smokey52
Posts:493
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| 04/23/2014 07:24 PM |
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| I have sworn off Contis. Too many sidewall failures. I sent them an inquiry, but never got a response, which doesn't alleviate my pissed-off attitude. I put a set of Armadillos on my last bike because I got sick of flats. I passed that bike on to my son when I got a new Domane. I am still rolling on the Bontragers that came with it. No problems so far. |
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tommaso
Posts:11
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| 04/24/2014 03:42 AM |
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Posted By Joop Zoetemelk (as if..) on 04/23/2014 02:40 PM
Lately I have been riding Michelin Pro 4s, 25 in the back at 95 psi, 23 in the front at 90 psi. More by coincidence (these were the tires that I had available) than by plan. I find I am really liking this set-up and will likely keep this configuration for the foreseeable future.
on a side note: I am surprised by how much better wearing the Pro 4s are than the 3s.
just wondering, did you buy the endurance model or service course?...
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tommaso
Posts:11
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| 04/24/2014 03:51 AM |
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I've currently got 23mm conti 4 seasons on my road bike, an old tommaso, but in a month or so I'll change 'em out for 25mm conti 4000's...and I've lowered pressure over the years and now ride about 7 bars in back and just under 7 bars up front...
my city bike, an old rivendell, and the bike i use to get to the park to run on trails, has 1.35 schwalbe marathon plus tires...they are heavy, but indestructible and amazingly comfortable...5 bars of pressure in back, a little less than 5 up front... these tires handle all the streets, bike lanes, and spin drift and glass you can throw at them...
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 04/24/2014 06:56 AM |
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Oey Vey – Here is a can of worms. I do not like riding with a “squished marshmallow” tire look when on the bike. You’ll see that between your legs when riding. I weigh 172 and notice a huge difference in both climbs and acceleration if my tire is under-flated (over-flated according to you buttercups  Yes granted the ride is much softer at a lower PSI for those who have sensitive and soft rear ends but like I said you’ll get use to it and soon you’ll become a harda$$.
These are nice but at $80 a pop is kind of expensive. Usually I shop for them online during winter and sometimes get a set for that price.
http://shop.maxxis.com/c/bicycle_road_radiale-22c
And these were the type of tubular I used to ride @ 170 PSI
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/continental-sprinter-gatorskin-tubular-tire |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 04/24/2014 10:10 AM |
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The bike may "feel" more responsive, but the reality is that you are actually INCREASING your Crr (unless you are on a smooth piece of marble or a velodrome).
You are slowing yourself down by inflating to such a high pressure. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 04/24/2014 10:37 AM |
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What CK said.
While it may feel fast, all the empirical evidence says that lower tire pressures, up to a point obviously, are better for overall performance. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 04/24/2014 10:46 AM |
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Nope - Disagree, even though there is no evidance what I state has been proven but experience tells me otherwise they way I ride a bike.
Try it with your car. Inflate your car tire by about 10 PSI and take a drive on a country road. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 04/24/2014 11:03 AM |
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| I autocross cars...you are wrong. |
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| -----
It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 04/24/2014 11:06 AM |
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That is a poor analogy....your car has suspension outside of the tires. A bike does not.
Out of curiosity, how do you ride a bike that is different than the rest of us, or that allows for the laws of physics to be suspended?
Again, perception is a powerful tool. Higher PSI may "feel" faster, but it isn't. This have been proven through data.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 04/24/2014 11:32 AM |
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Posted By smokey 52 on 04/23/2014 07:24 PM
I have sworn off Contis. Too many sidewall failures. I sent them an inquiry, but never got a response, which doesn't alleviate my pissed-off attitude. I put a set of Armadillos on my last bike because I got sick of flats. I passed that bike on to my son when I got a new Domane. I am still rolling on the Bontragers that came with it. No problems so far.
Smokey if Armadillos are your tire of choice I can only say that performance is not why you chose that tire. I tried armadillos and I got a run of flats. That I had been using continentals is ironic. I fear those tires as they were hard riding and cornered like they had a grease strip in them. I just could not get confident even on my wet weather bike where flat protection is more important than performance.
My wife has been riding Conti 4000s and to date she gets 1/4 the flats I do. I attribute that to the 60 pound difference. I ride Vittoria open Corsa and Rubino's on my 2 road bikes. In the end Vittoria has been my favourite tire and that is for the confidence they provide. Armadillos did nothing well for me. I took the multiple flats as an omen more than a commentary on that aspect of their reputation. |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 04/24/2014 11:38 AM |
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Armadillos ride like crap. I hear that Specialized is coming out with a new model that has better rode feel, but I tried a pair back in the 90's and immediately took them off. I value ride quality more than puncture resistance.
And I ride through the city all the time. Where are you all riding that you need all this massive puncture resistance? |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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tommaso
Posts:11
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| 04/24/2014 12:01 PM |
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Posted By Keith Jackson on 04/24/2014 11:38 AM
Armadillos ride like crap. I hear that Specialized is coming out with a new model that has better rode feel, but I tried a pair back in the 90's and immediately took them off. I value ride quality more than puncture resistance.
And I ride through the city all the time. Where are you all riding that you need all this massive puncture resistance?
same here, Keith...was working in Manhattan in 1999, tried the armadillos and took them off after the first ride...like riding on garden hose...i'd think by now they've improved the ride, but I never wanted to try again...
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 04/24/2014 12:03 PM |
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For me, I threw on the GatorSkins precisely because I knew they rolled like cr@p. Most of my training rides are solo and I don't really care what my speed is as long as I ma hitting my wattage goals.
That said, I am somewhat regretting the decision.....precisely because they are such cr@p tires. It is really a slog to ride them. I'm hoping they wear out quickly...... |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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zootracer
Posts:833
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| 04/24/2014 12:48 PM |
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"Favorite" and what I can afford are two different animals. Fave would be Vittoria Open Corsa EVO SC. Only tire I used that made a huge difference on how my bike rode and handled. Way too expensive now, unless I had two sets of wheels (which I don't).
Currently using Conti Grand prix) old model brought back). Ride nice, wear well, and so far, few flats. Michelin Lithion's, Ride nic, wear like iron,. prone to pick up those little star thistle thorns I get a lot in my neck of the woods.
Otherwise, what ever is on sale, in 700x25, folding. |
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 04/24/2014 12:52 PM |
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Posted By Keith Jackson on 04/24/2014 11:38 AM
Armadillos ride like crap. I hear that Specialized is coming out with a new model that has better rode feel, but I tried a pair back in the 90's and immediately took them off. I value ride quality more than puncture resistance.
And I ride through the city all the time. Where are you all riding that you need all this massive puncture resistance?
You are basing your opinion on an experience from the 90s, really?  I've been riding them since mid-2000s after trying to bunch of other tires with supposed flat protection but none come close and I got sick of standing next road in pouring rain at 5C mid-winter trying to fix a flat. I've pulled all manner of things out of the Armadillos without flatting; city riding just like you with on top of that all the winter crap you get on the road, dirt, rocks, glass, nails, you name it. I will agree that the 25s are heavy ass tires (they are more like 27s) that don't corner particularly well but I've got no complaints with the 23s; they roll and corner just fine for what I need to do and when I have to make a choice between a sudden veer into traffic to avoid the next piece of crap on the shoulder or just ride straight through it, I know I can do that pretty much with impunity. I rent bikes pretty regularly and get to experience better rolling tires in the process but the difference with the 23s isn't that great that I'd make the switch. Not at my speed anyway. |
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