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Audax Tyre

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  1. crowriver
    Member

    Dave, kaputnik, Cyclops, et al, I am not attempting to critique your advice. It seems pretty sound (I'm on 37mm Snow Studs today, my they are slow!). I suppose concerns about p********s and longevity are further up my list of priorities than performance gains. Not that I'm blind to the latter, I'm just cautious regarding the former. I just really can't abide crouching by the side of some remote road replacing inner tubes (though I always carry spares, repair kit, etc.).

    It's entirely possible I might switch to Gatorskins, Supremes, Duranos or similar come the summer (if indeed we get one this year), though I'm aware most of these are regarded as winter training tyres by the road bike fraternity.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  2. Dave
    Member

    Yes, philosophical differences :)

    I've had two flats on audaxes 2009-2011, which was a lot of km and many hours spent riding on nice tyres, and not many minutes flipping out tubes. Worth it for me.

    I'm now off to hug a huge pile of wood!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    Aye, but how often were you replacing your tyres during that time?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  4. Nelly
    Member

    "I'm on 37mm Snow Studs today, my they are slow!"

    Ditto(ish) Mine are 35's marathon winters

    But you adapt and while Dave is right about absolute speed/efficiency (i.e. IMO you will always feel slower with big loads/fat tyres than your pub bike on 23,s) it depends what you want/need.

    For me, I dont want the grief of punctures - 2 in 30 mins touring near pitlochry convinced me that softer 'faster' compounds dont cut it and I go no less than gatorskin these days.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  5. Dave
    Member

    Aye, but how often were you replacing your tyres during that time?

    I used the same bike for commuting and audax (until I built the white one) so it's hard to say.

    I remember fitting GP4000s which did from spring until winter, including my demi-LEJOG. That's 3-4,000 miles at least. So I suppose they cost about 1p per mile each end?

    Posted 11 years ago #

  6. crowriver
    Member

    Hmm, not bad. Pity they don't make it in 28mm.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  7. DaveC
    Member

    Wiggle appears to have a sale on their Grand Prix 4000s tyres again, £29.99 is the price I see on their website.

    Dave C

    Posted 11 years ago #

  8. DaveC
    Member

    Resurecting this thread, what do people think of the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season tyre? I was thinking of moving away from my nearly worn Schwable Marathon Plus which I use in winter and on to these?

    Cheers, Dave C

    Posted 11 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "
    Reliable roughneck rubber

    BikeRadar rating:

    5 stars

    Works as a deluxe winter training tyre or a reliable race tyre

    "

    http://m.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/tyres/road/product/review-continental-grand-prix-4-season-tyres-11-33555

    "
    Fast, tough and grippy training option

    BikeRadar rating:

    4 stars

    Training tyre tough, but fast enough to be raced on regularly

    "

    http://m.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/components/tyres/road/product/review-continental-grand-prix-tyre-12-46369

    I like Contis, got these on one bike -

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-ultra-sport-road-tyre

    (Dead cheap...)

    Posted 11 years ago #

  10. Dave
    Member

    Irony, I just fitted a Marathon Plus DaveC... wanted some extra training effect!

    700x38c, plenty of clearance on the white bike as it turns out (even with full SKS guards).

    There's the gatorskin too, but not available in the same widths IIRC. Just pulled these off SWMBO's commuter after > 3 years, just the one flat!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  11. Cyclops
    Member

    4 Seasons are basically GP4000 with a more durable carcass. You'll probably notice little ride difference between GP4seasons and GP4000, just don't expect them to last as long or be as puncture proof as Marathon+

    Posted 11 years ago #

  12. Coxy
    Member

    Conti Grand Prix (700x24C)(basic folding ones as per chdot's second link)

    16.49 Euros at hibike.com

    Posted 11 years ago #

  13. chdot
    Admin

    Not Audax, and may involve sponsorship -

    http://www.continental-tires.com/www/tires_de_en/themes/news/meldungen/pr_2013_07_05_tour_5_text_en.html

    Posted 11 years ago #

  14. DaveC
    Member

    Cheers chdot,

    I have the Grand Prix 4000 and 4000s on two of my bikes. I like them and so far have not had any punctures. I tend to use my CX bike all year round with a set of Marathons on. The GP 4000s tyre has become slightly flattened on the Audax bike which has ~2200km on. I ride approximately 200 - 300 km a week on my commuter so the hard wearing Marathons are good but I'm keen to try out a set of 4 Season tyres this winter to see how they fair in comparison.

    I also have a set of Conti race 23's which came with the Dolan bike and I have been trying one on my Dawes front wheel for commuting. I haven't taken it off road (much) and so far I have not had a puncture which is impressive considering the glass on some of Edinburghs cycle paths.

    I think I'll go for a pair of 4 season tyres with the pair inner tubes included. I can always swap back to the Marathons if the 4 season's wearout early.

    Posted 11 years ago #

  15. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Marathons & pluses have about 5 or 6 times the rubber thickness of Gatorskin / GP-family tyres, so it's not surprising that they last longer.

    Have used GP4000 which I really liked but for cost I don't put them on the bike I commute on as regular Gatorskins are fine for that and half the price. Have them on the road bike, although "Continental Yellow" turned out to be orange!

