race tyres?

ted9308

considering a new set of race tyres..What is the best value for money/what do you guys race on?(clincher btw)..I was considering a set of schwalbe ultremo's but are they worth their money?

Comm2

Vittoria open corsa or veloflex black with latex tubes.

72hundred

Conti GP 4000 S

RobFowl

Michelin Pro race 3's

blorg

I have used and been very happy with Schwalbe Ultremos and Conti GP4000S. Both are very good. The Contis are a fair bit more difficult to get onto rims.

I have avoided Vittoria Open Corsas simply due to their puncture-prone reputation (given the state of our roads.)

RobFowl

blorg wrote: »

I have avoided Vittoria Open Corsas simply due to their puncture-prone reputation (given the state of our roads.)

I used to use these but stopped as they cut up far too quickly and as you say were very puncture prone.

The Pro race 3's are reasonably hard wearing and puncture resistant. Relatively cheap as well.

Chips Lovell

Vittoria Corsa CX tubulars are the nicest tyres I've ever used and I believe the clincher version also offer a great ride, but I gave them up since I thought they cut a little too easily.

For clinchers I've always used Continental GP4000S and found that they provided quite a good level of puncture protection while being reasonbly fast tyres. I've raced on them plenty of times. I've got a set of Vittoria Open Pave which I'm going to whack on the bike soon in the hope that they may be the ultimate combination of suppleness and puncture protection and plan to try them for training and wet weather racing. I figure if the pros use them for Paris Roubaix, they may survive in Ireland.

One of the few drawbacks of the GP4000S is that they seem to put a lot of rubber on the thread, which probalby explains their durability, but it means they tend to square off over time. Also, I've gone down twice in the wet on them, and I've heard of others doing the same, so while they are defnitely grippier than most training tyres I've tried, I do wonder if there are others that hold the road a bit better. Of course, that is kind of anecdotal and it might be all in my head. I will say that if the Paves don't work out, I'd have not hesitation going back to the GP4000S.

I've come to the conclusion that Irish roads are just too crap for the really top end tyres, even if you're only using them for racing. Most of the time you're racing unsupported and a flat means your race is over. So you've got to balance the performance with reliability.

I usually use latex tubes in my clinchers. They are supposed to roll better, but one of the main advantages is that they are less prone to punctures. The downside is that they are more expensive, trickier to fit and need to be pumped up pretty much every day.

blorg

Do you notice a ride quality difference with the latex tubes? Does it move towards the feel of a tub?

dave2pvd

el tonto wrote: »

I've come to the conclusion that Irish roads are just too crap for the really top end tyres, even if you're only using them for racing. Most of the time you're racing unsupported and a flat means your race is over. So you've got to balance the performance with reliability.

^ Too true.

Chips Lovell

blorg wrote: »

Do you notice a ride quality difference with the latex tubes? Does it move towards the feel of a tub?

They make the tyre feel slightly different, kind of lighter on the road, but nothing major. Tubs feel much more different.

Lumen

Consider Michelin Pro Grip 3 for wet racing (not that I have any experience of that yet, but they're good in the dry, light and surprisingly durable).

Murph100

Lumen, Thought you only had one !!

Lumen

Murph100 wrote: »

Lumen, Thought you only had one !!

I only use it on the front where punctures are less likely and grip is more critical (figure I am more likely to be able to catch a rear slide). It's completely unmarked after getting on for 1000km.

Bought another one as a spare, might stick it on for a very wet race.

IM0

blorg wrote: »

Do you notice a ride quality difference with the latex tubes? Does it move towards the feel of a tub?

The reason for latex tubes is they reduce pinch flats, and a bit of weight (:rolleyes:)
but you really dont want to take them on pyreneen/alpine descents, they blow out alot easier than normal tubes.

mloc123

RobFowl wrote: »

Michelin Pro race 3's

yes, bought some a few weeks ago... lovely tyre