I'm very happy with the P-SL1 tyres that came on my Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2, and they seem to get good reviews, but reports suggest they are not particularly puncture resistant. Is it worth upgrading to some Continental GP4000 IIs?
I have a separate winter/commuting bike, so perhaps I shouldn't be worried about puncture resistance too much, but with a couple of long sportives coming up this summer I'd rather not have to stop and faff with fixing punctures if possible.
Anyone used both tyres for an extended period? Any real world difference? Seems a shame to take off an essentially unworn pair of tyres that grip and roll well just for the sake of puncture paranoia.
Yes, night and day. Didn't rate mine though so your opinion may vary.
Interesting. My only other experience of road tyres is at either the cheaper end of the market, or the Conti Gatorskins that I run on my winter bike. Perhaps that's why I'm pleased with the SL1s.
I've used them extensively and they are good tyres IMO, grip well and a decent weight.
Punctures were not a problem until last month, when I got two in a week on the rear - so I've concluded it's worn too thin.
I thought my p-sl1's were ok, till they slipped on a steep climb in the wet. Swapped them for conti gp4000s.
Didn't have any issues with punctures though.
Bought a Defy and straight away swapped the Giant tires for GP 4000 2's - can't be objective about the originals but love my Conti's...
I've ridden through the winter on our local crap roads in all weathers and worn several sets out over 2 years. I cut sidewall (on the only local "cycle lane" - probably from other road rubbish swept into it...
if you can get 25mm or maybe even 28mm in a Disc Defy you should be fine...
I swopped same tyres for GP4000's on my Defy - night and day as others have said.
I also put in decent lightweight tubes, together it reduced rotating weight by a good chunk, 100g ish per wheel which helps.
Think I had some that came with my TCR. Can't remember them being that bad. Ran GP4000II's last year which were nice. Running some Specialized Turbo Cotton this year which are even nicer.
I also put in decent lightweight tubes,
Lightweight butyl tubes are ok but I found them to be pretty fragile. Latex tubes much better.
They are good tyres, and I raced them for a season until they wore down. Plenty of other options. At moment, I am really enjoying Vittoria Open Pave in both 27 and 25c widths. I also like Schwalbe Ones and have commuted on them all winter and raced them for a season. Curiously I am one of the very few Mavic tyre lovers too. But only the Pro Yksions made by Vittoria, I believe.
Latex inner tubes make a huge difference, but you will be topping up your tyres every two days.
I get on really well with the stock Giant Tyres on my TCR. I've had a handful of punctures but given the number of miles they've done it's nothing I've found concerning.
I did as well. Rode them until they wore out and replaced them with Lithion 2's (they were on the winter bike).
Hmm, mixed opinions. Think I'll get the Contis though. Can always but the SL-1s back on when the Contis wear out. Thanks for the opinions.
latex tubes and Vittoria Corsa G+ (graphene) tires on my road bike
the Giant tires are actually pretty reasonable, but quality 320 tpi open tubulars (Vittoria, Veloflex, Challenge) with latex tubes are a different world to both stock tires and vulcanised aftermarket tires like Conti's.
What do you reckon of those G+ tyres? Some impressive claims. Would be keen to see some test data on them.