Which tyres to buy

[Roulier]

I have been riding Conti Gatorskins for a while now and have been very happy with them. I need to get new tyres and am wanting to try some new tyres; that's if it's worth the effort. I use them for training as well as racing and don't intend having a racing set of wheels set aside just for race days; so these wil have to be good enough to train on as well as to race with.

 

Has anyone had experiences with my shortlisted tyres? viz:

Conti GP 4000s

Michellin Pro Race 3

Vitoria Open Corsa CX Evo

 

The alternatives are all on special at Crown Cycles for R399 each, so price between them is not going to be the decider although the Gatorskins come in at R100 cheaper.

 

What are your thoughts?

[quinton]

I used the gator skins in the past and now mostly the GP4000s. Nothing really to complain about.

I find that the side wall of the Gator skins and the GP4000s is not all that strong.

 

I have managed to damage both of them not to long after fitting them. But that could just be me...

[Lucky Luke.]

I have been riding Conti Gatorskins for a while now and have been very happy with them. I need to get new tyres and am wanting to try some new tyres; that's if it's worth the effort. I use them for training as well as racing and don't intend having a racing set of wheels set aside just for race days; so these wil have to be good enough to train on as well as to race with.

 

Has anyone had experiences with my shortlisted tyres? viz:

Conti GP 4000s

Michellin Pro Race 3

Vitoria Open Corsa CX Evo

 

The alternatives are all on special at Crown Cycles for R399 each, so price between them is not going to be the decider although the Gatorskins come in at R100 cheaper.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

Are you saying you can get Gatorskins for R300? Please tell me where. Personally I'd buy those. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. They're tough as nails and the rolling resistance is quite low.

[CAAD4]

Are you saying you can get Gatorskins for R300? Please tell me where. Personally I'd buy those. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. They're tough as nails and the rolling resistance is quite low.

 

Pity you are in Slaapstad. Solomons are selling them for R300 with a free Conti tube.

 

http://www.solomons.co.za/taxonomy/term/261.

[AndreZA]

I was on GP400S and boy did they get cuts, not punctures, like nobodies business. After every ride I had to fill little slits with superglue. I'm back on Gatorskins and 1000km later and not a single little cut. I must say it felt like the 4000s had less rolling resistance.

 

The Gatorskins that Solomans sell is probably wire bead. Nothing wrong with it, can just be a bit heavy and a sometimes a mission to fit on some rims.

[FowlStArt]

I have managed to damage both of them not to long after fitting them. But that could just be me...

 

Wolf: Watch the hole

Quin: What hole?

 

*whack*

 

Wolf: That hole

 

lol dude i still kill myself laughing every time we ride past that spot hee hee (could have something to do with your tyre walls having issues hee hee)

Edited October 27, 2010 by FowlStArt

[splat]

The Gatorskins are quite a bit heavier than the GP4000s.

I would equate that to being a bit tougher.

 

Though there are some things that will go through or damage ANY tyre.

And if you got a puncture with one tyre, there is no way of knowing that you wouldnt have got one with a different tyre.

 

I have no experience with the others.

[andretraut]

I roll on a set of Vitoria Open Corsas, and I can highly recommend them. They are light (215g) and puncture proof. They tend to get little cuts from bad roads, but nothing serious (not even close to a puncture). Crown's price of R399 is good. I am replacing them with Schwalbe's Ultremo R.1 (180 g) to save some rotational weight.

[Lucky Luke.]

Pity you are in Slaapstad. Solomons are selling them for R300 with a free Conti tube.

 

http://www.solomons....onomy/term/261.

 

that is a pity. can't see them on the site by the way - the link is a 404

[Lucky Luke.]

that is a pity. can't see them on the site by the way - the link is a 404

 

whoops, never mind, removed the full stop and all was revealed. http://www.solomons.co.za/taxonomy/term/261

[Bram_on_Madone]

I have used both the gator skins and GP4000s and definitely prefer the latter. My GP4000s did a lot of good distance without any noticeable damage or cuts as mentioned above, but eventually bit the bullet when I rode over a smashed beer bottle.

 

The Gator skins are definitely a bit tougher, but a lot less stable in fast corners and have a much higher rolling resistance. The roll also sometimes feels unconsistent if you're used to the GP's. The Gator's also definitely show a lot of side wall wear quite quickly, but not sure if this actually weakens the tyre.

 

BTW You can get the Gatorskins for R300 bucks on buycycle.

[Roulier]

Thanks to all for the comments. Looks like I'll be sticking with the Gatorskins. Can use the money I'll be saving on a donation to the local municipality to fix the pothole ridden roads we have to use here in Slaapstad.

[CAAD4]

Hey Luke. Not everyone is asleep in Slaapstad. Someone answered your call. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/87604-sale-conti-gatorskin-tyres/

[The Saint]

Gator Skins are on special at Cajees R285 each if you purchase 2

 

As for the tires - Gator skins all the way, may be a little heavier but you save on the intitial purchase price as well as on all the puncture repairs.

Edited October 27, 2010 by The Saint

[Roulier]

I see we might have started something here. Crown Cycles have just put their Wire Bead Gatorskins on sale for R299 as well. See https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/87604-sale-conti-gatorskin-tyres/ No free inner tube though.

[splat]

I got my Gatorskins and GP4000s from them.