4, in size 25, so much I feel little inclined to look elsewhere.

Tim

[joosttx]

Challenge PR's is the preferred brand by people who drink Dos XX's.

[ptourkin]

I love how the Ultremo ZX feels, but I get about 1,500 miles on the rear, which is less than two months for me sometimes. The DD lasts longer but isn't so supple.

[David Kirk]

I'd go 25's and then pick the favored brand. It seems that once you ride 25's the idea of putting on 23's goes away.

dave

[Ramon]

Id stay away from the Vittorias.
I have 3 pairs, 1 in gumwall.
They ware quick and can be sticky so they like to pick up debris (eg shards of glass).
Dont have much experience on the rest but I can vouch for Continentals.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Vittoria Corsas. Yes, they're expensive and don't last long, but the ride is so good.

[wallymann]

Truth.

Vittoria Corsas. Yes, they're expensive and don't last long, but the ride is so good.

[rwsaunders]

I'd go 25's and then pick the favored brand. It seems that once you ride 25's the idea of putting on 23's goes away.

dave

+1 for the man from Bozeman.

[buldogge]

I would (and do) use every tire from that list except the Vittorias...but...I use 25s. I would add the Veloflex Master/Corsa to the list as well.

If you're looking for "the one", and therefore a balance of durability and performance than I would lean towards the GP4000 and/or Michelin Pro4. The Schwalbe rides a little bit better...but...wears faster than both.

-Mark in St. Louis

The 700x23 clincher choices are:

Continental grand prix 4000s II

Michelin Pro 4 Service Course

Schwalbe Ultremo ZX V-guard

Vittoria Open Corsa SR, or

Vittoria Open Corsa CX III


If I knew how to set up a poll, I'd do it. But I don't.

Thanks for input. And sorry to beat this dead horse again...

[veggieburger]

Continental GP4000s.

There may be clinchers that ride marginally better, but there are none better with regard to wear and durability. If you could only have one set of "do-it-all" clinchers, the Contis win hands down in my opinion.

Agreed. But if the Vittorias were being given away for free, they are certainly the nicest riding tire of the bunch. Too bad they wear and flat so easily..

[wc1934]

conti's for me.
Even have Conti tires on my cars.

[Climb01742]

Another vote for Conti. As an everyday training tire, their durability and flat resistance is remarkable and they feel comfortable enough. There may be more plush tires, but for a balance of all the desired characteristics, I've yet to beat Conti's.

[Llewellyn]

Chat forums exist specifically for the purpose of beating dead horses. :D

Hehe, we wouldn't have a forum without it :)

Oh, and Conti's for me to. I haven't ridden the others so take my POV for what it's worth

[oldpotatoe]

Id stay away from the Vittorias.
I have 3 pairs, 1 in gumwall.
They ware quick and can be sticky so they like to pick up debris (eg shards of glass).
Dont have much experience on the rest but I can vouch for Continentals.

No such thing as a free lunch. Race tire, 'sticky', also has the suppleness Conti does not have.

[ultratoad]

"D" none of the above.... Veloflex for clinchers or tubulars.... Never looking back....

[eBAUMANN]

open corsa's or 4000s - 25c

if i had to pick ONE TIRE though, for all purpose do-everything road/dirt road use it would be 28c conti 4-seasons.

[Md3000]

vittoria corsas. Yes, they're expensive and don't last long, but the ride is so good.

+1

[thwart]

Just to be different: The Vredestein TriComps are a very under-rated tire…

But, let's be honest, the Vittoria Corsa CX's are the bomb. Yes, they can cut (although in my own personal experience not so much), and yes they wear a bit faster than some others.

And I agree, best in 25 mm.

But they're so smooth that I'm certainly not throwing away my 23's… ;)

[choke]

Vittoria Corsas. Yes, they're expensive and don't last long, but the ride is so good.+3

I'm surprised by all the love for the 4000s. I tried a set and was very unimpressed.

[happycampyer]

Not what you asked for, but Veloflex Corsas (in 25 mm) hands down. Of the ones you've listed, the only ones I haven't tried are the Schwalbes, so I can't comment on those, but of the others my first choice would be the Vittoria Corsas and second the Michelins.

Of course, if you break on through to the other side, try the Veloflex Arenbergs...

[Ozrider]

I have been a long time Conti fan, but have experimented with Michelin, Vittoria and Challenge. Always went back to Conti GP 4000S for durability, puncture resistance and grip in the wet, been using 23 front 25 rear.

