Fellow commuters (tyres) thread

on 700 rims, what tyres, size etc are you using on what sort of terrain?

Anyone having major puncture issues?

switched to 25mm conti 4 seasons, and they’ve been good on the mean streets of london and surrey.

Got to recommend Spesh Nimbus tyres. Used them for years, and even the standard versions have only had one or two punctures. I’ve seen a set of Armadillo tyres, that have completely worn out, and never had a puncture!

1.5″/38c Nimbusses are a very good all-round urban tyre; fast enough for some decent speed, yet have enough air volume to deal with potholes, kerbs, etc. Can handle dry footpaths ok. Ok on wet roads, too. I use mine aroundLondon; roads, paths, canal towpath, the odd bit of stuck down gravel stuff, etc. Very long lasting, and excellent value for money.

Conti gp4000 S, 23mm. I ride mostly on main roads, and ride on the road, so I don’t need them to deal with kerbs or anything.

No punctures yet (>1000 miles in).

They are a little bit more expensive than some tyres, but seem to last well (no obvious wear yet), have good puncture protection, yet are very very fast. As long as you keep them nice and hard (100-110psi), and look where you’re riding, they work fine.

Joe

I’m currently using a dying Kenda Kontendor on the front (26c), and a Conti Ultragatorskin on the rear (25c). The Kenda came on the bike; the Conti was a replacement for a worn Kontendor.

The only one I’ve suffered a puncture with is the Conti…. Oh, and I can’t say I find it that great in the wet, either. A training ride on (a wet) Tuesday night found it slipping on shiny bits of tarmac and some ironwork.

I can see why some might prefer a slightly wider tyre for commuting, but I use my commuter as my winter trainer, so need something that’s good to ride through the winter on club runs. I tend to run both tyres at 100psi.

I’m on 38c Crossrides at the moment…did’nt realise how much they dragged until I rode and swapped bikes with a pal….admitted, he was on 23’s..

Running 23mm Michelin Krylion Carbons for over a year now – roughly 3000 miles, 2 (glass) punctures. The rear tyre does have 47 nicks and cuts in it mind, so I’m waiting for ProBikeKit to get them back in stock cheap. (I de-glassed the tyres when I changed wheels last week, and was sad enough to count the holes after I’d finished)

This is on a road bike, over the potholed and glass strewen streets of Ilkeston/Nottingham, and some Peak District winter riding.

If the bike had clearance, I’d put 25mm tyres on, otherwise they have been excellent.

Conti Travel Contact 700×37. 1 puncture in 6500km and probably 60% worn, maybe less. Bulletproof but too heavy

Kenda Nevegals at the moment, I think.

I’m using 32mm Bontrager lites hardcase tyres for commuting on my cx bike, route is a mix of glass strewn cycle path and the mean streets of suburbia. Seem to be holding up well.

I use Continental GP 4 Season on my road bike at the moment which I really like and I think I’ll stick them on the commuter when daylight, and less hassle to change a tube, finally comes to these parts

mostly run conti world tour 35c, reflective sidewalls and only a fiver

have run conti gator skins 25c, when i was doing more training miles on this bike as well as the commuting.

Kinda like the monster truck momentum of big slicks though

never had a puncture…

700×38 Schwalbe Marathon Plus 0 punctures in 4 years no idea on mileage but it’s greater than 7500 miles, downside is they are really heavy, all road/bike path (occasional bridleway if it’s really dry).
Other half has been using the non plus version for 2 years quite happily as well also 0 punctures, she had Continental Ultra Sports on her road bike but she has had loads of punctures in the 2 months she’s owned it so we’ve just put on Continental Ultra Gator Skins on, I’ve also got 25c gatorskins on my road bike but too new to comment on yet.

Schwalbe Marathon Plus are really heavy looking on wiggle 940grams!

Using WTB Slickasaurus 35c no punctures yet but only had them on the new Roadrat since October

Conti Ultragatorskin 700x25c here and a total of maybe 3 punctures in the 6 years I’ve been commuting in London.

Used both 23mm, Conti 4 seasons and Conti gp4000S, not noticed much difference in either tbh, both cope easily with 5k worth of yearly commuting, but then again I am hardly pushing them to the limit, both been fine puncture wise.

Prob. get one flat a year, if that.

Spesh armadillo, all condition or Nimbus for many years on all sorts of surfaces form clean roads to debris ridden canal paths. Also been using an inherited Schwalbe Marathon plus and seem good if heavy. I’ve gone form 25 to 28 recently and I’m enjoying the comfort for no perceivable loss in speed.

Conti GP4000 23mm for my commute. Mainly main urban roads with various degrees of surface. Over 1,000 miles and no punctures. Inflated to 110 psi & I check them regularly for glass shards

25mm conti 4 seasons work for me, 2000+ miles a year = 1 puncture (so far!)

Conti GP 4 season 700×28 here (I lied on another post the other day when I said 700×32;-)) on pot-holed country lanes and gravel cycle paths. Touch wood, 1 puncture in last 12 months (approx. 1000 miles).

Conti Ultra Gatorskin 700x23c for me @ 120psi, me being 84kg & riding on potholed & muchos gravelly roads thanks to the recent rain.

Honestly wouldn’t recommend the Conti GP4000’s at this time of year (for puncture-proofing) – even 4 Season efforts – although they do stick well when it’s dry.

I do about 7000km a year & usually get about 2-3 commuting flats / yr which I reckon is about as good as it gets on the (sometimes awful) condition of the roads.

700x38c Schwalbe Marathons. I think 2 punctures in 3000 road and cycle track miles so far, and probably half the life left. I had been running Conti Top Touring 700x32c before, but I kept dinging the rims and getting the odd pinch flat as well as quite a few other punctures. For me I ride my commute bike too much like my mtb, so I found I needed wide tyres…

The Bontrager hardcase 28s have been doing the job efficiently since the summer. Pumped to around 85psi ’cause I’m a softie.

Can be found cheap too – £10 each in a range of sizes from All Terrain Cycles.

Specialised Armadillo here – 23mm. Tried Conti Ultra Gator skins and maybe I was just unlucky but they didn’t seem as robust / confidence inspiring on wet roads. Riding in London / Surry.

Ive got some High Roller Super tacky if you want to borrow…

I have a headset press if you want to borrow…..gonna get those Bonty 2.3 things you have for the Soda, but my Rat needs speeding up

Wanna swap computers?

Michelin Pro Race 3’s, 700 x 23c, on a road bike, i prefer the speed and ease of rolling for my 35-45mile round trip.

Its all open roads though, well, 6 miles of town roads, but they are generally dead on for debris. I did slash one on wednesday though on a broken bottle on the pavement when i had just mounted it to get off. God Damn it. I think it would have ruined most tires though.

bontrager racelites for the mean streets of London

cheap too.