Best Value Puncture Resistant Tyre?

gaffmaster

Hi all,

Got a puncture on the side wall of my rear Vittoria Rubino 700-23. The tube now looks like it is about to blow out through the side wall.

I'm looking for a replacement. So what are the best value puncture resistant tyres?

I have read good things about Specialized Armadillos, but cannot find them online (CRC or Wiggle dont seem to stock them). I have seen them in Cycleways for about €30 each.

Continental Gatorskins have also been recommended to me. And seem a little cheaper.

The Vittoria ones I have on now were pretty good, and went puncture free for 1700km. Can I expect that kind of performance from other tyres or was I just lucky?

Cheers for any opinions and help.

jdt101

+1 Gatorskins

tomasrojo

I used Armadillos for years, and once went two years without getting a puncture out on the road (I deglassed the tyres every weekend; this is important, I found, as you get far more punctures if you don't). However, I had to give up on Armadillos, because I got a new bike and it was enormous effort to install them or get them off (as in 30 minutes of thumb-wrecking Herculean effort and broken tyre levers).

So I switched to Gator Skins a month ago and have found them fine so far (though I have got one puncture in that time -- but at least I was able to get the tyre off to change the tube). They're a more pleasant ride than the Armadillos, for sure.

oflahero

Both CRC and Wiggle have been out of gatorskins (x23) for ages now, I've had an order already renewed with Wiggle and still waiting. Definitely popular.

Stagg's in Lucan had a huge pile of 'em last time I was in, if you're looking for some in a hurry.

durrus

Bontrager Hardcase is a good tyre, not as dead a ride as the Armadillo imho.

dubmess

+1 GatorSkins, not impermeable, but pretty tough, while still being a grippy and comfortable ride.

DirkVoodoo

Tyres are only a part of the equation. In fact, I think the equation might look something like this:

punctures = [(route)+(tyres)+(weight)+(pressure)+(ability to spot hazards and avoid)]*[Luck^3]

Really though, I use gatorskins for commuting and they have been fine so far, but don't get complacent and think tyres will let you ride through rivers of glass.

Is this a commuter bike or a trainer/racing bike? I know Tom is not fond of gatorskins for anything other than commuting. Do you keep the pressure regularly topped up?

Beasty

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

punctures = [(route)+(tyres)+(weight)+(pressure)+(ability to spot hazards and avoid)]*[Luck^3]

This does not make sense - it's either Luck^(1/3) or (Bad Luck)^3

DirkVoodoo

Beasty wrote: »

This does not make sense - it's either Luck^(1/3) or (Bad Luck)^3

Oh yes sorry, that's the formula for puncture avoidance...I apologise for the raft of punctures caused by this mix up

For anyone waiting for gatorskins, I noticed probikekit have them in for £21 a pop.

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y1320

blorg

Gatorskins for commuting, yes. They are dead dead tyres though, I actually have a very slow flat in a rear one at the moment and although it takes over 24 hours to go down it feels flat from the get go. That is just the normal Gatorskin experience!

Armadillos are worse, although you will never get a puncture.

cdaly_

I've been happily running a pair of Vittoria Randonneurs since last summer. Replaced a blown-out pair of Schwalbe 'puncture resistant' tyres...

mfdc

Have Gatorskins on my road bike and they puncture all the time - hell the rear punctured on their first trip. I've had about 5 punctures so far this year on them, and I'm only on the road bike 3 days a week. Have Schwalbe Marathon Plus' on my commuter and in 18 months the only things that've punctured them are a nail and a shard of glass the size of my fingernail. They're incredibly heavy, but if you want puncture resistance you can't do better imo.

jdt101

blorg wrote: »

Gatorskins for commuting, yes. They are dead dead tyres though, I actually have a very slow flat in a rear one at the moment and although it takes over 24 hours to go down it feels flat from the get go. That is just the normal Gatorskin experience!

Armadillos are worse, although you will never get a puncture.

110k last Sat in 3hr45min on Gatorskins.... wouldn't say that they are that dead.

2000km no punctures.

leftism

I would recommend Michelin Krylium Carbons in 700x23...

I had a set for 5 years without a puncture and they seem to have good rolling resistance (got round the Tour of Kildare in under 3 hours on them).

Going to go buy a new set of them next month!

blorg

jdt101 wrote: »

110k last Sat in 3hr45min on Gatorskins.... wouldn't say that they are that dead.

Yes, of course, but you would have actually enjoyed the experience with GP4000s.

LastGasp

oflahero wrote: »

Both CRC and Wiggle have been out of gatorskins (x23) for ages now, I've had an order already renewed with Wiggle and still waiting. Definitely popular.

Stagg's in Lucan had a huge pile of 'em last time I was in, if you're looking for some in a hurry.

Plenty of them in new Wheelworx in Fonthill today. Don't know the price though.

jdt101

Gatorskin has been replaced with the Hardshell

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y0097

jdt101

blorg wrote: »

Yes, of course, but you would have actually enjoyed the experience with GP4000s.

The good bike will be out soon...and yes with GP4000s's.

DirkVoodoo

jdt101 wrote: »

Gatorskin has been replaced with the Hardshell

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y0097

Interesting, were these just released?

blorg

jdt101 wrote: »

The good bike will be out soon...and yes with GP4000s's.

My point is simply that the feel is horrible, I use them myself on the commuter but have tried other nicer (while still somewhat puncture resistant) tyres on my nice winter bike- Maxxis Columbiere, Schwalbe Stevlio in 25, that sort of thing.

Golfanatic

armadillos are the best m dad commuts on them everyday for 5 years not one puncture mikes bikes dun laoghaire sell them

Slasher

I got a Flat Free tyre in Hollingsworth, for EUR37. Expensive, but so far so good.

How much are the Armadillos?

tomasrojo

I think Armadillos work out at about 30E per tyre. I might have got them for 27E once in Cycleogical.

tomasrojo

jdt101 wrote: »

Gatorskin has been replaced with the Hardshell

http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=Y0097

Do you mean that the original Gatorskin has been discontinued now?

tomasrojo

Just checked them on Chain Reaction Cycles. Discontinued. Pity that. I've just switched to Gatorskins (700x28) and now they're gone. The Hardshell doesn't seem to come in 28s.

blorg

Golfanatic wrote: »

armadillos are the best m dad commuts on them everyday for 5 years not one puncture mikes bikes dun laoghaire sell them

Armadillos have even worse road feel than Gatorskins. You won't puncture on them though, they are a good commuting option. If puncture protection is your #1 priority and you don't care about road feel I would recommend them.

I got 20,000km out of a pair without a puncture, I rode them until they very literally fell apart (still without puncturing.) Very slippery in the wet too, I came off twice on corners.

blorg

tomasrojo wrote: »

Just checked them on Chain Reaction Cycles. Discontinued. Pity that. I've just switched to Gatorskins (700x28) and now they're gone. The Hardshell doesn't seem to come in 28s.

They are available in 700x28, PBK just don't sell anything like that, they are pretty roadie focused; I'm surprised they even sell it in a 25.

Rapid Rider

I'm looking for some new tyre also. I have had a bad experience with Gator Skins both tyres ripped along the side wall! I think I might give Armadillos a go! Anyone know where in Dublin sells them?

moggs1972

Conti GP 4 seasons or Krylion carbons, the michelins can be got for around 23€ on PBK