What Tyres ??

[Trevrev]

Good evening people, my name is Trevor and i'm new to the boards.
I've been commuting 80 miles a week for the past 10 months after the " credit Crunch " hit me quite early on, and I had to sell my car that I used for work. I ride a Trek 7.1 fx, and for a cheapish bike it seems to be doing a good job at the moment. The tyres that were supplied with it were Bontrager select inverts ( Standard ) 700x35 and after two weeks and seven puntures later they had to go !!
I changed them to Michelin Transworld City, puncture resistant tyres, 700x32 which have been pretty good but are showing signs of the abuse they have suffered. Plus two punctures in the last three weeks due to, i'm sure to the cuts and chunks in the tyres. The other problem with the Michelin is the tread picks up all sorts so i spend ages picking it all out after my ride.

My question to you is what tyre should i go for?? I'm looking at Continental Sport Contact or Bontrager Racelite Hardcase.
These two tyres are very smooth, which is what i'm after and quite puncture resistant.
Has anyone on the boards had any experience of these tyres regarding pros and cons.
Thanks for you time............Trev.

 

[HLaB]

Ive never had conti sport contacts but given the experience of infrequent p'tures with my conti contacts, 4 seasons and grand prix. I'd go with the contis but then again I've not had bontrager's either.

 

[hackbike 666]

For innertubes to stop the dreaded p*nct*re I use these.

http://ncane.com/vaa

Although on the first commute I had a p*nct*re (it was a nail) I haven't had one since,touchwood.

I have to check my tyres for glass tommorow as I have done 7 commutes with no problems.

I've just ordered four more of these off of ebay.
I used these with armadillos I think they are.

It's been good as gold although the innertubes are four times thicker than a normal innertube apparently.

Another thing with these innertubes I find is that if you have a particularly tight tyre (ooer) that even I cant pinch the inner tube when putting it in,which is a bleedin miracle as I tend to do that quite regulary with normal innertubes.

These Thorn Resistant Kenda branded tubes have the Presta valve (Thin type) and are for Hybrid and road wheels.
Normal tubes are 1.1mm thick. These have and extra thick 4.3mm tube on the outerside where it matters. That's nearly 4 times the thickness of standard tubes.

Please note that these are thorn resistant, which doesn't mean they are p*nct*re proof.

No im not selling them im just happy with them.

 

[fossyant]

Well, I use the exact opposite commuting - lightweight slick tyres, pumped up...only one 'hole' in 6 months of the new lightweight tyres........glass shard.....

 

[hackbike 666]

What are the tyres and innertubes?
Size and the like?

I run 700x25.Protects my rims and spokes.

Probably slows me down but it's important for me not to get p*nct*res on the ride in,esp at 4-5 am.

I say if it works for you then what's the problem?

 

[boydj]

I find Specialized All-condition Armadillo - 700 x 25 - reliably difficult to puncture. One puncture in the last two years and that was a 3/4 inch screw.

 

[hackbike 666]

I find Specialized All-condition Armadillo - 700 x 25 - reliably difficult to p*nct*re. One puncture in the last two years and that was a 3/4 inch screw.

Not bad,sure I had more p*nct*res before I changed my innertubes.I really must stop gutter hugging.

 

[threefingerjoe]

Yes, I have experience with the Continental Sport Contacts. I really like that tyre! Even in the 700C x 35, they are a fast-rolling tyre. The one currently on the rear of my bike has over 6000 miles on it. HOWEVER...I don't think it's the most puncture-resistant tyre. I've had plenty of punctures, but that is the price you pay for a light, quick tyre. Tyres are a compromise. The lightest, fastest tyres are not going to be the most puncture-resistant. I find the Continental Sport Contact to be a good compromise that I can live with. Another tyre, which I think is similar, is the Schwalbe Kojak. I have those on my recumbent, and like them, so far, but I don't have enough miles on them to be able to vouch for their longevity or puncture-resistance.

 

[willem]

As a bike commuter and father of a bike commuting family, I think the most important virtue of commuter tyres is reliability. You don't want to be late for work because of a puncture, and I don't want to get a phonecall from my daughter that she has had a puncture at the other side of town. I love fast tyres for my fun bikes, but not for the commuter.
My favourite commuter tyre for the family is the Schwalbe Marathon (not the XR, the Plus or one of the other models). I think we have had one puncture during the last five years. They also last long, and are not particularly slow. And they have reflective sidewalls. I would go for the widest tyre that fits. They are not, or only hardly, slower, but they give you more grip and comfort.
We do have experience with the Conti Sportcontact. They are fast if you inflate them hard. Even my light daughter had too many punctures; fortunately they did not last long. I would love them on a fun bike, but not on a commuter.
Willem

 

[HF2300]

Another tyre, which I think is similar, is the Schwalbe Kojak.

Yeh, I had them, but they kept getting lollipops stuck to them...

 

[beanzontoast]

As a bike commuter and father of a bike commuting family, I think the most important virtue of commuter tyres is reliability. You don't want to be late for work because of a puncture, and I don't want to get a phonecall from my daughter that she has had a puncture at the other side of town. I love fast tyres for my fun bikes, but not for the commuter.
My favourite commuter tyre for the family is the Schwalbe Marathon (not the XR, the Plus or one of the other models). I think we have had one puncture during the last five years. They also last long, and are not particularly slow. And they have reflective sidewalls. I would go for the widest tyre that fits. They are not, or only hardly, slower, but they give you more grip and comfort.
We do have experience with the Conti Sportcontact. They are fast if you inflate them hard. Even my light daughter had too many punctures; fortunately they did not last long. I would love them on a fun bike, but not on a commuter.
Willem

+1. 700x25c in my case.

 

[Cromcruaich]

Been biking in for about 2.5 years, country lanes all the way with hawthorn hedges. Had three punctures a day a couple of times (nothing more depressing than repairing once then getting another one on the same journey). Tried various solutions, but finally shelled out for some marathon pluses and they are doing the job nicely so far.

Use a hybrid though, so can't comment on all this rolling resistance performance and stuff like that - I just know that puncture wise they do the job, which is all I care about.

 

[Wigsie]

In Cycling Plus (November or December) they reviewed the best winter training/commuting tyres... the Schwalbe Marathon Plus's came out on top for great puncture resistance without too much sacrifice in weight roll resistance etc.

They are not a small fortune to buy either - definately worth a look

 

[hackbike 666]

Never tried Marathon Plusses as I use Armadillo's...also noticed with my extra thick innertubes that they retain the air very well.Whatever you are happy with though is fair enough and at the end of the day the object is to prevent p*nct*res.Will look at Marathon Thingies in the future.

Marathon Plus's came out on top for great puncture resistance without too much sacrifice in weight roll resistance etc.

Aye I could understand that,I guess mine must have a lot of that esp with the innertubes but reliability is more important.

 

[Trevrev]

Thanks for all your input guys. I've been reading lots of reviews on tyres the last few days and it seems a good fast rolling bomb proof tyre is the Bontrager Racelite Hardcase. I'm going to try them and see how they fair.
The puncture fairy hit me on monday morning at 6am in the pouring cold rain with the Michelins i'm currently running.....:-(
It's all good fun ain't it !!!!! Trev.