puncture resistant tyres recommendations

thebourke

hey guys, i have a specialised sirrus hybrid bike...i am looking to get a new set of tyres..what would you recommend...basically looking for puncture resistant with a strong grip in the wet weather,what would be the best tryes to go for..i commute about 25k per day...

kincsem

First guess
Continental Gatorskins.

Lumen

As someone who tends to crash more often than I puncture, I'm happy with Continental GP4000Ss. Widest available is 25mm.

thebourke

i just came accross these
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-gatorskin-road-tyre/

any recommend them.....for a daily commute....

is 700/28c tye size the same as 700x28mm?

Lumen

thebourke wrote: »

is 700/28c tye size the same as 700x28mm?

Yes. The size is 700c x 28. 700c refers to the diameter of the bead seat. 28 is the tyre width, measured at its widest point at full pressure.

They're a typical compromise between puncture resistance, durability, grip, ride quality and cost.

ccull123

I had a numerous punctures over a two month period. I got the Schwalbe Marathon plus's and OMG what a difference. No punctures now in 8 months and i have cycled over some horrific surfaces. I couldnt recommend them enough. They are not cheap though. Your talking 60/70 euro.

Holyboy

Gator skins are a fantastic all round tyre and for some reason seem to have great puncture protection while still being fairly light and the rolling resistance is low too,if you want bomb proof tyres, then maybe try something like Schwalbe marathon plus in 25 or 28c,they are very heavy but still tacky on wet roads unlike something like a specialized armadillo,which are great at puncture protection but awful in wet conditions!

Lumen

I might try these on my next wide-tyred bike.

Schwalbe Marathon Racer Touring Folding Tire
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,103,105;product=3728

"Note: LiteSkin side walls are fast but fragile. Make sure the air pressure is correct."

I've never had a sidewall puncture on any tyre, FWIW.

Holyboy

Lumen wrote: »

I might try these on my next wide-tyred bike.

Schwalbe Marathon Racer Touring Folding Tire
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,103,105;product=3728

"Note: LiteSkin side walls are fast but fragile. Make sure the air pressure is correct."

I've never had a sidewall puncture on any tyre, FWIW.

Ah yes these are fantastic, my friend toured all over Europe on them with no problems, until he broke his leg while drunk one night and had to return to London:D
The only problem with them is they can be REALLY hard to seat some times!

Side Show Bob

Holyboy wrote: »

unlike something like a specialized armadillo,which are great at puncture protection but awful in wet conditions!

It's clear to me you have never used them, I am using 700 x 25 armadillos for a while now, they are my second set of Specialized all weather Tyres and they are fantastic way ahead of the gatorskin in every way, and great in the wet too!

Holyboy

Side Show Bob wrote: »

It's clear to me you have never used them, I am using 700 x 25 armadillos for a while now, they are my second set of Specialized all weather Tyres and they are fantastic way ahead of the gatorskin in every way, and great in the wet too!

I have used the 26" armadillos and found them alright but a bit pants in the wet , but obviously they are much wider than 700c tyers so should really be better, but I am basing my judgement on customer feed back and as they are fantastic at preventing punctures most customers say they are not great for cornering in the rain, where as I have never had one customer complain about a gator skin ever! I don't think Continental actually meant to make such a great tyre at such a good price, but they did and I think it's the best compromise tyre out there at the moment, not super light but tacky and low rolling resistance what's not to love??

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

I might try these on my next wide-tyred bike.

Schwalbe Marathon Racer Touring Folding Tire
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,103,105;product=3728

"Note: LiteSkin side walls are fast but fragile. Make sure the air pressure is correct."

I've never had a sidewall puncture on any tyre, FWIW.

Marathon Racers are a very nice tyre indeed. They are not as puncture resistant or as durable as other tyres in the Marathon range but they are not bad either and very nice rolling. I used the 700x35c Marathon Racer from Istanbul to Tehran, then replaced the front with something local and swapped the front Racer onto the back and continued with it as far as Muscat in Oman.

I have been using the Marathon Supreme and Dureme since Mumbai- they are more durable and possibly more puncture resistant and still good rolling but not quite as nice as the Racer. I did rip the sidewall in a Supreme with only 1,000km on it when an oncoming truck forced me off the road- this was the 23rd time that day, but that particular time there was a bit of a drop and the side of the road nicked the tyre as I went off I think. In usual use probably not a problem.

For long distance, I'd stick with the Dureme as the best trade-off, but touring in Ireland/Europe the Racer.

@SSB- Armadillos are, relative to other tyres, very poor in the wet. I used them for two years and had two incidents where the bike came out from under me which I would certainly put down to the tyres... I have never had that issue with any other tyre. Basically you can't lean very much into a corner on them if it is wet, or you will go over. They are excellent however at puncture protection.

tomasrojo

I used armadillos for years, with very, very few punctures, but then I changed bikes and I couldn't get them onto my new wheels. So I've been using gatorskins for the last two years. One puncture at the very start, and nothing since, so I'm happy.

4li5t4ir

I have used Schwalbe Marathon pluses on my commuter for the last year and a bit and I love them. I think mine are 28mm, might go a bit larger in the future as the roads into town from my area area a disaster is most places. I've had only one puncture in all that time. They are expensive (€25-30 each) and heavy, and have pronounced tread making them less nippy then others, but as a daily commuter tyre they are exactly what I need.

Tonyandthewhale

I use panaracer rimbo's on my tourer (35mm) and used them for on my road bike for a year or two as well (23mm) and I like them. Punctures resistance was decent (several thousand km without a problem on the 23s and none as yet on the 35's), haven't had any problems with grip or rolling resistance although I think the victoria rubinos currently on my road bike are better for speed and cornering.

Have yet to use gatorskins so can't say if all the fuss is warranted.