A newbie question about tyres

Dummy

I went out on Saturday for a quick 50K.

I got 2 punctures (1 front & 1 back). Last week, I got one puncture on my cycle to Blessington. The tyres on the bike are the ones that came with the bike last August, but they are not badly worn.

A couple of lads I met in Enniskerry on Saturday said that I should get 4 seasons tyres, especially for the Winter. Apparently, it is easier to get punctures in Winter than in Summer & these tyres stand up better to winter conditions.

What tyres are people using for Winter rides?


Rgds,

D.

cdaly_

First thing to check is your tyre pressure. If your tyres are too soft (a common newbie mistake) you'll get pinch ('snakebite') punctures where the tube was pinched between tyre and rim when you hit a pothole or something. You'll spot them as you'll have two closely spaced holes in the tube.

Ryath

What tyres are on the bike? Continental 4 seasons are a very good tyre v good puncture resistace and comfertable. But I wouldn't be replacing the tyre unless you have to. Do you have a track pump and check pressure before you head out?

Lumen

This is how I imagine my tyres. The little fellas are glass shards. It takes a few months to get to this stage.

You have to go over both tyres and remove all the pieces of glass.

UDP

Continental GP 4 seasons - they seem to be the best compromised between puncture resistance, grip and durability.

Dummy

Thank you all for the replies. I am going to start pricing around for the Continental 4 seasons.

Ryath, I have Conti Ultra Sport tyres on the bike currently.


Rgds,

D.

jon1981

Dummy wrote: »

Thank you all for the replies. I am going to start pricing around for the Continental 4 seasons.

Ryath, I have Conti Ultra Sport tyres on the bike currently.


Rgds,

D.

The are pretty much entry level and wouldn't have the puncture resistant layers that the GP range have. More suitable for clean and good quality roads in the the summer seasons.

Wishbone Ash

Dummy wrote: »

....The tyres on the bike are the ones that came with the bike last August...

To keep prices down many new bikes come with bog standard tyres. (Hence the reason you often see new or almost new tyres for sale as owners upgrade to better ones).

Agent Smyth

+1 for the 4 Seasons, bought my first set last May and the difference from the Hardshells that I had been using is like chalk & cheese

eeeee

jon1981 wrote: »

The are pretty much entry level and wouldn't have the puncture resistant layers that the GP range have. More suitable for clean and good quality roads in the the summer seasons.

I have commuted around 200k a week over a year and a half on Ultra Sports through Dublin city, they're a great tyre. Heavy bike too. I have had one puncture in all that time about a week or two ago, a lump of glass speared it but they've been done since.

I may have just been lucky! I fond them a good tyre though, I keep them well pumped up though.

jon1981

gadetra wrote: »

I have commuted around 200k a week over a year and a half on Ultra Sports through Dublin city, they're a great tyre. Heavy bike too. I have had one puncture in all that time about a week or two ago, a lump of glass speared it but they've been done since.

I may have just been lucky! I fond them a good tyre though, I keep them well pumped up though.

Wow. Assuming you take 4-6 weeks off on hols that's like over 12,000km. I keep my tyres up to pressure and didnt manage more than 5000km on gp4000s, also commuting through the city. Too many variables.

eeeee

They're not looking the best I have to say, but until the punctures come one after another they're staying! I actually got a new back one 6 months ago now that I think of it, but it replaced a year old old one if you know what I mean! I\m very paranoid about what I cycle over (glass etc.) and I generally miss rush hour on that bike so I can avoid stuff too which helps.