rainy weather tire recommendations

Quoted message said:

Any recomendations for a good city commuting/riding tire in the rain? 25-28mm maybe?

My standard rain-bike tire is a 25c Conti GP 4-Seasons. I find the slightly-greater width than a 23c
gives a much more secure feeling when it's wet, plus the tougher casing gets fewer flats, *and* it
doesn't feel like lead. Very, very nice wet-weather tire in my humble opinion, with the only
downside being cost (about $50). And yes, it's completely standard rubber, not one of those
silica-based compounds that Jobst hates so much.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

"Dan Daniel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

In the next month or so the rains will be back in the San Francisco area, and I am going to need
winter tires. Last year I had Vredestein Fortezza 23mm (700c) tires in the rain and didn't feel
safe. Nothing bad happened, just felt too skinny for railroad tracks, potholes, heavy road paint,
etc., when it is raining or the roads are wet.

I really enjoy 23mm tires, so I'd like to stay with something on the narrow side. I tried 32mm
tires last winter and they took all the fun out of that bike. Ended up on the 26" with slicks most
of the winter (ice and snow are not issues here).

Anyone have experience with the 25mm Fortezzas in the rain?

Any recomendations for a good city commuting/riding tire in the rain? 25-28mm maybe?

Thanks.

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Any recomendations for a good city commuting/riding tire in the rain? 25-28mm maybe?

My standard rain-bike tire is a 25c Conti GP 4-Seasons. I find the slightly-greater width than a
23c gives a much more secure feeling when it's wet, plus the tougher casing gets fewer flats,
*and* it doesn't feel like lead. Very, very nice wet-weather tire in my humble opinion, with the
only downside being cost (about $50). And yes, it's completely standard rubber, not one of those
silica-based compounds that Jobst hates so much.

Mike,

do you have any thoughts on how that tire compares to the Conti Ultra Gatorskin?

thx

Quoted message said:

Mike,

do you have any thoughts on how that tire compares to the Conti Ultra Gatorskin?

I've found the GP 4-Seasons to be a bit more durable than the Ultra Gatorskin but noticed that my
last batch of Ultra Gatorskins feature the same casing as the GP 4-Seasons. Both have been very
durable tires for a number of our customers though, and without the harsh ride you get with tires
that have really stiff sidewalls and tread.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com

"Mathias Koerber" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Any recomendations for a good city commuting/riding tire in the rain? 25-28mm maybe?

My standard rain-bike tire is a 25c Conti GP 4-Seasons. I find the slightly-greater width than a
23c gives a much more secure feeling when it's wet, plus the tougher casing gets fewer flats,
*and* it doesn't

feel

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

like lead. Very, very nice wet-weather tire in my humble opinion, with the only downside being
cost (about $50). And yes, it's completely standard rubber, not one of those silica-based
compounds that Jobst

hates

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

so much.

Mike,

do you have any thoughts on how that tire compares to the Conti Ultra Gatorskin?

thx

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Any recomendations for a good city commuting/riding tire in the rain? 25-28mm maybe?

My standard rain-bike tire is a 25c Conti GP 4-Seasons. I find the slightly-greater width than a
23c gives a much more secure feeling when it's wet, plus the tougher casing gets fewer flats, *and*
it doesn't feel like lead. Very, very nice wet-weather tire in my humble opinion, with the only
downside being cost (about $50). And yes, it's completely standard rubber, not one of those
silica-based compounds that Jobst hates so much.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

Thanks for the recommendation. How's the life of these tires? I'd be doing maybe 50 miles a week in
city commuting, and maybe 30-60 more weather permitting on this bike. Do you think they would last a
full Bay Area rainy season?

Quoted message said:

Thanks for the recommendation. How's the life of these tires? I'd be doing maybe 50 miles a week
in city commuting, and maybe 30-60 more weather permitting on this bike. Do you think they would
last a full Bay Area rainy season?

They ought to last several rainy seasons with that type of mileage. In most cases, tires used for
winter use tend to die from something nasty slicing them more than from wearing out, although, so
far, my GP 4 Seasons tires have shown themselves to be very tough regarding such things. And yes,
they *are* expensive, but they also seem to have retained the nicer ride qualities of normal (dry
weather) tires. The increased weight and loss of suppleness are relatively minor compared to other
durable tires.

Unfortunately, I must post the disclaimer that tires are one of the ultimate your-mileage-may-vary
things. When you find a tire that works for you, stay with it! It never ceases to amaze me when
customers come in the store, looking for a new tire... I ask them what they've been using, and they
often tell me they're riding "X" tire, and have had great success with them, but want to try
something different. Why? If you've found something that works well, stay with them until they
don't! Tire Karma 101.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

"Dan Daniel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Quoted message said:

Any recomendations for a good city commuting/riding tire in the rain? 25-28mm maybe?

My standard rain-bike tire is a 25c Conti GP 4-Seasons. I find the slightly-greater width than a
23c gives a much more secure feeling when

it's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

wet, plus the tougher casing gets fewer flats, *and* it doesn't feel like lead. Very, very nice
wet-weather tire in my humble opinion, with the

only

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

downside being cost (about $50). And yes, it's completely standard

rubber,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

not one of those silica-based compounds that Jobst hates so much.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

Thanks for the recommendation. How's the life of these tires? I'd be doing maybe 50 miles a week
in city commuting, and maybe 30-60 more weather permitting on this bike. Do you think they would
last a full Bay Area rainy season?

Mike Jacoubowsky said:

Unfortunately, I must post the disclaimer that tires are one of the ultimate your-mileage-may-vary
things. When you find a tire that works for you, stay with it! It never ceases to amaze me when
customers come in the store, looking for a new tire... I ask them what they've been using, and they
often tell me they're riding "X" tire, and have had great success with them, but want to try
something different. Why? If you've found something that works well, stay with them until they
don't! Tire Karma 101.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

Which is exactly why I was asking about the Vredenstein Fortezza at 25mm, along with other
recommendations. I know I like the tire and that it works for me in dry conditions at 23mm. And that
in wet conditions I don't like the 23mm. As you say, I'll stick with them until they don't work,
which I know means when the rains come 🙂 25mm is worth a try, and I'll look at both the Fortezzas
and the Contis. Thanks again.