Hi all, I stock up on pretty much everything from grease to chains however I've yet to get round to sourcing a good quality tyre at a low price.
The tyre must be 26" and inflate to a high pressure as the bike is used for fast urban commuting.
I usually use Specialized Borough CX 700x32 however these are £50 a pair and so out of the question for bulk buying/stocking up.
Any suggestions much appreciated!
Yep these Michelin City tyres look like the best deal at £20 a pair. One question though why are some called "reflex"??
The models called "reflex" have a reflective sidewall.
Ride on, keep on riding
Riding on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
Ride on, gonna have myself a good time - AC/DC
I strongly recommend against Michelin City tires - worst bicycle tires that I ever had; massive tread seperation in only a couple hundred miles.
For a fast ISO559 tire, look at Kenda's 26 x 1.25 and 26 x 1.50 100 psi tires.
For a smooth and fast commuter tire in ISO622 (aka 700c); look at Kenda's Kwest tires
I also like Panaracer - have about 5,000 miles on a pair of made by Panaracer Terry branded 28-571 tires, which look almost new.
Vittoria makes a 47-559 Kevlar belted, steel wire bead tire that is branded by Bell, which Wal-mart sells which very long last, smooth riding and when inflated to 70psi (sidewall says 65psi max) is very easy rolling. I have put several thousand miles on a pair of these (they replaced the awful Michelin City tires).
Specialized Armadillo - expensive and heavy; but last forever if you keep them properly inflated; I have a 32-630; says something like 105 psi MIN, 120 psi MAX - keep them on the high side. They fail if you run them at lower pressures, the tires come apart internally. I believe that the high pressure keeps the tire internals solidly pressed agains the belts, and lower pressure allows them to move around, literally ripping apart the tire from the inside out. Everyone I have talked to that has had problems with Armadillos was running them at lower pressures.
Nigel
So does he need 559 tires? (Excuse me, tyres?)
(08-10-2012, 11:35 PM)nfmisso Wrote: I strongly recommend against Michelin City tires - worst bicycle tires that I ever had; massive tread seperation in only a couple hundred miles.
For a fast ISO559 tire, look at Kenda's 26 x 1.25 and 26 x 1.50 100 psi tires.
For a smooth and fast commuter tire in ISO622 (aka 700c); look at Kenda's Kwest tires
I also like Panaracer - have about 5,000 miles on a pair of made by Panaracer Terry branded 28-571 tires, which look almost new.
Vittoria makes a 47-559 Kevlar belted, steel wire bead tire that is branded by Bell, which Wal-mart sells which very long last, smooth riding and when inflated to 70psi (sidewall says 65psi max) is very easy rolling. I have put several thousand miles on a pair of these (they replaced the awful Michelin City tires).
Specialized Armadillo - expensive and heavy; but last forever if you keep them properly inflated; I have a 32-630; says something like 105 psi MIN, 120 psi MAX - keep them on the high side. They fail if you run them at lower pressures, the tires come apart internally. I believe that the high pressure keeps the tire internals solidly pressed agains the belts, and lower pressure allows them to move around, literally ripping apart the tire from the inside out. Everyone I have talked to that has had problems with Armadillos was running them at lower pressures.
Great info on tires, nfmisso but can I pick your knowledge a little deeper?
I had two flats on one 5 mile ride on my rear tire on my Trek Y22, old (Specialized?) nimbus 26 x 1.50 near slick, tread looks like kenda kwick roller. What is your opinion on increasing to a 26 x 1.75 or would you stick with the 1.50, and what brands & models? I use the Y22 95% on pavement, 5% limestone screening paths and like the slick tread style. I have my Trek Y5 set up with 26 x 1.95 Kenda Pathfinders, 5/8" slick center w/ agressive knobby toward the side wall for the limestone screening trails and ocaissional dry dirt singletrack. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks,
Ride on, keep on riding
Riding on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
Ride on, gonna have myself a good time - AC/DC
(08-11-2012, 09:34 PM)nfmisso Wrote: (08-11-2012, 08:58 PM)barefooter Wrote: Great info on tires, nfmisso but can I pick your knowledge a little deeper?
