Tyres ("tires" - USA)

Steve, would you like to have a lap round the block on my new Contis? 😄

Aussie Steve said:

I used to LOVE a fast tyre but I must be getting old(er). I dunno

I can confirm that you are getting older.

Aussie Steve said:

I used to LOVE a fast tyre but I must be getting old(er). I dunno

I can confirm that you are getting older.

Continental... a few years ago I was using Conti with Kevlar belts, they were a very cheap one, can't recall which particular model, but they had no feel at all.

Hated them for lack of feel; but they were cheap. Then I bought a Vittoria Zefir (I think) for the Front wheel and the razor sharp response was so wicked....

By all accounts a pair of gp4000's (t-mobile's choice) will probably convert you back to racing tyres lol. Michelins cut easier than conti's.

I dont see how the rolling resistance on the armadiloos could be bad, they have a motorcycle type rubber where it bulges in the middle so I cant imagine much rubber actually being on the ground. You say an extra 5-10% to drive em maybe 0.05-0.10 % its more mental I reckon.

Even if tyres dont make much difference I luv t-mobile so my next few payments from work are going straight to buying a set of conti 4000's to race on 😄 .

although i've been cycling longer than a good number of forum members have been going potty by themselves, my expertise on rubber is negligible. it's been over a decade since my last century. what i'm into is touring and just riding. i've run conti's and panaracer touring models on my road bike and armadillos on my around town cross-bike. no complaints about any of them. however, on one point i believe i can help you out: the thread title should more correctly read "tires ("tyres" - rest of the world)".

hope that helps 😉

Very good observation from dm69 about the bulge in the middle..although at first I was angry at him/her when I assumed they meant I was getting fat and needed more miles to lose the big gut....lol😄
But yeah the bulge makes for less rubber on the road...
& philso...well done with my spelling correction:p
I always find US spelling amusing and puerile...
🙂

Aussie Steve said:

OK. This has been done over and over... but I was checking my Armadillos this morning...the tread is very thick and refuses to hang onto any shards of glass like some tyres I can mention, such as Michelin Axial Pro (absolute rubbish!)
Was thinking about rolling resistance, etc, and figured that if I had faster tyres I would get more punctures, so it's worth the additional 5-10% extra effort needed to drive these babies...I used to LOVE a fast tyre but I must be getting old(er). I dunno

Train on the Armadillos and race on the GP4K. The material in the GP4K is called Vectran. Similiar to Kevelar but lighter. The material is being used by some frame makers to stiffen the frame with a laminate sandwich of Carbon and Vectran in some mix. Look is one that comes to mind. The ACS tread material is the same with no tread pattern on the vertical riding surface to improve rolling resistance. Also, lighter than the GP3K by 15 grams.

I once rode an Armadillo 23 miles on a flat and barely noticed the difference. Was just very careful in the corners.

The Kevelar ply tire from GP (conti) is probably the Ultragator Skin. Agree not very lively, but a good winter tire.