Im riding a trek 1.2 that I bought new 3 yrs ago and I am in need of some new tires.. Any suggestions/recommendation on buying new tires? It is a 52 cm bike which I am slightly to big for (5' 10" and weigh 200 lb), would it be possible or should I possibly put a larger tire than what came on it?? Which brand tire should I look at and which should I stay away from?? the bike is on the rd 100% of the time..
I guess this can be the bike tire buyers guide!!
Current tires are Bontrager T7L 23-622 (700x23c)
is a tire a tire a tire and it really don't matter because I saw some at wal mart for $20 with kevlar lining?
Tires are the most important selection you'll make for your bike, and not the place to go cheap. A good tire will deliver more of all those 5 key attributes vs a cheaper tire. When you figure in the projected life and puncture resistance, often the more expensive tire will be cheaper per mile to ride.
Considering you value comfort first, you'll want to go up in width. I'm thinking somewhere in the 28-32 mm range would be best for your weight. A wider tire will be good at lower pressures, delivering a better ride, lower rolling resistance, and better puncture resistance. You lose a little bit on weight and aero drag at higher speeds with a wider tire, but that's not an issue on a Trek 1.2.
I'm a big fan of Continental tires. They make a Conti Sport Contact "City" tire in both 28 and 32mm widths that should be a great choice. Running about 90 psi, the ride should be excellent, and I bet you'll fine they roll faster than your current tires as well. Probably Michelin and other major brands make something similar.
Since tread life and flat protection aren't at the top of your list , I think the two most popular recommendations you'll get around here are the Continental Gran Prix 4000S II and the Michelin Pro4 Service Course. Both have good ride quality if you run with light weight or latex tubes and both roll very well. I'm in the Pro4 camp because the performance between the two is very similar, but the Pro4 can be found for much cheaper. Don't expect either of them to last another three years (one year at best) unless you do very little riding.
What was said above is a good point as well. If the bike will clear a 25 or 28 tire, those will ride noticably nicer (if run at an appropriately lower pressure) than a 23.
Originally Posted by AyeYo Since tread life and flat protection aren't at the top of your list , I think the two most popular recommendations you'll get around here are the Continental Gran Prix 4000S II and the Michelin Pro4 Service Course. Both have good ride quality if you run with light weight or latex tubes and both roll very well. I'm in the Pro4 camp because the performance between the two is very similar, but the Pro4 can be found for much cheaper. Don't expect either of them to last another three years (one year at best) unless you do very little riding.
What was said above is a good point as well. If the bike will clear a 25 or 28 tire, those will ride noticably nicer (if run at an appropriately lower pressure) than a 23.
Actually I've got about 1500km on a pair of GP4000s II's and they have kinda zero cuts (just a small one). Zero flats too. (Just a double flat at some point which what I went over and caused it is a mystery).
I am 5'11 225lbs and I ride a similar bike to yours a 2012 Trek 2.1 Apex 56cm that I bought in 2012. I hated the Bontrager tires that came with the bike and immediately swapped them out for Continental Gatorskins size 23 and true to form I never had a flat in 5000 miles.
A few weeks ago I decided to buy new tires because they were getting pretty worn and I wasn't a huge fan of how they handled once I learned more about cycling and got comfortable with the bike. I knew that I wanted to move up to 25's and I ended up getting Continental Grand Prix 4000 S II. I could not believe the difference from the very first ride. They had much better grip than my Gators did when they were brand new and I love the way they handle on turns. They are a nice compromise imo for grip and durability.
Originally Posted by brobish so if I was concerned with speed I would keep a narrower tire?? How big of a difference will it make going from 23 mm up to 30 mm width tire?
Not necessarily. The general concensus at this point in time (like all bike things, it'll change in six months) is that 25-28c tires offer more comfort AND roll better than a 23c or smaller tire. So, in this case, you can have your cake and eat it too. Going above 28c seems unreasonable to me. If you need 30 or 32 tires to be comfortable, you belong on a beach cruiser and not a road bike. There is absolutely a noticable difference going from 23 to 30 or even 23 to 28. I'd stick in the middle ground and go with 25's IF you bike can clear them. Again, keep in mind that the key to a better ride is running lower pressure in the wider tire, not the wider tire itself. Try dropping the pressure by 10psi from what you run in your 23.
Most riders are going over to 25c tires instead of 23's due to longer tread life, more comfort, better road handling, and less rolling resistance. Going any wider may not even fit on the wheel, you might be able to fit a 28 on those rims but it could be tight but you're not going to be able to go wider than that on those rims and even if you bought new rims wider tires may not fit the brakes or the frame or the fork.
