Gum/tanwall 120tpi-ish training tyre

[jimoots]

Hi folks.

I've been in a bit of a quest to find a gum/tan wall tyre that will suit for training as we're coming into winter down here now.

And after coming back to my bike after a long day to two flat tyres, I'm thinking that my Vittoria Open Corsa SC's may not be well suited.

Basically I'm chasing a 120tpi-ish tyre with gum walls. Is there anything out there?

Closest I have found is the Clement Strada LGG. There is a tanwall version but it only seems to be available in 60tpi.

In previous years I have had much success with GP4000s tyres for training, seem to strike a balance between fast/durable. I've switched to the Vittoria Open Corsa's and have become addicted to their ride (which I know I will have to forgoe) and the gumwall look (which I'm hoping to keep!)

Thanks in advance.

[rustychisel]

I commute all year round on Veloflex, I ride well and don't get many punctures, and they're the best tyres I've ever ridden, full stop and no question. They come in tan wall.

What constitutes a training tyre you have to answer for yourself, 120psi is a little on the high side anyway, but my opinion is life's too short to ride crap tyres.

GP4000s are fine tyres. Veloflex Master are better.

[stephenmarklay]

I can’t yet speak for durability but I second the Veloflex. Very good riding tire. I have one off with a puncture right now with glue drying. Not sure any tire would have been better. Wear seems very acceptable.

[rburnham13]

Check out Challange tires. They make very high TPI tires. Lots of tan sidewall action there. The "Criterium" and the Strada are tan sidewall. All the "open tubulars" are high TPI and available in tan wall....I believe.
http://www.challengetech.it/products/road/criterium-013/en

[ik2280]

What about those gumwall GP4000s? I think they're called the Classics, or something like that? Have seen them in a bike shop.

[sandyrs]

From checking online it seems like Adelaide winter still never sees temperatures close to freezing. If you don't have to deal with frost heaves, rock salt on the roads, potholes, etc. then you probably don't need a full-blown 'training' tire and might be fine even just sticking to the Vittorias you're enjoying. The Clement tires do, however, ride better than the 60tpi rating would indicate.

[rccardr]

Sure do wish they made Vittoria Rubino Pro III's (150 tpi) in a gumwall. Their 700 X 25 blackwalls ride like Open Corsa's to me but are much less flat prone.

[jdp211]

I believe the Vittoria Rally comes in a gumwall these days and in a 25 width as well. How many days had it been since you touched the bike? The latex tubes in your SCs will lose a good bit of air after a few days.

[scho74]

I think these are 126TPI.

http://store.velo-orange.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/750x750/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/d/s/dsc_0009_3.jpg

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/tires-tubes-rim-tape/fairweather-traveler-tire-700x28c-black.html

[pinoymamba]

http://www.tracksupermarket.com/images/large/tire_panaracer_black_l.jpg

training tire...

[jimoots]

From checking online it seems like Adelaide winter still never sees temperatures close to freezing. If you don't have to deal with frost heaves, rock salt on the roads, potholes, etc. then you probably don't need a full-blown 'training' tire and might be fine even just sticking to the Vittorias you're enjoying. The Clement tires do, however, ride better than the 60tpi rating would indicate.

Yes, the weather is not extreme here. The problem I'm up against is debris on road being exacerbated by rain/wet which equals flats. The Vittoria Open Corsa SC's seem to be unable to deal with it.

I think these are 126TPI.

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/components/tires-tubes-rim-tape/fairweather-traveler-tire-700x28c-black.html


They'd be interesting if they came in 25c! No chance of fitting a 28 on my Moots :(

I believe the Vittoria Rally comes in a gumwall these days and in a 25 width as well. How many days had it been since you touched the bike? The latex tubes in your SCs will lose a good bit of air after a few days.

I'm running the clincher version of the SC (open corsa) but point taken. Both tyres were dead flat when I came back to my bike, front with a thorn and the rear with no 'findable' foreign object.

Rear tyre went again yesterday with no foreign object.

Check out Challange tires. They make very high TPI tires. Lots of tan sidewall action there. The "Criterium" and the Strada are tan sidewall. All the "open tubulars" are high TPI and available in tan wall....I believe.
http://www.challengetech.it/products/road/criterium-013/en

My understanding is that the high TPI stuff is not as resilient as the lower TPI stuff. That's why I'm having a bad time with my Vitt's and I don't expect another 320tpi tyre to be that much better.

I commute all year round on Veloflex, I ride well and don't get many punctures, and they're the best tyres I've ever ridden, full stop and no question. They come in tan wall.

What constitutes a training tyre you have to answer for yourself, 120psi is a little on the high side anyway, but my opinion is life's too short to ride crap tyres.

GP4000s are fine tyres. Veloflex Master are better.

I can’t yet speak for durability but I second the Veloflex. Very good riding tire. I have one off with a puncture right now with glue drying. Not sure any tire would have been better. Wear seems very acceptable.

Above comments aside re: TPI I may check out the Veloflexes. Thanks for the feedback.

[jimoots]

And a comment outside of all of the above... if anyone else has suggestions for anything that's gumwall and a clincher and less than 320tpi... all ears!

[thirdgenbird]

The Clements are low thread count, but I like them.

[sandyrs]

If road debris is a concern skip the Veloflex. They're superb tires but are not more flat resistant than your Vittorias.

[stefus_prime]

http://www.tracksupermarket.com/images/large/tire_panaracer_black_l.jpg

training tire...

I second these. I rocked them on my Lotus Challenger for quite a while. Never did snow, but rode in THICK mud and rain without too many issues.

[scho74]

I'm planning on purchasing the Soma New Xpress soon. I have Vittoria Open Corsas on my road bike but LA streets are pretty terrible. You might want to check them out as well, they come in lots of sizes.

http://store.somafab.com/newxp70foti2.html

Gravelbike thinks they're decent as well.

http://www.gravelbike.com/?p=1747