I'm using Vittoria zaffiro tyres which cost about a tenner each. They've lasted about 500 miles before I've noticed some little cuts in them. I've been pleased with the grip and an tempted to get another set but just wondered is this a decent amount of miles. Would it be more cost effective to buy a more expensive pair?
Do expensive tyres last any longer?
- Thread starter MattDB
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
vickster
Legendary Member
Yes and they were a bugger to get on but I'm feeble!Thanks for that
Did you get the folding ones?
Citius
Guest
No it isn't. Zaffiros should last for thousands of miles, not a few hundred. 'Little cuts' in a tyre is nothing unusual and unless they are either worn through or squared off (unlikely after 500 miles of normal use) then just keep on riding them.
winjim
Smash the cistern
What Citius said, but when you do replace them, Rubinos are much better.
When it comes to tyres, more expensive is often not more durable as costly grippier compounds can be less hard wearing. You're also paying for things like high thread count, which translates to suppleness. Rubinos are higher thread count and softer grippier compound than Zaffiros but still very durable.
When it comes to tyres, more expensive is often not more durable as costly grippier compounds can be less hard wearing. You're also paying for things like high thread count, which translates to suppleness. Rubinos are higher thread count and softer grippier compound than Zaffiros but still very durable.
Last edited:
Rubino or Rubino Pro would last a lot longer.
For perspective: my Conti GP4000S tyres are at about 3500 miles and plenty left yet. My stock Giant tyres were shot in 1500 miles. The Giant ones gripped fine, but wore quick. The Contis grip better, are more comfortable and are very durable.
For perspective: my Conti GP4000S tyres are at about 3500 miles and plenty left yet. My stock Giant tyres were shot in 1500 miles. The Giant ones gripped fine, but wore quick. The Contis grip better, are more comfortable and are very durable.
Citius
Guest
I doubt it. Probably the opposite...
No matter what the cost, tyres (bike or car) will be trade off between grippy supple compound and durability. Extremely hard wearing tyres usually offer poor grip and grippy tyres wear out faster and damage easier.
Formula 1 tyres stick to the road like glue once up to temperature but you really wouldn't want them on your Escort for pootling to Tescos as it would get expensive buying new tyres every fifty miles.
You want to choose somewhere in the middle for normal use.
Formula 1 tyres stick to the road like glue once up to temperature but you really wouldn't want them on your Escort for pootling to Tescos as it would get expensive buying new tyres every fifty miles.
You want to choose somewhere in the middle for normal use.
jefmcg
Guru
Well, if the zafiros are worn out at 500 then the rubinos would last longer.
I wrote a review thread about 2 pairs of rubinos I bought https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/vittoria-rubinos.148176. They lasted a little under 7000km each, with about one puncture each tyre during it's life. Even calculated total cost of tyres is about £0.30/100 km.
Not sure how @ianrauk gets his to last so much longer; I guess he doesn't do all the gnarly skids I do.
Citius
Guest
Yes, but they are not worn out.
jefmcg
Guru
Maybe you should try rubinos. I don't ride hard, but I only got about 2000km on my factory giant tyres before mean-time-between-punctures became intolerable, and switched to Rubinos because they were red and cheap. Never guessed how good they would be - at least for my riding.
Cyclist33
Guest
- Location
- Warrington
What constitutes "time for a change" or "worn out" to you, though? End of the day it's quite a subjective thing and can even take on things like a gradual shift in your aesthetic tastes.
Rubinos are good but there are several versions so just saying "Rubino" Isnt the full picture. I've run rubino pros in a folding 23 mm and a pro tech version in a folding 25. The ride quality was quite different, the pro techs less comfortable - for me.
I've got zaffiro pros in a 25 on one of my bikes, they're just as nice to ride on as the rubino pros and show no signs of giving up just yet.
Michelin are getting my vote these days though.