I had two flats on one 5 mile ride on my rear tire on my Trek Y22, old (Specialized?) nimbus 26 x 1.50 near slick, tread looks like kenda kwick roller. What is your opinion on increasing to a 26 x 1.75 or would you stick with the 1.50, and what brands & models? I use the Y22 95% on pavement, 5% limestone screening paths and like the slick tread style. I have my Trek Y5 set up with 26 x 1.95 Kenda Pathfinders, 5/8" slick center w/ agressive knobby toward the side wall for the limestone screening trails and ocaissional dry dirt singletrack. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks,
If tires you have are provide the traction you need on the trails - stick with them; add Stop Flats 2 liners and thorn resistant tubes for the flat protection.
I have my GT set up for similar to what you use your Y22 for; I have a 47-559 (26x1.75) Vittoria (Bell branded at Wal-mart) on the front that has some tread for gravel/crushed rock steering/braking and a 40-559 (26x1.5) 100 psi Kenda on the back.
Sheldon recommended wider knobbier softer tire on front; so worth a shot.
Thanks for your input nfmisso. Based on your suggestions & my own thinking, I just ordered a pair of 26 x 1.60 Geax Street Runners from Art's Cyclery ($40.98 w/shipping for the pair!). My thinking was that the 1.50s were great on pavement, but a little to narrow on the limestone paths. The Millenium Trail in Lake County, Il is mostly paved with some short sections of limestone screenings. When I would get to the bottom of a hill there was always some washout ruts that had filled with loose screenings, causing me some traction (uphill - no biggie) or handling (downhill -VERY scary on the steep hills). I figured that a wider tire with lower pressure would help out on the limestone, but slow me down on pavement. I think the 26 x 1.60 tires might a perfect compromise for me.
I will post an update on what I think of them after I ride on them for a while.
Thanks alot for your input, it was very helpful!
Ride on, keep on riding
Riding on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
Ride on, gonna have myself a good time - AC/DC
(08-11-2012, 10:54 PM)barefooter Wrote: (08-11-2012, 09:34 PM)nfmisso Wrote: (08-11-2012, 08:58 PM)barefooter Wrote: Great info on tires, nfmisso but can I pick your knowledge a little deeper?
I had two flats on one 5 mile ride on my rear tire on my Trek Y22, old (Specialized?) nimbus 26 x 1.50 near slick, tread looks like kenda kwick roller. What is your opinion on increasing to a 26 x 1.75 or would you stick with the 1.50, and what brands & models? I use the Y22 95% on pavement, 5% limestone screening paths and like the slick tread style. I have my Trek Y5 set up with 26 x 1.95 Kenda Pathfinders, 5/8" slick center w/ agressive knobby toward the side wall for the limestone screening trails and ocaissional dry dirt singletrack. Any suggestions would be most helpful. Thanks,
If tires you have are provide the traction you need on the trails - stick with them; add Stop Flats 2 liners and thorn resistant tubes for the flat protection.
I have my GT set up for similar to what you use your Y22 for; I have a 47-559 (26x1.75) Vittoria (Bell branded at Wal-mart) on the front that has some tread for gravel/crushed rock steering/braking and a 40-559 (26x1.5) 100 psi Kenda on the back.
Sheldon recommended wider knobbier softer tire on front; so worth a shot.
Thanks for your input nfmisso. Based on your suggestions & my own thinking, I just ordered a pair of 26 x 1.60 Geax Street Runners from Art's Cyclery ($40.98 w/shipping for the pair!). My thinking was that the 1.50s were great on pavement, but a little to narrow on the limestone paths. The Millenium Trail in Lake County, Il is mostly paved with some short sections of limestone screenings. When I would get to the bottom of a hill there was always some washout ruts that had filled with loose screenings, causing me some traction (uphill - no biggie) or handling (downhill -VERY scary on the steep hills). I figured that a wider tire with lower pressure would help out on the limestone, but slow me down on pavement. I think the 26 x 1.60 tires might a perfect compromise for me.
I will post an update on what I think of them after I ride on them for a while.
Thanks alot for your input, it was very helpful!
I have about put about 200 miles on the Geax 26 x 1.60 Street Runners (by Vitorria) running them at Max 75 psi. So far, I am very happy with them. The rubber compound seems to be a little softer than my old Nimbus tires, but they were really old and probably dried out. Handling seems to be better in corners on pavement and limestone screenings. But the best thing is that my average speed has jumped up about 1.8 mph on my three favorite routes. Now I'll see how long they last.
Ride on, keep on riding
Riding on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on
Ride on, gonna have myself a good time - AC/DC