Anybody able to recommend me some tubs that will suit training and racing?

Woody_FX

Hi guys,

Anybody able to recommend me some tubs that will suit training and racing?

Just looking for some good options.

Thanks,
-W

Chips Lovell

Continental Sprinters. Robust but still good enough to race on.

dedocdude

Theres no thread on Sprinters so not good for wet crits. GP4000's a better all-rounder - for racing.

For training, dont use tubs.

Chips Lovell

You actually don't need tread on bike tyres, as Sheldon explains here.

GP4000 make for great clinchers but there are mixed reports about the tubs.

But yes, I wouldn't train on tubs myself, but if you're are going to, then I'd recommend something like the Sprinters.

dave2pvd

dedocdude wrote: »

For training, dont use tubs.

Unless you have a pair of these:

Maxxis Forza

I'll let you know how they work out in about a month.

OP, ideally you need different tyres for racing vs training. By definition, racing tyres are light and have a soft compound*. I.e. short life and don't resist puncturing well. Training tyres are heavy and hard compound. I.e. long lasting and durable. IMO, they should also be cheap.

Sure, there are some tyres that make compromises to try to be the best of both worlds. Michelin, Maxxis and Continental seem to make a good effort at this slice of the market.

My 2c: buy 2 pairs of tyres. Over the life of the tyres, there is no additional cost to this approach. My training tyres are Maxxis Detonator. Racing are Maxxis Columbiere. Full disclosure though: my club is sponsored by Maxxis. Previously I was racing on Michelin Pro Race 3/4.



* there an excellent argument for making an exception here for pothole-strewn greasy roads, like you often encounter in Irish RRs. So, a lightweight tyre with a some added puncture resistance (an additional Nylon or Kevlar layer) makes sense.

AstraMonti

Training and racing? If you are not on a budget something in the lines of Veloflex Roubaix. If you are in a budget I'd say Continental Sprinters, but I haven't tried them myself. Life is too short not to ride nice tires!

bcmf

AstraMonti wrote: »

Training and racing? If you are not on a budget something in the lines of Veloflex Roubaix. If you are in a budget I'd say Continental Sprinters, but I haven't tried them myself. Life is too short not to ride nice tires!

Are you high on glue or something?

Woody_FX

Out of interest, on race day what are some of the most popular tubs everybody is on?

Veloflex would be a tyre that people who are really in the know would be on (in my opinion), so maybe not that many on them.
Vittoria seem like a really popular brand for tubs, though not so many ride the open corsa on there clincher wheels despite them having one of the best rolling resistance scores as clinchers go, better than the gp 4000s.
Conti are dominant in the clincher tyre market it seems, but are they a popular choice at the races around Ireland?

So not what is the best, but what is popular choice on the race circuit regarding tubs?

EDIT: Thanks for all the answers

kumate_champ07

dedocdude wrote: »

Theres no thread on Sprinters so not good for wet crits. GP4000's a better all-rounder - for racing.

For training, dont use tubs.

?

slick tyres are fine in the wet, its the rubber compound that matters.

The Big Lebowsky

I would you use a vitoria corsa CG on the rear...and a Vitoria corsa cx on the front wheel....Or The conti GP 4000 is a good bet for durability

Diarmuid

I wouldn't bother with tubs for training. I use GP4000 but planet-x have Vittoria EVOs for €41 which is a pretty good deal. And threads on 22mm tires are just for show.

dedocdude

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

?

Yep - had them on for a Ras one year, after two monsoonal stages they stayed in the car - was getting no feedback from them on wet corners, but sure they are next to entry level Conti - you get what you pay for.

OP - i have been racing on tubs since the 80's, have been on everything low to mid range from Wolber to Gommitalia - stuck to GP4000's the last 7-8 years, no mixed reports here they are best all rounder for Irish road racing, not as fast rubber as a good vittoria but much more durable.

As for training, by the time you puncture 3 times on a decent tub, you will have a set of high pressure training wheels purchased.

God luck with your choice!