I recently raced a crit season on Bontrager R3's as I ride for a team supported by our local Trek dealer. I have been really pleasantly surprised, they feel comfortable and have had great grip in the dry. I haven't ridden them much in the wet so I can't comment on wet weather grip. I have had only 2 punctures one front, one rear over the season, and I used them as training tyres as well. They have worn well and lasted far longer than the level of grip would suggest. Got about 6800 km on the front and swapped the rear at about 4500 km.
I am thinking of giving the R4's a go next season.
I have done a few races in between on the new Conti Force Attack Tubulars but will use these mainly on the road race season starting next week for the dry races.



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[scho74]

Was a long time 4000S fan...until I tried the pro race 4. I love the pr4 now. I'm hesitant to try the veloflex and vittoria tires because the roads in LA are pretty horrible.

[JAGI410]

Clement Strada LGG.

[cnighbor1]

I use the Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 23c be sure and get the revised 2014 tire. Had a few problems in 2012 there are some FS on ebay now $95 pair A great buy 23c or 25c
they ride so smooth hard to beat that ride
25c are even smoother

[professerr]

Corsas for me over Ultremos. Haven't tried any of the others recently enough to compare.

Agree with the suggestion above to switch to 25mm, and 25mm Corsas are a fat 25 whereas I believe 23mm Corsas are a somewhat skinny 23mm. But that said, I just finished a long ride after switching my worn 25mm Corsas for new 23mm Corsas on some fat 23mm HED rims. I think I prefer the 23s on the fat rims, but the 25s on a normal width rim (e.g. Dura Ace C24s).

[eBAUMANN]

Clement Strada LGG.

very curious about these, particularly the 28c gum wall version, they will probably be my next tire experiment :)

[gavingould]

I've had good luck with GP4000s (25C)
about to mount up Vittoria Pavé 27s and Corsa SC 25s that I have fairly high hopes for. Also on my list to try are Schwalbe One and Veloflex. I don't put in a ton of road miles so it's gonna take some time.

[jimoots]

I'd go with GP4000s in 25mm (don't know about the tyres though).

Have heard really, really good thing about the Corsa CX's though.

I've always used GP4000s' on my 'fast' bikes, have messed with other tyres on my commuter/wet riding bikes but always come back to the GP's.

[EA120711]

Vittoria Corsas ride great but durability is a concern. Recently switched to the open pave's and so far so good .

[Rbrigman]

GP4000s. Try the 25s, you'll be glad you did. I don't even consider buying 23s anymore.


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[OldCrank]

Another Michelin fan, but when I rode the Pro4 Service Courses anywhere near broken glass, I got flats.

I've been having GREAT luck with the Pro4 Endurance 25s and I like the ride.

Planning on racing on the Pro4 Comps in a couple weeks.

[merlinmurph]

Pick one tire?
My bike needs two.

[nebraskacycling]

Another Michelin fan, but when I rode the Pro4 Service Courses anywhere near broken glass, I got flats.

I've been having GREAT luck with the Pro4 Endurance 25s and I like the ride.

Planning on racing on the Pro4 Comps in a couple weeks.

Anytime I ride over broken glass I get flats. Luckily I have been able to avoid it this year so far. Fingers crossed for the rest of the year.

I have had good luck with both the contis and pro races in the past. Now I'm trying to kill old clinchers so I have an excuse to replace them with some fat 25 corsas.

[Ralph]

I've got a set of Continental Gatorskin foldable 700X25 on a set of wheels I use mostly on the bike I call my daily rider, the one I sweat on every day.

In the fall of 2012, they had about 4500 miles on them, rotated them a couple times so they were worn evenly, tread was worn square, etc, and I figured they were worn out, and I bought some replacements. Just figured I'd get a couple more rides out of them before I saw cords.

Well.....that was about 16 months ago, have riden them some more/alternate with other wheels , and i've put at least 2500 more miles on them, and no cord showing yet. They ride like bricks at full pressure, so I run them a little low, and they ride OK. Never had a flat, and they are not coming apart. I don't particu;larly like how they ride, or handle (particularly squared off), but at speeds in the 20-25 MPH range, don't feel they hold me back either. (rarely pedal faster than that) And if I'm on a trip by myself, way away from home, I feel more confident about getting back to my car and hotel on them. Not in love with them, but they just get the job done.

