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Tubular Tires
Mon, 02/11/2008 - 2:22pm
Here’s a question for those who are knowledgeable on tubular tires.
I recently purchased a set of Reynolds DV46UL’s (great wheels BTW) and have put on a set of “high-end†tubular tires. I love this manufacture’s clinchers, however am a bit disappointed with the “lumpy-ness†found in their tubular tires. I don’t want to bash this manufacture, so I won’t name them.
Would anyone like to make a recommendation on a race tire that is truly round, smooth, fast, have great handling characteristics…etc?
BTW… I’ve been gluing tires on since 1979 so I’m pretty certain it’s got nothing to do with that.
Look forward to you’re input.
Thanks,
alan nielson wrote:Would anyone like to make a recommendation on a race tire that is truly round, smooth, fast, have great handling characteristics…etc?
I really like the feel of Schwalbe Stelvios, and I've gotten really good life out of them. Don't know how they do in those rolling tests but they sure feel good & confident to corner & descend on, and that's worth something too.
The Tufos I tried rode like bricks, those were the first sewups I tore off the rim well before they'd worn out.
-Tad
Co-director, Golden Gate Velo
Independent testing by german bike magazine:
http://www.tour-magazin.de/to/tour_artikel//show.php3?id=2464&subnav=21&...
Save yourself 2 euros and pick up the report from Conti's site
http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/de/continental/fahrrad/allg...
Go to the bottom to get total rating (Gesamtnote). Lower number is better.
GFMeilahn wrote:Thank you Kevin. Now I know that switching tires will get me that much closer to Hellman. You didn't tell Alan what YOU recommend.
I recommend that all of my competitors use TUFO tires and that you squirt the sealant into them. :-)
Seriously, I use Vittoria CX's and I'm happy with them. Mick likes the Veloflex tires quite a bit. I'm not super familiar with the Veloflex models, but I know that one of them has great rolling resistance, but not super flat resistance while the other is more robust.
Fatter, lower pressure tires tend to have better rolling resistance from what I understand. In fact, it is my understanding that super high pressures are counter productive on other than very smooth surfaces.
Anyway, I'm getting out of my depth a bit and just parroting what I've heard. But from what I've heard there is a lot of stuff that is somewhat counterintuitive, so doing a bit of research will be a good idea.
Kevin Metcalfe
Team Specialized Masters
Thank you Kevin. Now I know that switching tires will get me that much closer to Hellman. You didn't tell Alan what YOU recommend.
The study shows that clinchers can fair better than tubulars; the Zipp had at least one watt more resistance than did the "best" clincher. What I question is why a thicker tire (23mm) of the Michelin Pro2 Light SC faired better than the thinner one (20mm), a resistance 1.2 watts greater?
GFMeilahn wrote:TUFO's ...
Check out the rolling resistance data on this web site. TUFO's have notoriously poor rolling resistance. It would seem a shame to have a really nice set of aero wheels and then with a poor tire choice take back most, if not all of the watts saved by the wheels.
http://www.biketechreview.com/tires/AFM_tire_crr.htm
Kevin
Kevin Metcalfe
Team Specialized Masters
TUFO's mount nicely and have a huge selection of types (and weights within the same type). The down side is the lightest have no seam, so you can't repair flats, and the base tape sometimes a bit from the tire on some of their models. If you install their sealant you'll often wear out the tire before it gets a flat.