Schwalbe Marathons v Gatorskins v Durano

[martint235]

I've currently got Marathons (not +) on my commuter and Durano (also not +) on Lelly. I'm considering putting Gatorskins onto the commuter and eventually maybe onto Lelly.

The problem is the Marathons so far have been fit and forget. I need to pump them up occasionally but other than that nothing. They do take some effort to move away from lights etc though. So the question is:

1. Do I just MTFU and follow the "Train heavy, ride light" philosophy and keep the Marathons on the commuter
2. Change to Gatorskins in which case I have read good things about them but how many people have managed to p********e one?

 

[fossyant]

On Lelly you want some great tyres - Conti GP4000, Mich Pro Race 4 or Ultremos. Gatorskins are OK, bit slippy in the wet from what some folk say. 4 Seasons are very good, but expensive.

TBH I commute without heavily puncture protected tyres - I use Michelin Lithion 2's and they roll well, are reasonably light at 230g and I've had very few 'deflations' with them.

 

[martint235]

On Lelly you want some great tyres - Conti GP4000, Mich Pro Race 4 or Ultremos. Gatorskins are OK, bit slippy in the wet from what some folk say. 4 Seasons are very good, but expensive.

TBH I commute without heavily puncture protected tyres - I use Michelin Lithion 2's and they roll well, are reasonably light at 230g and I've had very few 'deflations' with them.

I used 4 seasons a couple of winters ago and found them very high maintenance in that you have to constantly check them for flints. Other tyres I use tend to either pun***e or not if you see what I mean rather than deflate 3 days later.

I had a set of Ultremo R1s and found them to be allergic to rain. They would puncture in a rain shower so I got rid.

The Marathons roll ok apart from setting off and I also struggle a little to keep them above 30mph but then on my commute there are few opportunities to hit 30 anyway.

Adrian could be right for a change about the MTFU, the Marathons don't look like punc*****ing any time soon. I'll look into the others as replacements for Lelly though as the Duranos have done about 2,000 miles now.

 

[martint235]

Michelin Pro Race 3 are lovely to ride.

Many visitations? They do colours! I can pimp Lelly!!

 

[StuAff]

If you like the Duranos and want to boost the PF resistance, Durano + is the way to go. First set on the Viner have done over 4k miles- killed the rear by running it at low pressure for ages but the front is still going strong.

 

[ianrauk]

Why don't you think about Vittoria Rubino's for Lelly.
You know how few punctures I get with mine.

 

[martint235]

Why don't you think about Vittoria Rubino's for Lelly.
You know how few punctures I get with mine.

I have. I ran Rubinos for quite a while on the Giant however I've found the Duranos to be exceptional (I've been trying to avoid saying it for fear of a hex, but Lelly hasn't suffered a visitation since purchase) and would be looking for something similar as I'm planning on more rides around the mileage of the Nelson run.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

i run gp4000s on my commute hard as hell to get on first time but so far only had 3 odd visits in the last 2months since fitting ( 44mile route a day 5 days a week)

 

[ianrauk]

i run gp4000s on my commute hard as hell to get on first time but so far only had 3 odd visits in the last 2months since fitting ( 44mile route a day 5 days a week)

Wow that's a lot of visits.
I am running Spesh Armadillo's on my commute and they have done 2441 miles so far (34 miles round trip) through the mean streets of South East London and no punctures.

But Adrian does make a good point above.
I do inspect my tyres after every commute. It's amazing what you find buried in the rubber that can work it's way in.

 

[Jdratcliffe]

Wow that's a lot of visits.
I am running Spesh Armadillo's on my commute and they have done 2441 miles so far (34 miles round trip) through the mean streets of South East London and no punctures.

But Adrian does make a good point above.
I do inspect my tyres after every commute. It's amazing what you find buried in the rubber that can work it's way in.

to be fair i dont like it but take it as a fact that it happens as long as its not every trip i happy plus they roll v nice regarding the armadillos how do you find them i had the all conditions on my bike as default before and did 6000miles on them with only a visits increasing near the end ( still look like they have life in them but the visits got too regular)

 

[ianrauk]

to be fair i dont like it but take it as a fact that it happens as long as its not every trip i happy plus they roll v nice regarding the armadillos how do you find them i had the all conditions on my bike as default before and did 6000miles on them with only a visits increasing near the end ( still look like they have life in them but the visits got too regular)

I ride 23's though they are more like 25's.
Yes I like them. Good grip in both wet and dry condition.
Not the fastest of tyres I grant you but it does mean I get a good work out.
But yes, when they do start to go they do go rather quick. 5000-6000 miles sounds about right before they start going off.

 

[cyberknight]

Depends a lot on the roads/cycle paths you use .

I have used gator skins for a few years and i can`t say i have had a probelm with them in the wet and i have gone 5 months without a deflation not counting the time i experimented with some cheap blizzard sports and tore a hole in the tyre on a metal grate with raised screws.
I get more punctures in winter , i put it down to it being dark so i cannot see the debris on the stretch of cycle path i have to use that is regulary covered in bits of glass etc and for some reason its always the rear tyre .I reckon on 5 -6 flats a year in about 5000 miles.

 

[fossyant]

Many visitations? They do colours! I can pimp Lelly!!

Very few visitations in my experience with Pro Race. I've used the Pro Race 2's on two bikes for about 5 years. Just fitted Pro4's on the best bike. Oh and use latex tubes too - whooooosh - the noise is fantastic.

 

[srw]

Which is more important? Speed or puncture resistance? I'd hazard a guess that most people would waste more time changing tubes than they'd lose by using puncture-resistant tyres,

 

[Sittingduck]

I'm sure PR3's are on special offer at Chain Reaction at the mo (and avail in a few colours).
Edit: £18 a pop

I have punctured a couple of times on Gators but it was literally a huge shard of broken glass that I (foolishly) must have ridden over. I quite like Gators, although have found them to be sketchy in the wet, at times.

I have used Lithion 2's a fair bit and they're good for all round - jack of all trades and all that and cheap.

Ultremo ZX's currently on my best bike and they are lovely!

Bontranger Race-Light on my second best bike and so far only had perhaps 1 deflation, in around 1000 miles. I have Bonty Hardcase on the (now virtually unused) Concorde and only had 1 deflation in a few hundred miles. They are fairly heavy and not exactly a forgiving ride but look tough and no, no problems getting them off/on the rims