Which tyres are best?

[StephenBayliss]

I am having many a sleepless night, tyres and rolling resistance are keeping me awake 

Does anybody have any ideas on the fastest tyres?

I have heard that Tufo don't roll as well as Continental?

Zipp are hyping up there new tyre?

Everybodies opionion is welcomed, informed or ill informed, I don't mind

[Juzzie]

Havent used or seen them yet - but Conti have a new version of their Comp 22 tubular. It is not sewn together like tubulars are but vulcanised (glued). This, I would imagine, would make for a very smooth ride without high spots or wobbles. The new breaker strip (internal puncture protection strip) is much better also - lighter and stronger than before. Should be on the market soon - esp in Europe.

[teamTBBmgr]

Juzz,

Is that the GP4000 or the newly launched triathlon tire?

I met by the way with your olf friend Wilfried Flammger (Head of Sales) in Taipei. He says hi to you and we have been talking about their new tri tyres.

Any one road on this new Conti triathlon tyre? Any feedback on them?

[johnnyha]

try here - there are tables of comparison at the bottom of the page http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-1503651.html

[teamTBBmgr]

try here - there are tables of comparison at the bottom of the page http://www.rouesartisanales.com/article-1503651.html

Johnny, great article, thanks!

[Juzzie]

Alex

The Competition 22mm is a tubular - top of the line. The GP4000 is a clincher, nice but not my choice to race on (I still thinks tubs are faster than Clinchers). I am not too sure about the details on the new Triathlon tyre, I have seen the magazine ads but the old school best would have to be a comp 22. Good enough for Jan (was!!!)

Wilfried is a nice man and it was good working with him when I was in that industry. He has been at Conti for a long time now, he has a strong Germany work ethic.

[BellaComerFord]

Hi there Johnny, good to see you on here, thanks for the link.  Very interesting.

Did you race this weekend?  How did you get on?

[StephenBayliss]

I was logged on as Bella, she is also interested in how your race went though

[AndyM]

I have Tufo S3, work well usually have them at about 115-125 PSI for UK and Oz races where the road surface has been wet and on the bumpy side, would be intereseted to see how these compare to the conti's as only the elite (i think?) were tested on that link that Johnny posted.  Also be interested to see what people thought of tyre pressures in relation to conditions and wheel setup e.g. disc wheel compared to deep rim, standard rim etc.

Also looked like you had an interesting 3 day Johhny, saw your report on FF

[StephenBayliss]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for posting, great to see you on the new Team TBB forum.

re Tufo tyres, I think they roll just as well as other tyres but only if pumped to very high pressure, I tend to race at about 145psi, this makes them not ideal on bumpy courses, but great on smooth roads.  Cournering grip is not quite so good at this pressure too.

[AndyM]

Hi Stephen,

That is intetesting, so for more bumpy courses where the road surface is not so good/technical courses maybe conti would be better as operate well at lower pressure?

[johnnyha]

Hi guys

Glad you like the link. Its a little dated now, but I don't think there have been many major changes in the exciting world of tubs!

I know that Zipp have started down the road of dimpled tyres to go with their wheels, but I'm surprised that the performance improvement can actually be recorded, let alone make any noticeable difference. From what I hear they are also £50 each, which is kerrrazeeee.

I know that a lot of people speak very highly of Vittoria Corsa Evo CX, which I think come in a tubular and clincher version.

As for Conti - competitions are definitely the best for racing. Personally I use the Sprinter Gatorskins as the roads in the UK are pretty terrible, and I have to cycle through Southall (particularly unpleasant area of w.London - glass and stuff all over the place) when I go to Hillingdon. They are a little bit heavier, but what I lose in weight I make up in confidence and hopefully puncture resistance. Juzz may be interested to know, if he/she doesn't already, that Conti have brought out a tubular version of the GP4000 see here.

Tufo - I've had bad experiences with these, both for their grip in the wet and in terms of puncture resistance.

On the pressure front, I ride at 160psi. Tubs are meant to be ridden at a higher pressure so do it!

Anyway that should be enough to be getting on with. Perhaps you might actually consider some nokons now Stephen/Bella?

[AndyM]

I haven't had any negative experiences with my Tufo S3 Lite, but I have rode them at lower pressures and maybe have been lucky.  I would be keen to try conti's if I could then get away with a much higher pressure.  Do you think road racing puts the tyres under more stress than IM type ride where the variables affecting the tyre would be more constant (speed, accelerations etc.) and therefore would affect your choice?

Nokons rule

[StephenBayliss]

Very intersting stuff guys! 

I did embrunman on the Tufo S3lite and found they did actually grip very well on the corners, so all round I think the Tufo S3 lite is a very good tyre and I will be sticking with it.

Johnny: I would def have the same tyres as you for riding in the south east and especially Southall!  Riding through there....  I'm surprised you get through without losing your bike!

I would love some Nokons, but can't justify spending that much when Shimano caples work fine, sorry, maybe one day!

[johnnyha]

There's a thread on the geekyest website in the world on this very topic here.

I think there's a lot to be said for going with what you know, but sometimes a change can be good.

As regards your question Andy, I certainly think grip would be more important, but also that you would benefit from riding at a higher pressure, less rolling resistance and all that. Don't rule out the Vittoria's - a lot of the big pro cycling teams use them. Their top of the range tyres have 290 threads per inch (as opposed to Tufo's 120) and if you're worried about the Triathlon and Chrono tyres are just as light if not lighter.

I've found Conti tubs pretty good thus far, but will certainly considering Vittoria in the future. plus them come in colours and bling is best