Schwalbe or continental

[cerenko]

Hi, any idvice on which tyres are best , Iam doing only about 100 miles per week in dry conditions but am loking for a tyre that i can train on and use in a sportives of 100 plus miles, thinking of Schwalbe ultremo r.1 or Continental ultra Gator skin, found them for same price, or is there something better than these for the price.

cheers

 

[HLaB]

How about Mitchelin Krylions ? cant comment on their performance yet but they were a bit cheaper when I ordered them

 

[martint235]

R1s are exceptional tyres but I agree with the guy I spoke to at Schwalbe about them, they are a racing tyre. They are allergic to even a short shower. I find that on anything other than a bone dry day, I'll puncture.I do still have a set in the garage for those bone dry days.

I'd go for Vittoria Rubino ofr all round use. You can get folding or non-folding (i've used both and there's no difference in the actual tyre from what I can tell other than the folding bit and the cost!)

I've never had Krylions but I've heard good things about them.

 

[smutchin]

I may be wrong but I don't think Ultremo and Gatorskins are really comparable tyres. Ultremo are more full-on racing tyres. Not sure what the Conti equivalent would be - GP4000?

Gatorskins are designed to be hard-wearing tyres for all riding conditions - perhaps more like Schwalbe Durano. Michelin Krylions would come in this bracket. [Edit: as would the Vittoria Rubinos mentioned by martint235.]

I use Durano Plus on my audax bike, which are even more puncture-resistant but still fast rolling and grippy. I like them lots. Not cheap though.

d.

 

[smokeysmoo]

IME Schwalbe cut up too easily. I really like Schwalbe but I can't afford to keep replacing them for the sake of cuts, so I use Conti Gatorskin on my commuter and Conti GP4000s on the CAAD

 

[Kestevan]

Personally I've never got on with Gatorskins, find them very slippy in the wet, and wasn't impressed with their wear rate or puncture resistance either.

The Krylions are an excellent all-round tyre, and my current commuter tyre of choice. The cheaper Lithions are also a damned good all-around tyre, but with less puncture protection.

 

[lejogger]

I used Schwalbe Marathon for a while but despite the puncture protection I found them squirmy and heavy. Running Conti GP 4 seasons at the minute and enjoy them much more despite the three punctures I've had. Two pinch though that I reckon I'd have had with any tyre, and 1 thorn from cycling through lanes after they'd cut the hedges...
Fast enough to go out with the club at weekends, but nice and grippy for the winter too.

 

[smutchin]

I've used GP 4 Seasons and found them an excellent tyre for durability and grip - much grippier than Gatorskins in my experience. Haven't used Krylions so can't compare but I've only ever heard good things about them.

Actually, GP 4 Seasons are probably the closest Conti equivalent to Durano - both somewhat lighter than Gatorskins, iirc.

d.

 

[HLaB]

I'd stay away from the mentioned Rubino's, they are lethal. Spin often when climbing in wet or dry and have no consistency in their grip on the flat; I've lost my back end a few times, makes me glad I'm not an extreme cornerer. The only thing there good for is robustness and p'tures; mine still have the tyre mould nodules and I don't think they've ever p'tured but I've ordered the Krylions before they kill me.

 

[Sittingduck]

Michelin Lithion 2's are a good all rounder for the money (about £14-15). Folders that come in a range of colour choices, fairly fast and not too heavy. Come on and off the rims easy enough and are relatively durable and grippy. Maybe not quite p-proof as gatorskins or the like but they are a tenner less and handle a bit better in the wet, than G-skins (which I actually like).

 

[PpPete]

The Michelin Krylions are 1st class. Although classed as a training tyre they are not noticeably slower (IMO) than the Schwalbe Stelvio (long since gone from the range - but really a racing tyre and I picked up a few cheap before they disappeared). Actually Krylions are no longer made either. They will be replaced soon by the "Endurance" model in the Pro 4 range. Grab any Krylions while you can would be my advice.

 

[martint235]

I'd stay away from the mentioned Rubino's, they are lethal. Spin often when climbing in wet or dry and have no consistency in their grip on the flat; I've lost my back end a few times, makes me glad I'm not an extreme cornerer. The only thing there good for is robustness and p'tures; mine still have the tyre mould nodules and I don't think they've ever p'tured but I've ordered the Krylions before they kill me.

Aren't tyres weird things? Everyone has different experiences with the same tyres. I've never had this problem with Rubinos and lots of people mention GP 4 Seasons which I don't think I'd ever buy again. It looks like I may have to give Krylions ago at some point though.

 

[cerenko]

wow now I am really confused, after reading lots of reviews I honestly thought the answer would be the ultremo r.1s but I was just checking, now I think I will keep looking before I part with my money, the Mitchelin Krylions look favourite at the moment unless some one else has any other suggestions, got to be better then the schwalbe blizzards I have on at the moment, or are they ?

 

[Broadside]

The Krylions are my favourites, i have got a set of 700 x 25. Currently using some 700 x 23 Lithion 2's so I can use mudguards as well, the Krylions will go back on when the weather is drier.

The Lithions are good but not as grippy at the Krylions in the wet, the Krylions feel so smooth to ride. I have used the Gatorskins, they're great tyres if you're in to sliding around all over the place in the wet! Not my cup of tea at all.

 

[martint235]

wow now I am really confused, after reading lots of reviews I honestly thought the answer would be the ultremo r.1s but I was just checking, now I think I will keep looking before I part with my money, the Mitchelin Krylions look favourite at the moment unless some one else has any other suggestions, got to be better then the schwalbe blizzards I have on at the moment, or are they ?

Are you actually having problems with the Blizzards? Nothing wrong with them unless you're having issues.

I like to ride with a bit of confidence I'm not going to get a visit from the p****** fairy so I tend to have a league table of £ per mile per puncture. At the top of the list (ie worst) is the GP 4 Seasons. For the price (around £35) I got way to many visits from the fairy. The Rubinos at £11 a go and around 2,000 miles between visits are pretty good. The best was Vittoria Zaffiro which was £8 and 2000 miles, however they were very skittish in the wet.