Boring what tyre question

[Waspie]

After my 2nd puncture of the week I am looking for new tyres for my commuting bike. My commute is a mixture of roads, cycle paths (with all the associated debris) and a gravelly canal towpath. Also occasionally do some light off road stuff but that is a secondary consideration.

Currently run 700*35 Schwalbe land crusiers whick have been ok, especially for the money, but a bit more puncture prone than I hoped and possibly have a little too much tread for what I use them for.

So, I'm looking for the holy grail of a fast rolling tyre with good puncture protection that isn't totally slick. Probably looking at 35s again or 32s.

Not overly concerned about the cost given the amount of time I'm on the bike, more concerned about the quality.

Considering these at the moment : -

Vittoria randonneur city tyre

panaracer pasela

Any views on the above or other recommendations?

Thanks

 

[numbnuts]

Panaracer Pasela have soft side walls, other wise very good, but I now use panaracer crosstowns very good mileage and only get the odd puncture when getting worn out

 

[BSRU]

Marathon Plus's will do the job.

 

[Mr Cheese]

+1 for Marathon Plus tyres. I've had them now for nine months without a puncture, previously I was suffering two or three a week.

 

[HLaB]

I've never used them myself but folk say the conti gator skins are good rolling and offer good p'ture resistance, I think their largest size is 28 though. What ever tyre you buy though it wont be 100% p proof especially if you ride in the gutter/ over glass etc or you tyres aren't the right pressures. On my heavy hybrid (mickle shakes his head ;-) ) I got 47mm conti contacts (the basic version of these) and IMO they have been well rolling and touch wood in 8000mls they've had just 1 p'ture (and tbh why I failed to spot the broken glass bottle in my path is beyond me ); at a guess I'd say that none in over 7500miles.

Edit, Doh I forgot I got one p'ture before Christmas when I carried my bike through Napier University some student had left a nice drawing pin for me but that still doesn't change the 7500miles between p'tures.

 

[ACS]

Can recommend Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase. 700x28s.

use them on my commuter / winter bike 100 mile a week, no issues what so ever

 

[Waspie]

Thanks for the quick replies. Plenty suggestions to investigate.

Re the Marathon Pluses, probably should have said in my original post that I've run them on another bike and although they are bombproof I'm looking for something a wee bit lighter. Also , have actually made my hands bleed getting them on the rim!

Has anyone had any experience of Marathon Racers? Looks like they might do the job.

What ever tyre you buy though it wont be 100% p proof especially if you ride in the gutter/ over glass etc or you tyres aren't the right pressures.

I think the pressure might be something to do with my puncture problems, the Landcrusiers max pressure is 65psi I think, and I'm not built like Contador

 

[User6179]

I think specialized armadillo will be lighter than the marathon+ and they offer similar protection but dont last as long( worn out 3 armadillo tyres with not a single punture).

Gatorskin in my experiance will offer you not much more punture protection than a normal tyre unlike the marathons or the armadillos thorns pierce them quite easily although they are much lighter.

I honestly think what your looking for (the holy grail) light,quick and punture proof dont exist.

I would if i were you drop down to 28mm which will save weight(if rim size allows) and get the marathon+ tyres and pump them upto 100 psi .

eddy

 

[User6179]

Forgot to say,
Once you get the technik right putting on the marathons is a lot easier.

I think there is a clip on youtube on how to put them on.
eddy

 

[Fab Foodie]

If you're looking for lighter and P-resistant then I'd second the Bontrager Hardcase Racelights.

 

[Waspie]

I honestly think what your looking for (the holy grail) light,quick and punture proof dont exist.

I would if i were you drop down to 28mm which will save weight(if rim size allows) and get the marathon+ tyres and pump them upto 100 psi .

eddy

Yeah, I realise that, probably didn't express it very well. What I meant to say was that I'd looking for a tyre that has decent puncture proofing but still roll well with a wee bit of grip for non tarmac stuff.

Don't really want to drop down smaller than 32 as I still take the bike off road occasionally.

 

[Waspie]

Forgot to say,
Once you get the technik right putting on the marathons is a lot easier.

I think there is a clip on youtube on how to put them on.
eddy

I'll need to have a look at that. Brute strength and perseverance was my technique

 

[Waspie]

If you're looking for lighter and P-resistant then I'd second the Bontrager Hardcase Racelights.

Thanks. I'll have a look at these.

 

[scouserinlondon]

+1 for the bontis

 

[mcshroom]

If you are looking for lighter tyres than the M+, the standard marathons are a pretty good compromise. The only things to have got through mine in the last 2000 miles were a couple of very determined hawthorns after a farmer had left the road littered in the things.