So while I prefer my Michelins for riding fast with my buddies, if I could just have one set of tires, I believe it would be Gatorskins. Just because of their reliability and toughness.

[JAGI410]

very curious about these, particularly the 28c gum wall version, they will probably be my next tire experiment :)

The gumwall versions are 60tpi only, not the dual compound 120tpi version I'm using. Not sure how different they actually are.

[endosch2]

Agree with your comments about the Michelin Pro 4. Those tires wear really well for
the performance they provide and are usually a good value when found on sale.

I just ordered some pro 4s from wiggle for $36 each shipped free.

[endosch2]

very curious about these, particularly the 28c gum wall version, they will probably be my next tire experiment :)

What is the benefit of gum wall?

[hainy]

CX 25
You find it hard to go back to any other tyre and I never will.

[Mr.Pave]

While I like the feel of the pro 4's I've already had 6 flats within the last month with them. So my go to tire is the Conti 4 Season 700x25. I never get flats with them at all. I can ride through almost anything with them and I've never had a flat. The Pro 4 will flat every other time I take them out. Before that I used GP 4000S and liked them but I prefer a 700x25 so if I use them again it will be in a 25.

[AnthonyC]

I'd had VERY good luck with the 25c Pro4 SCs until about 1500 miles in. Since then, I've had a flat on each of the last three rides. I don't know if this is due to wear, or just stupid luck.

[muchness]

GP4000s

The ride quality and puncture resistance are unparalleled, in my experience.

I've had one flat in three years on them, it was a huge lag screw that put a 8mm gash in the sidewall. I used a piece of microtex glasses wipe as a glue-on boot. That was a few thousand miles ago.

[CaliFly]

Conti GP4000s or Mich Pro 4 in 25...and just riiiiiiide!

[Ozrider]

CONTI GP400S 23mm Front, 25mm Rear - they are a good all round race and training tyre with very good puncture resistance and grip in the wet.

I have also been using Bontrager R3's for the last 6 months, they feel a little more supple and faster rolling than the Contis. They have worn well, with very few cuts and one puncture front and rear. Front was a pinch flat on a pothole and rear was a piece of wire about 1 cm long stuck in the tyre. Not used them a lot in the wet, but for dry weather they have been great and are about 25g lighter than corresponding GP4000S tyres.


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[buddybikes]

Veloflex (corsa or master depending upon your sidewall choice) 25c

[Mr. Pink]

I was a committed Conti 4000 user for a decade, but was forced to buy the Mavic Yksion Griplink in the front and Powerlink in the rear when I bought a pair of Kysyrium Elite S wheels last summer (they include them with the wheels - it's a "system" thing) and was very impressed. The 23s feel smaller than the Conti 23s, and handle quite nicely in all conditions. They are now at 1300 miles, so I guess they passed the durability test. I like them so much I now have them on both bikes.

[KidWok]

I'll use a nice racing tire up front, but almost always use a lower end tire in the rear. So long as they're black and same nominal size, I won't bother trying to match them by brand/model. Racing tires wear out way too fast on the rear. My go-to tires for the rear are Panaracer T-Serv and Vittoria Zaffiro in 25's...my butt can't tell the difference between those and something nicer, but my wallet can. The only time a racing tire goes on the back is when I've had it long enough that I want it worn out quickly.

Tai

[doomridesout]

Vredestein Fortezza TriComp 25s are thus far perhaps my favorite of all available regular clinchers... I just put some Vittorias on a bike and I'm eager to give them a shot but the Fortezzas are hard to beat as an all-rounder.

[Charles M]

Much like the "Pick one bike" Thread...

Bull5hit...

First you'd have to make me pick one road, one time of year, one group of people, one distance...


What a boring a$$ premise

[akelman]

Ever the charmer, Charles. *swoon*

[oldpotatoe]

Ever the charmer, Charles. *swoon*

tee hee..BUT, as a guy who just rides his bike..tires are tires..I use Vittoria or Conti..either/both cuz that's what the shop sells..CX, Rubino, Sprinter, Ultra Race..more concerned about using a 25, even if it measure 23.78 or 25.33...bike tire...even a conti on one end and Vittoria on the other..OH MY GOD...dogs and cats living together!!!

