Forum menu
I need to replace the tyres on my Secteur bit actually have no knowledge of road tyres.
They are a 700x25c size so would like to keep that size but would like something a bit faster rolling than the spesh Espoir tyres currently fitted.
Do you have any recommendations on a pair for £50.
Can't beat Conti GP4000s II I think.
I fitted the 25s and both rolling and comfort seemed to improve.
These [url= https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/veloflex-master-folding-tyre-twinpack/ ]Veloflex tyres[/url] are pretty close to your budget, and superb in every way.
I am using them now by choice, having used them as a replacement for my Conti GP 4000s, and oh my they are nice.
Plus, they are available in skinwall, so really tick all the boxes.
Sorry, I tried to embed a URL. Try this link:
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/veloflex-master-folding-tyre-twinpack/
Schwalbe Duranos here, all good.
Schwalbe Ultremo's with latex tubes are my 'nice' tyres.
Before that I had GP4000's, the Schwalbe do feel nicer, and they're matt and look like a MotoGP slick with big logos, whereas the Conti's looked shiny like a cheap car tyre. That may all be in my head though!
Conti GP4000S II in 25mm do everything well, but a little pricey if no offers about. That said worth it for a buy once, buy right. Was doing a L2P so treated myself as I didn't have anything else to buy for it.
Had Clement Strada 25mm on before - cheap, tough and adequate in all other departments - I thnk the Contis have a very slight edge in speed and grip, but I'd have no problem with another set of the Clements.
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12px; background-color: #eeeeee;">Conti GP4000S II in 25mm do everything well</span>
This.
Spotty Dog IMHO.
Was just going to hijack slightly and ask about Duranos, considering these as a commuter tyre on my road bike, IHN what's your experience with the puncture protection on the Duranos, reckon it's any cop?
Continental Grand Prix 4000S II user here. Very happy.
I chucked a couple of 25mm Conti GP 4seasons on the winter bike at Christmas.
Feel grippy and fast in the wet - bit above your budget though at £32 each.
If you're on a strict budget, ive heard that the Lifeline (Wiggles own brand?) tyres get a decent review.
Another vote for Veloflex Open Corsas. Been using them for about four years now and they are luvverly and smooth with amazing grip. The Master is the same with tan walls. Haven't looked recently but I guess about £56 a pair from Ribble. I will never use another tyre, especially on greasy wet roads.
Continental GP4000 for me. Had a Durano on for a short while when I wrecked a tyre whilst out on a ride and just happened to be near a bike shop and that's all they had. Just couldn't get on with it, no matter what pressure I had it, it just squirmed around. Fortunately it was on the back so not too worrying but replaced with a GP4000 ASAP once I'd ordered one.
[i]Was just going to hijack slightly and ask about Duranos, considering these as a commuter tyre on my road bike, IHN what’s your experience with the puncture protection on the Duranos, reckon it’s any cop?[/i]
I've had a pair of Durano Etapes on my nice bike for ages now (they're due to be changed TBH). Couple of thousand miles probably, maybe a bit more, can only remember one puncture.
There are loads of Durano models though, had some of the super puncture preventative ones on another bike and they rode pretty horribly. Alright for a commuter, but I wouldn't want them on anything half-decent.
GP4 Seasons are great, accept no substitute! GP4000s are a little lighter & faster but not so as you'd notice, and they're more fragile.
I'm a fan of Continental Grand Sport. Not the pinnacle of performance perhaps, but for £20 an end, they are fast (enough) comfortable (enough) and puncture resistant (enough). I keep on going back for more.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/continental-grand-sport-race-road-bike-tyre/rp-prod148141
Wiggle lifeline prime armour are astonishing value for money. I've also heard good things about the prime race too
Veloflex Corsa/Master are lovely and fast but fragile. They're great for a Sunday best bike but perhaps not for an every day bike.
I've never got on with GP4000's (I accept I'm in the minority here) but for an all round tyre they do get a lot of love. The new Michelin Power tyres are worth a look too.
Another mention for veloflex masters at the other end of the spectrum, with a latex tube they're lovely.
I've got conti GP4000SII which are good, and some Clement Strada LGG which are equally good.
Conti GP4000S II or the 4Seasons - both excellent tyres IMO
Michelin Power Endurance here. Had Pro 3 courses before but the endurance seam as fast but without the puncture. Still nothing is as good as the sadly missed Kylion Carbons IMO.
Sometimes I hanker after the some Veloflex's but I hate punctures.
I've got 25mm and 28mm (that both size big) Conti Grand Sport Race, they perform well, but I'm out of the loop on modern top end tyres.
Nearly bought a pair of <span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #444444; font-size: 12.8px;">Conti GP4000S II from Ribble when they were £25 each until very recently.</span>
I've used Duranos and come back from rides with chunks out of them. I stick to GP4000S's these days and never have any problems.
I dunno what your Spesh tyres are like but these are very good for an all-conditions tyre that still has a bit of zip...
Gp 4000 2 are the best all round. If you want a same speed, higher protection winter tyre the Conti brand prix gt is very awesome, and cheap.
