Recommend me some Paris Roubaix tyres....

Specialized Roubaix

Go 23mm for the full old school experience.

Posted by: kentishman

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Go 23mm for the full old school experience.

Solid rubber ones?

C40 with 23 mm tubs on Ambrosio aluminium rims.

If you're doing the sportive, go bigger. 34-36.

Some sectors you'll potentially be hitting the cobbles blind. Or you'll end up in the ruts when,

C40 with 23 mm tubs on Ambrosio aluminium rims.

fails to negotiate yet another corner.

Last cobbles i did at pace was on 25mm tubs on Nemesis. (Not a C40 though.) Wasn't pleasant or pretty.

Having ridden the full-length P-Rx Sportive a few times on 25mm tyres, you don’t want to make it harder for yourself. A higher volume tyre at lower pressure would be my choice - Panaracer Gravelking Slicks in 40mm, a touch slower on tarmac but you’ll appreciate it on the rougher stuff like Arenberg, Mons en Pevele and Carrefour de l’arbre.

Ive done the long route a few times, my favourite 'organised' event - I had the vittoria Pave CG (Green sidewalls), Im sure my last set were around 32mm, which were the largest I could fit in a TCR frame at the time...

Tyre pressure is hugely important, don't just pump up to 80 and think you'll let some out if you need, you wont you'll carry on riding bouncing over the cobbles...

and don't forget back into Roubaix there will be traffic!  it was a bit of a shock after 90 odd miles of near empty roads..

I'd just go conti5000 32 with an insert.

Something to be aware of, though, is that inserts can make tyres very hard to remove out on the road - they have a strong beadlock effect on some rims. So whilst they are the most protective setup you can run, esp for an event like this, if disaster does strike and you get an unpluggable puncture you need strong hands / good technique to remove the tyre. 

In the dry 28mm Schwalbe G-ones I think were my boot of choice a few years ago. If it’s wet then hopes and prayers are probably best.