[AngryScientist]

all the "V" tires are good in my opinion: vredestein, veloflex, vittoria. pick one and go. my favorite of the three though:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Doq3UEIY_WM/Uy2kNFqX7kI/AAAAAAAABi4/ej3EeqH3cww/s1600/IMG_1497.JPG

[JAGI410]

What is the benefit of gum wall?

If you have to ask, they aren't for you. :banana:

[pinkshogun]

^^^ they look great on classic/vintage bikes....but get nice and dirty after a rainy ride

[cfox]

Much like the "Pick one bike" Thread...

Bull5hit...

First you'd have to make me pick one road, one time of year, one group of people, one distance...


What a boring a$$ premise

Not everyone gets a kick out of making a simple sport x times more complicated than necessary. You might call that boring, others may just call it making fewer decisions regarding unimportant things....like hobbies.

To the OP, 25mm Veloflex are fine on fast roads, crappy pavement and dirt. And also go with whatever group of people you are riding with (?? didn't quite get that one).

[Ahneida Ride]

The 700x23 clincher choices are:

Continental grand prix 4000s II



Could be a strong Candidate .... I just installed a pair of 25 ...
I do like the ride.... Now will they last and be flat resistant ?

They have 2 puncture barriers and enhanced sidewall protection.
Ideal for real life riding conditions

[Charles M]

They ride nice Ray. I just put both the tubular and clincher versions on Zipp 202 and 303...

But I don't think they'll be loads more puncture resistant than a lot of the others mentioned. And the longevity of the tread is good, but not fantastic. Which means that (Like Vittoria Corse and Veloflex of the same type/focus) they don't suite gravel and commute as well as tires designed for that...

They are GREAT tires. people should use em... But the "only" tire" Nah, that's why I call BS on the thread. Give me 28 section conti Gatorskins for comfort/training/durability for instance... It's a no brainer.




Not everyone gets a kick out of making a simple sport x times more complicated than necessary. You might call that boring, others may just call it making fewer decisions regarding unimportant things....like hobbies.

To the OP, 25mm Veloflex are fine on fast roads, crappy pavement and dirt. And also go with whatever group of people you are riding with (?? didn't quite get that one).

You might feel like people get a kick out of making things complicated but I would disagree...

I don't think using products designed for conditions you ride in is complex...


If anything, trying to find one tire to suite all the different riding we do is a lot more complex than grabbing the right tire for the job. Look no further than this thread and the multiples of answers people are giving as an example.


As for the different people you're riding with... Lets say you're doing course recon at speed with racers on the bike you'll also be racing (and or you're just being a guide for folks that traveled to the area for the race)... That may be a different bike and tire than you would choose to do a wine country tour over the course of several days with a group of older, less competitive people.


Not saying that applies to everyone of course... It doesnt. It would be a bit silly to think that one thing applies to everyone...

[cfox]

The OP specified road riding, and for that, yes, I truly believe most people can pick one tire to do 99% of what they need.

-fast solo ride? 25mm veloflex (or any number of good road tire)
-fast group? same tire
-race? same tire
-recovery ride? same tire
-5 mile ride with my little guy? same tire
-paved ride with a bit of dirt? same tire
-wine tour? sounds nice, but I'd rather be driven around in a limo

I have two bikes; a really nice newish one with carbon tubs, and a really nice old one with alu tubs. The old one gets trainer and salty road duty, new one gets everything else. And, funny, they both have the same tire, and I've never once felt limited as to what I could do on either. Maybe my riding style is very limited (road riding), but for what I do, I don't feel either bike makes a compromise or is held back because of tire choice.

[Ahneida Ride]

Charles

The only thing I do know about riding in Upstate NY is that the road
up ahead will be different from the road I'm on now.

and it could be dramatically different. :banana:

[Charles M]

Thats partly due to the fact that you have actual weather. (not just temps but torn up Tarmac...). I have no idea how you guys do it.

I have like 4 versions of summer.

And I still have chubby durable tires for touring/gravel and canal paths/ puncture resisting - comfort for city commute and skinnier tires for going quickly.

[RacerJRP]

Looks like I am late to the party, but I have been running Conti GP4000S for a few years now. Just put a new set of the S II on some wheels last night. The are sticky, ride well enough, are light, but most importantly, you get all those things on a tire that is highly puncture resistant. I'll get 2-3k out of a set of these tires, and can't remember the last time I flatted.

I notice the new tires run more true to marked width where as initially they ran quite large.

I'll always race on tubulars though ;)