    Posted 11 years ago #

  16. crowriver
    Member

    Resurrecting this thread as I'm currently scoping "summer" tyres for my new (to me) "summer" audax bike*. I shall be keeping the Marathons 28s, hub dynamo, etc. on the "winter" bike (probably "spring" and autumn too). I'm looking at a slightly faster setup for the "summer" bike: battery lights and sportier tyres (the bike currently sports an odd mix of tyres: used 25mm Gatorskin on the back, 23mm Schwalbe Blizzard on the front).

    I am very averse to p********s but I also want something a bit faster rolling for those longer "summer" rides. (The quotation marks are because we only rarely get a real summer in Scotland). I suppose I could just run Gatorskins, but maybe something a bit grippier would be better? Conti GP 4 Seasons sound good, how have folk managed on these the past two years? Or what about Schwalbe Duranos? Any good?

    Views welcome.

    * - yes, I know. Have I not got too many bikes already? Probably. I'm allowed one luxury in life... :-)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. gembo
    Member

    Gatorskins good and cheaper
    Conti Grand Prix four seasons clearly the best

    Beyond two years, no

    Only schwalbe marathon plus go Beyoncé I am leaving this corrective spelling, two years

    Durano, i dunno

    Posted 9 years ago #

  18. crowriver
    Member

    Oh sorry, I didn't mean what would last two years (or two "summers") but rather how folk have got on with tyres since this thread was last active two years ago... :-)

    In any case thanks gembo. (Which autocorrect thinks is gumbo).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  19. gembo
    Member

    Ya ya feelie gembo

    Posted 9 years ago #

  20. wingpig
    Member

    Not Gatorskins. At the most they are the thin and easily-torn molecule-thick respiratory epithelia of a juvenile caiman. Armadilloes, if over 25mm.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  21. amir
    Member

    I use Gp4000s tyres on the summer bike. Good grip and p***s are rare on the type of roads that I go on. I use Pro4 endurance on the winter bike commuter.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  22. crowriver
    Member

    Although the frame has clearance for 28mm tyres with guards, the guards that are on it seem only to give clearance for 25mm. I'm reticent to change the guards at this stages 25mm it is.

    I've heard good things about the Michelin Po 4 Endurance: how are they for durability? Likewise the GP4000s? Should I strike a compromise and go for GP 4 Seasons?

    Also heard good things about Durano Plus tyres, though they seem almost as heavy as Marathons, albeit with a slick, grippier rubber...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  23. CycleCommute.CC
    Member

    Got through 7,965 miles since trying out Durano S tyres and not had a single puncture. That's all year round cycling.

    Not sure if the Durano S are the same as Durano Plus as I can't see them listed on their site.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  24. amir
    Member

    I rate the GP4000s durability as being pretty good (4-6k miles if not damaged) but that's on a summer bike. I'm not sure about the Pro4 Endurance yet but the predecessor is supposed to be the Krylion Carbon which was pretty good.

    The road performance of Gp4000s is why I get them. They are quick and grippy. The Pro4s perhaps a little less so. I have other tyres before (the predecessor of the Durano Plus, Marathons ...) that haven't been grippy. Safety (and perceived safety) is important to me.

    My top tip for avoiding punctures - be careful where you cycle, keep the tyres properly inflated and don't run them into the ground.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  25. crowriver
    Member

    Hmm. Lots to think about here. It's all the more tricky given that the tyres are broadly similar in price... I've no particular brand preference, despite rating Schwalbe's heavier tyres I also run Continentals and Specialized tyres. Have some old Michelins kicking around but not currently on a bike.

    Starting to narrow to the following:

    - some flavour of Durano
    - some flavour of Grand Prix
    - Pro4 Endurance

    I suspect price will be the ultimate determinant. Spoken like a true Scotsman... ;-)
    I shall see what deals are around on the interweb...

    (update: looks like Durano S only available in 23mm. Some good deals on 28mm Pro4 Endurance but clearances.....looking like Duranos/Durano Plus on price at the moment).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  26. crowriver
    Member

    I have ordered a pair of Durano Plus tires in 25mm. Will let you know how I get on in due course.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  27. LaidBack
    Member

    Got Durano Plus on my fast bike. Quite a chunky 25mm tyre.
    Another shop wheel/bike build for customer I've just fitted 700x28 Continentals with 'Black Chilli' enhanced grippy rubber. The blurb suggest they're lighter, tougher and grippier than an unnamed rival. Roll better too so they say. They are very plain looking though:-(

    Posted 9 years ago #

  28. crowriver
    Member

    "Quite a chunky 25mm tyre." Maybe the layer of p*******e protection rubber makes them a bit wider? Reckon I've got clearance for 26mm, no more, with these mudguards...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  29. Dave
    Member

    I would just get a proper full-on road tyre and enjoy it. It's not like they explode as soon as you see a sharp surface and they are massively faster rolling.

    I've had one puncture so far this year, and since Easter I've been commuting daily on NEPN on a mix of Schwalbe Ultremo, GP4000s and whatever the Michelin one is called.

    IMO the GP4000s as wide as you can fit it is the easy choice, although Schwalbe One is supposed to be a hair faster.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  30. chdot
    Admin

    "
    The wider rim track creates a smoother interaction between tyre and wheel, giving more room to run wider tyres for reduced rolling resistance.

    "

    It says here -

    http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/u-shaped-deep-section-rims-198572

    Posted 9 years ago #

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