Best tyres for commuting/sportives etc

[Shut Up Legs]

I know you said you wanted something lighter but personally I 'd stick with the marathon plus. I use 28s on the commuter and have 25s on the road bike.

Same here, Marathon Plus tyres on my commuter and road bike, and the same sizes, and I'm happy with their performance on both.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

They are Alex Black Dragon 24s, how do I find out what tyre they will take?

If you look on the wheel it should tell you the rim size. Then if you look at this link there is a table showing you what tyres fit what rim sizes

http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

 

[ChrisV]

622 x 15.

According to the chart, 23cc to 32cc.

Although there is only one size smaller than mine - 622 x 13 - but I thought mines would be biggish given the cyclocrossy type idea.

 

[MikeW-71]

I'd put 25's or 28's on them in that case

 

[400bhp]

If you're riding outside the city, you shouldn't need to worry too much about having bombproof tyres.

As @fossyant says, 4 seasons are pretty strong and very light.

TBH I did a lot of miles in all weathers last year commuting on a pair of continental GP4000s. They were on the wet weather bike. On the dry weather bike are Michelin pro4's.

 

[boydj]

Conti 4 Seasons are some of the best for weight and all weather performance.

If you want more puncture protection, then the Schwalbe Durano Plus is very good. Mine have been cut to schreds on the commute, but none of the glass shards have got through the smart guard yet. There is lots of glass on a section of my commute.

I have Contis on one bike and Durano Plus on another. Both well protected and good all-rounders, with the Contis just a bit lighter and racier.

 

[fossyant]

I have Contis on one bike and Durano Plus on another. Both well protected and good all-rounders, with the Contis just a bit lighter and racier.

The Conti's are much lighter. The Durano's are over 300g. I'm used to 200-220g tyres, but the added glass protection has been invluable for my revised commute since October. The Pro 4 Endurance were killed by the glass.

 

[Elybazza61]

Been pleased with the durano etapes I have on the icarus so far but to be fair the gp400s' I had on the zonda wheels were puncture free until a couple of weeks ago,now replaced with open paves but they won't be used for any commuting duties.

On the Planet X cross-bike I've had Vittoria randonneur pro 2's(28)on the archetype wheels and they too have been pretty faultless(1 puncture in a year);they also run well too for a semi-touring/gravel tyre,easy for 30kph+ and cheap from planet x

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Thousands and thousands and thousands of miles from GP4000s', great tyres.

 

[ChrisV]

Think I'm going to go for Conti Gatorskins. They seem to mix performance and puncture protection (apparently!).

2 for £52 from Wiggle in my preferred 700 x 28cc ...

Or

2 for £42 from Halfords and can pick them up in store. BUT only in 700 x 25cc.

Are they really that much different? Never used 25s before, worried I'd consign myself to bum cheek misery for the sake of a tenner.

 

[burndust]

Also consider Conti GP 4 Seasons. I use 28mm ones on my CX commuter. They're quick, grip brilliantly and have good puncture resistance.

yup me to on the cx, on the roadie i use gp4000s 25s though

 

[burndust]

Think I'm going to go for Conti Gatorskins. They seem to mix performance and puncture protection (apparently!).

2 for £52 from Wiggle in my preferred 700 x 28cc ...

Or

2 for £42 from Halfords and can pick them up in store. BUT only in 700 x 25cc.

Are they really that much different? Never used 25s before, worried I'd consign myself to bum cheek misery for the sake of a tenner.

i run 28s on the cx and 25s on the roadie, and dont fell that much of a difference tbh, if you opt for the gatorskins opt for the hardshell type (the non folding one) i've used both and the folding ones are shite!

 

[ChrisV]

That's a spanner right there!

I thought wire bead were heavier and poorer wislity than folding?

 

[burndust]

it might just be me, but i picked up a fair few punctures on the folding ones, switched to the hardshell and never had a single puncture, covering the same routes conditions etc, in saying that the 4 seasons have performed just as well and role faster, so i've stuck with them for commuting

 

[ChrisV]

Looked at them but got scared at the price!