Vittoria Rubino Pro G+ £19.95 from Merlin, I used 4000s before and the Rubinos seem to roll just as well. The 4000's are quite big and there was not much clearance on my TCR ,Rubinos are a little smaller.
No issues with Durano's here either. I've got the model with the puncture resistant band, so not the lightest tyre out there, but durability and puncture resistance is more important for me - I'm not racer.
"<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12px;">I’ve used Duranos and come back from rides with chunks out of them"</span>
Interesting you say that. Last year I did a cycling event in Iceland and came back with chunks/scallops taken out of the rear only. Others in my riding group also had them so the same thing across a range of tyre brands including the famous GP4000's so I put it down to the road surface, which was pretty abrasive for some sections, or some other thing we were all doing - we were loading bikes on a trailer as it was a relay style race, so could have been something to do with the trailer and rack on the trailer.
Anyone gone tubeless on 700 25c tyres?
Just trying some Hutchinson Fusion 5 tubeless in 25c on the training bike. Come up quite narrow for 25’s. Feel is pretty good.
One big cut that didn’t seal and trashed the tyre. But cleaning the bike the other day I peeled a bunch of sealant from inside the mud guards so looks like it’s been doing some sealing.
I ran Pro Ones tubeless. Nice tyres but fragile and poor in the cold and wet. Save them for summer.
The OE Schwalbe Duranos that came on my Synapse spontaneously developed an aneurysm. Dangerous.
Got on quite well with those Fusion 5, got them really cheap sonshop around...they do come up small but just what I needed when swapping my training wheels over onto a bike with reduced clearance. 25mm Pro Ones came up at 28mm, good tyres but yeah they’re a bit fragile.
Just ordered IRC RBCC in 25mm, seem to have some good reviews and will hopefully go a bit further than the Schwalbe (but at a price)
Got some Pro One’s but couldn’t get them seated on my rims, just too tight. Fusions much better.
IRC look interesting.
Still not convinced about tubeless. Decent open tub style clinchers with latex tubes do feel more right to me.
And when I did get a cut that wouldn’t seal, tubeless were a pain to get on and off with cold wet hands. And the sealant is bloody cold too when you get it on your hands.
First time I went back to tubes I pinch flatted!
Vittoria diamante pros when they're 15 notes on planetex.
Latex tubes
Served me well.
Still not convinced about tubeless. Decent open tub style clinchers with latex tubes do feel more right to me.
And when I did get a cut that wouldn’t seal, tubeless were a pain to get on and off with cold wet hands.
Do you think you get more cuts that won't seal than with MTB tubeless? That would be my fear when thinking about the more fragile tyres and higher pressures involved.
I only usually seem to get one or two flats a year with tubes anyway, so it seemed like a no brainer - but I've had two this year already (albeit one where I mistimed a bunnyhop into the edge of a pothole).
Still unlikely to try it but it's good to hear from someone who's done it and isn't totally evangelical.
<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic; background-color: #eeeeee;">Do you think you get more cuts that won’t seal than with MTB tubeless? That would be my fear when thinking about the more fragile tyres and higher pressures involved.</span>
Had one bad cut on the front that didn't seal, but it was a big one and needed a boot and tube.
Since switching to latex tubes I rarely get punctures that aren't big cuts so couldn't see the point of road tubeless for me. Then got a couple of small ones recently that made me think I'd give it a try. Looks like it might have sealed a few as, like I said, there was a fair bit of dried sealant on the insides of my guards. One of those things that you don't really know when it's working but you definitely know when it's not.
Also I expect it's probably going to be a bit more maintenance. Need to keep check pressures in case I've lost a bit of air, so no less hassle than latex tubes. Also I probably need to check sealant level fairly regularly as it looks like some has made its way out already.
Good info ta, I don't think it'll be right for me TBH - it's bad enough changing a tube on a normal tyre with freezing fingers.
I've given up on Road tubeless after a couple of incidents that wouldn't have happened had I just had a tube in. I also find tubeless tyres tend to be a bit dead feeling compared to something like a GP4000 so I'm happy to chuck the valves away and stick with tubes. I realise others have different experiences but I can't be bothered with the hassle.
Pro 1's are bloody awful in the wet, I've had 28mm and 25mm, tubeless and run with a tube and didn't get on with either set. I like vittoria Corsa's for summer riding and Turbo cottons are lovely (but wear quickly). Sadly I keep coming back to GP4000's, I just wish they were a bit sexier!
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12px;">keep coming back to GP4000’s</span>
As a year round tyre to train on it's hard to go wrong with a GP4000. Fast enough, confidently grippy, nice profile, wear ok round here (killed by flint cuts usually.)
.
Michelin pro4 endurance are probably on your price point, roll and grip fine, not had issues with the commuter (front only so not sure about wear speed on the rear..)
get conti supersonic tubes, they weigh as much as a latex and don't need pumping every ride
| <span style="color: #444444; font-size: 12px;">get conti supersonic tubes, they weigh as much as a latex and don’t need pumping every ride</span>
Latex not really about weight though. More about suppleness and feel. IME they're much more puncture resistant than light butyl too.
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ARGHHH this new f'ing forum is shite :-(</span>