Ok going to use a disc cross bike for commuting. It’s got 35mm cross tyres on it, but for a road commute I fancy slick(ish) tyres.

Any reason not to go with Conti Sport Contact II in a 700×35? Any other obvious contenders – Marathons perhaps, but which one, there are so many?

I have been using 2″ Schwable Big Apples on a Gyphon and the road bike runs Conti GP4000s in a 25mm – those two bikes are a couple of mph different over that distance.

My gravel bike came with schwalbe g one evos and I really like them.

Definately Not slow on road and the bike can be taken off-road as well..my commute some days is much more interesting and also found I could take some worthwhile shortcuts not being mr slicky.

Also go tubeless easy and that tubeless things great for commuting,had a few non-punctures and impressed.

Weight? The Contis are pretty heavy but the old set I had never punctured which is good for winter riding. If you want something super fast then the Vittoria Hyper Voyager are great and pretty cheap on PX/On-One.

28c gp4000s?

Kojak is a decent 35c option- enough puncture protection to make a difference, reasonably quick, pretty light. But still a lot slower than the GP.

Vittoria Voyager Hyper in 32mm, fast, light, with good puncture protection. Only downside is they are not brilliant in the wet.

Vittoria randonneur is my commuting tyre of choice. Good puncture protection, not mega heavy and cheap. Good on and fine off road (the by “mixed terrain” tyres off road are non existent as you will not be railing corners)

DEpends if punctures bother you. Schwalbe marathons are indestructible but also heavy. Lighter tyres are nicer to ride but you’ll get more punctures.

I tend to go for whatever claims to be puncture proof and on offer. Wiggle’s lifeline commuter tyre looked a good bet last time I looked.

Slight hijack….
After a couple of years commuting once a week or so 25 miles each way (road) on a 23c Conti Gatorskin road bike I have just ordered a Charge Plug 2.

It comes with “Maxxis Roamer Custom Skinwall, 70×42c” tyres.

Does anybody have any experience of these?

I’m considering swapping them for a pair of 700×35 schwalbe marathon plus before I ride it and selling the tan side wall beauties.

I worry that the stock 42 tyres will be too much of a jump from the 23c ones I’m used to, might be a bit tight on the 45mm SKS mudguards I’ve bought and will not offer enough puncture resistance.

But then again there are a couple of tracks I could take to avoid road for a few miles and the Maxxis looks to more suitable than the Marathon for this, I might also try riding some of the local singletrack on the Plug and the marathon would be crap, and the Maxxis are already on the bike so less spendy.

Any thoughts?

Vittoria XN Pro all year round, on and off road for me, perfect for where I ride Quantocks and Exmoor most of the time.

Schwalbe Marathon Supreme are much lighter and faster than regular Marathons, and still rather puncture proof.

Vittoria randonneur +1

Used to swap between to the Voyager Hyper for summer but now just use the randonneur all year round. Great tyres, cheap too.

For the past couple of years I’ve used Schwalbe cx comps. Roll very well and they do alright off road. A pair lasts me about 10-12 months.
I recently had to put some Landcruisers on – all that was available at short notice…and despite being heavy , once you get them rolling, they absolutely clatter through anything. Good fun on & off road. 😀

@snowrock, what are the differences between the randonneur and the hyper? Is the randonneur a bit more grippy?

Just noticed PX have the 32c Hypers back in stock for £15 – can’t go wrong there, I found no difference over 20 commuting miles between the 35c versions & the 28c Zaffiros I had on previously, other than increased comfort. The Randonneurs are a bit tougher I think & have more tread – the Voyager Hypers are almost slick.

Edit – also, the Rando’s are about 600g per end (wire) V about 400g for the Hypers (folding)

Edit edit – check here for rolling resistance / weight comparisons, it’s a great site: they see me rolling…

J

I’m a big fan of Conti Sport Contacts. Nearly as tough as Marathons but roll better.

Fwiw I use Sammy Slicks for my mixed road/towpath commute.

Vittoria Voyager Hyper in 32mm, fast, light, with good puncture protection. Only downside is they are not brilliant in the wet.

Vittoria randonneur is my commuting tyre of choice.

I’ve got some Hypers in 35mm on my commuter. Previously had 32mm Randonneur Pro. I’m going to have a go setting them up tubeless at the weekend. The Hypers are definitely more supple, but they are also quite a bit thinner.

According to bicyclerollingresistance.com, the Hypers have a very low crr http://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/tour-reviews/vittoria-voyager-hyper-2016

I do like my Voyager hypers, i just dont have much confidence with them in the wet after having them slide on me a few times. Thats comparing them to Gp4 seasons and Pro4 endurance in 28mm.

If you could let me know how well they go up tubeless, id have a go at doing it on mine.

Just gone with some Specialised Trigger Pro 2bliss 35c

The freebie 25c Durano DD were ok but I really don’t want to have to fix a puncture on em

If you could let me know how well they go up tubeless, id have a go at doing it on mine.

Haven’t forgotten about this. I was too busy with Hill Climb season to get around to it. I’m hoping to do it next weekend.

Challenge gravel grinders on my shopping list fore the same use.