How come I have not yet said "Armadillo" on this thread?
Armadillo, or Gatorskin for 25mm or thinner.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Best Commuter tyre?
(71 posts)- Started 14 years ago by Smudge
- Latest reply from kaputnik
- This topic is
resolved
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Posted 9 years ago #
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@kapuntik:
One of my bikes came with those CST tyres. One outing convinced me that they weren't up to the job.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I'm a fan of the Gatorskins. Commuted and sportived on a pair of 23mm's until I completely squared them off, with no p*******s in several thousand miles.
I replaced them with a 28mm pair to see if they made any difference to rolling resistance, but I can't tell. They are certainly a lot more comfortable.
Posted 9 years ago # -
@snowy, there has been discussion on here and on Dave Mc's blog website about 25mm tyres somehow rolling more quickly than 23mm
Now I like gators kins and I like marathon plus, how to decide? Fight? (Harry hill?) oh wait in my mind - gators kin winter training tyre, marathon plus longer lasting but slower commuting tyre?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Another big fan of the Gatorskins only puncture has come from a stray roofing nail which also chipped the frame.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Gatorskins for me too. I was running 23/25 but after the 23 wore out I've moved up to 25/28 and it's certainly more comfortable with no noticeable change in rolling resistance.
I've had an occasional puncture (perhaps one every 500 miles or so). The last one was caused by a rouge packaging staple picked up somewhere in the New Forth Bridge works. Now that I've mentioned the word the next one will be tonight.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Does anyone else find Gatorskins prone to Tiddlywinking stray stones out sideways at high speeds?
Posted 9 years ago # -
@wingpig - Perhaps tiddlywinking is a Conti tyre thing? It's happening a lot to me, but I'm currently rolling with some GP4000S on the summer wheelset.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've not noticed it being much of an issue. Is it not a factor of hard rubber and high pressure? ie everything which we are lead to believe reduces rolling resistance.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Gatorskins vs Marathon Plus - I've done a fair few miles on both (25 mm Gators, 32 mm M+). Chalk and cheese as far as I'm concerned.
Gatorskins: fast-ish road tyre, fairly light especially in the folding version, good for long distances at a reasonable lick (I've done Audax events up to 600km on them), probably at least 1000 miles (for me) between p*******s and even then only pinch flats. Have ridden over broken glass without issue, and picked out the shards later.
Marathon Plus: never* puncture, last forever, but are heavy, sluggish and not particularly grippy. I used them for the last couple of years on my commute, but having recently succumbed to N+1, the new bike has much lighter (but still wide) tyres and is a *lot* quicker and more fun to ride as a result.
Basically, it's a choice between fit and forget or speed and snappiness, but personally I'd accept the (very) occasional flat in exchange for a more entertaining ride.
*YMMV
Posted 9 years ago #
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