Which Looks Best?

[mjr]

"used to be good" should be Conti's slogan. Go Vittoria.

 

[winjim]

The Vittorias.

That is how tyres should look.

Too right. I'd keep the Vittorias, but maybe start looking around for a frameset to go with them.

 

[bpsmith]

Cheers for all the replies everyone. It's interesting to hear what other people think, even/especially if opinions differ.

Not a Ridley is it by any chance?

Yup. Bought on impulse at a silly price last September. Noah SL in Lotto Soudal colours.

I prefer the ones which don't puncture, grip the road and roll the best.

Well, to be fair, both sets of tyres grip and roll brilliantly in tests. Having ridden both, I can vouch for that being true. The Vittoria's appear to grip better than the Conti's but the Conti's had done 4,250 miles so unfair to directly compare. Can't, and won't comment on the puncture comparison yet.

I can not believe you put two sets of tyres just to see what they look like
Take it for a ride and go with the ones that ride the best
But I do prefer the black ones

I didn't fit them just to compare them. The Conti's had done 4250 miles. Took one photo before changing, then the other after fitting the new ones.

That bike's far too clean, get out there man and ride it.

It actually needs a clean tbh. Not cleaned it in 400 miles, which is very unlike me.

^^^^ This - if the sidewalls on the Vittorias had been white to match the frame that would have probably swayed me, but they're not and it adds a colour too many.

Plus, everyone knows that Conti make the best tyres...

Couldn't have done white. That would have been just wrong, although I can see why you have suggested that. I did actually think that they would be a touch more orangey, and so would have matched the subtle Belgian Flag stripes along the down tube more.

"used to be good" should be Conti's slogan. Go Vittoria.

I would have to agree. The Vittoria's feel amazing so far. Really smooth and fast too. That's with Race 28 butyl tubes. Wonder if the Latex would be even more amazing. The Conti's were very good too mind you, with no visits from the P Fairy in 4,250 miles on them.

Too right. I'd keep the Vittorias, but maybe start looking around for a frameset to go with them.

No room for a third bike. Oldest bike sold when the Ridley came. Second bike is a Matt Black Bianchi, so there's always a chance that they may end up on there at some point.

 

[Cuchilo]

The black ones make the rim sections look deeper .

 

[bpsmith]

The black ones make the rim sections look deeper .

Looking back at the photo's, you're definitely right. They're 45mm rims, rather than 60's, so this probably emphasises that fact.

 

[biggs682]

Red ones are quicker

 

[Alan O]

Bit late on this, but on that bike I'd say the all-black look better.

White/cream/amber sidewalls look great on vintage steel bikes.

 

[bpsmith]

Bit late on this, but on that bike I'd say the all-black look better.

White/cream/amber sidewalls look great on vintage steel bikes.

Certainly do look great on vintage bikes. Don't disagree there.

I really like them on my Ridley and chuffed with the performance too.

This thread was never about whether I should keep them on, or not, but more about the interest of other views. Gumwall tyres are certainly a Marmite kind of item.

 

[Levo-Lon]

Black..the other's look awful with that perfectly colour coordinated bike..

 

[EasyPeez]

Black

 

[bpsmith]

Roughly a 60:40 split. I honestly thought that it would be a whitewash, in favour of Black.