When to change to Summer Tyres

Macy0161

I did do a search and didn't come up with an answer, so apologies if it's a duplicate thread!

When do people generally change over to "summer" tyres? I mainly ride around the Wicklow Mountains, up to 100km spins (with the WW200 and ROK in the summer)

Up to recently, due to the weight and rolling resistance of the rider, I haven't been too worried about tyres, so have stuck with the bullet proof marathon plus I took off the old bike that doubled as my commuter at the time. However, my fitness and weight are around where I want them, so starting to look at other aspects of my bike and the tyres are the obvious thing to look at. Probably looking at GP4000S II, although may go 4 seasons as a step up from the Marathon Plus, but still a bit of extra puncture protection.

Raam

Summer tyres? I use the same things all year.

07Lapierre

Conti GP's all year.

Macy0161

Raam wrote: »

Summer tyres? I use the same things all year.

So did I, up to now - just heavy ones!

Beasty

Raam wrote: »

Summer tyres? I use the same things all year.

You make them last a year:eek:

Family commitments must be taking over......

macnab

I use conti gp4000s ii tyres year round. I had a bike with 4 seasons tyres a few years ago, i didnt like the lack of wet grip, they also seemed more prone to punctures than the gp4000s.

Luxman

You don't need summer tyres. You need a summer bike!!

Wishbone Ash

Macy0161 wrote: »

... I mainly ride around the Wicklow Mountains, up to 100km spins (with the WW200 and ROK in the summer.. ...... have stuck with the bullet proof marathon....

Marathon Plus are designed for urban warfare and are total overkill for rides in Wicklow. You'll notice an immediate improvment in performance even if you switch to other 'puncture resistant' tyres never mind summer tyres.

(If your current bike can accommodate Marathon Plus tyres, you'll easily be able to fit 28mm tyres (of other brands) should you wish to have an extra bit of comfort).

Macy0161

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Marathon Plus are designed for urban warfare and are total overkill for rides in Wicklow. You'll notice an immediate improvment in performance even if you switch to other 'puncture resistant' tyres never mind summer tyres.

Well I got them when the same bike was doing both the Wicklow rides and commuting. Then I got a new bike and just put them on for the winter as more protection than the stock tyres. They are the obvious place to look at for extra benefits now the rider is holding target weight!

Decision made so, GP4000S II's it is. I suppose I best look at decent mini pumps/ CO2 cannisters too, as whatever about weight and performance, I really didn't have to worry about punctures with the marathon plus!

saccades

Once the clocks change for me - something bulletproof for when it's dark and wet on the commute (25km into the wicklow mtns) as I don't fancy fixing a puncture in dark (wet is a given regardless) and I quite like something with a reflective strip.

Then with the change in the clocks it kinda signals when I might take the long route home and I want to improve on last years time in/out, ride events (similar stuff to you) and really enjoy my cycling. Sorting a puncture in the day and when it's not really cold is easy enough.

winter is whatever is on offer at the time, continental sport 38's this winter gone and summer is vittoria Pave (used to be 24s but new rims mean I'm running 27s) and/or Verdestein senseo in 28).