Commuting Tyres...again....sorry!

[potsy]

I'm turning into MacB, although my bikes do leave the house now and again

 

[fossyant]

I'm turning into MacB, although my bikes do leave the house now and again

 

[Leodis]

I quite like Conti Gators though I am using Kojaks at the moment which are nice, fast and so far not let me down...

 

[akb]

I quite like Conti Gators though I am using Kojaks at the moment which are nice, fast and so far not let me down...

Thanks Leodie; arent the Gatorskins more suited to Road use only? Have had a look on CRC and Wiggle and dont look suitable for trail/cycle track use.

 

[HLaB]

Excellent, thanks. Are rims a standard size? I.E. Would I be able to swap say 35mm tyres to lesser size with ease?

Rims aren't a standard width, you'll easily go down to a 32mm or 28mm (perhaps even a 25mm) but your rims will probably be too wide for a 23mm. Sheldon done a good piece on it, he does admit though that his chart errs on the side of caution.

 

[calibanzwei]

Was my understanding that weight and P* protection are mutually exclusive ideals? Get M+ and develop some man legs

 

[Leodis]

Thanks Leodie; arent the Gatorskins more suited to Road use only? Have had a look on CRC and Wiggle and dont look suitable for trail/cycle track use.

Depends how tough the road/tracks are. Leeds roads are pretty poor and even the slicker 700x28 are holding up well.

 

[smutchin]

I'm using Marathon Supremes (700x32) on my commuting bike at the moment and I like them very much indeed. They're considerably lighter and faster than M+, and though they don't claim to offer the same level of puncture protection, I think I've had only one puncture in them since I fitted them at the start of last summer.

d.

 

[smutchin]

Yes.
Tyre size is the single easiest thing you can do to improve your efficieny/speed. 35mm to 23mm is about a 33% decrease in friction = approx 33% increase in speed/efficiency. very roughly.

You'll need to be quite concientious about keeping the pressure at 110psi+ to avoid pinch punctures on the rougher surfaces. But other than that will suffer no problems. Conti are generally my prefered brand.

Personally, I wouldn't want to ride 23C tyres on anything other than pristine tarmac. YMMV.

Edit: also, a 33% reduction in tyre friction wouldn't translate into a 33% increase in speed. Not unless you were cycling in a vacuum.

d.

 

[simon.r]

Edit: also, a 33% reduction in tyre friction wouldn't translate into a 33% increase in speed. Not unless you were cycling in a vacuum.

d.

+1

There's no doubt that you go faster for the same effort with narrower tyres but I don't think it makes that much difference in the real world.

I am significantly quicker on road tyres than I am on 2.3" knobblies, but the difference betwwen 28's and 35's is negligible in amongst all the other real world factors (wind, weight of bike, road surface, how fit I feel etc etc)

I'm usingVittoria Randoneur tyres (28mm) on my main bike and I've been impressed with them - not light 'tho.

 

[Foyzy]

I have also just read some bad reviews about the M+ tyres on wet surfaces. They seem like the ideal solution to prevent punctures, but the weight and high loss of traction on wet surfaces is a problem.

I wouldn't say M+s are any worse than any other tyres in the wet. I recently fitted a set of these on my Cannondale Bay Boy and have been very impressed with the ride quality in both wet and dry conditions and how well they roll. Before I bought them I too was sceptical about the extra weight but you really don't notice it (especially if you're laden down with bagpack / panniers etc). I'd say it was worth it for the peace of mind they bring, that you've got the most p*******proof tyres out there.

 

[boydj]

I have also just read some bad reviews about the M+ tyres on wet surfaces. They seem like the ideal solution to prevent punctures, but the weight and high loss of traction on wet surfaces is a problem.

I've been running 25mm M+ on the commuter for 9 months now. While they may be a bit heavier than the GP 4 Seasons on my good wheels, for commuting purposes the weight is not an issue. I've never noticed a problem with grip - wet or dry. I'd say that M+ at 28 or 32 mm would be more than adequate for you.

 

[HLaB]

Harder wearing tyres do deform less/ grip less but I think its more about how you handle your bike what psi's you are running. I've had conti gatorskin on the front of my bike for a while, Gator Skins are also reported to be skittish in the wet; I ran mine at 85-95psi and never ever felt I had an issue with grip if anything the contrary it was very grippy.

 

[mrmacmusic]

Having had more than my fair share of visits from the puncture fairy, I changed the original 28mm Conti's on my commuter for 25mm Marathon+ and didn't notice them feeling any heavier or slippier when wet. Not foolproof - I suffered an unscheduled deflation one week in (thorn in the sidewall), but uneventful for months now. Couldn't avoid glass strewn over the cycle path the other day, but there was no hiss

 

[jonny jeez]

I used to use Specialized armadillos on my old MTB. Heard stories of them performing poorly in the wet but had no such issues. Never had a single puncture and clocked up a good few thousand miles on them. They are still on today...just gathering a little dust...sigh

used to cruise happily at 20mph and felt very stable (perhaps the girth actually helped with the stability and wet performance)

Highly reccomend them