Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
Hi all - first post on the forum. I have a 2016 CAADX 105, which is awesome but i'm spending most of my time on the road so far and I'm finding the 700x35 Sammy Slicks maybe a bit draggy (i'm also massively unfit). I'm thinking of putting some 700x30 road tyres on to hopefully reduce rolling resistance a bit. I'd love a pair of the discontinued Continental Sport Contact II's, which are on sale for £9.99 at a couple of places - they have a subtle diamond tread and are apparently fast on road fine for some light off-roading too but they only seem to come in either 28 or 32 width. Any suggestions welcome!
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
If the bike takes 35mm tyres,then 32 or 35mm Vittoria Voyager Hypes are a very fast and very comfortable tyre
Planet X sell them at knock down prices,but don't buy the wired bead version they're an inferior version.
Planet X sell them at knock down prices,but don't buy the wired bead version they're an inferior version.
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
reohn2 wrote:If the bike takes 35mm tyres,then 32 or 35mm Vittoria Voyager Hypes are a very fast and very comfortable tyre
Planet X sell them at knock down prices,but don't buy the wired bead version they're an inferior version.
I rode these tyres for a few thousand miles and they are **** poor for grip. I would trust these less than I trust gatorskins.
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
I have to disagree with that,I've found them very reliable in all respects.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
If the sport contact is anything like its 'posh' relative the Four Season then it comes out a bit oversize so the 28 might be just right.
The older I get the more I’m inclined to act my shoe size, not my age.
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
reohn2 wrote:I have to disagree with that,I've found them very reliable in all respects.
I'll second that.
The only (very few) occasions I've had a grip issue was once when I caught some wet ironworks on a corner with the rear wheel which kicked out slightly & then gripped again, off road in very soft mud (but they aren't really designed for that) & a steep ascent on ice (they aren't designed for that either - I'd had a bead failure on a studded tyre while out on my bike & had to put the Hyper, that was in my bag as a spare, on the rear as a get me home option). Even in the mud & ice they coped better than I thought they might.
If you don't want to go for the Hypers, Planet X have 32 & 35mm Panaracer Ribmos, also for £20.
Former member of the Cult of the Polystyrene Head Carbuncle.
Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
peetee wrote:If the sport contact is anything like its 'posh' relative the Four Season then it comes out a bit oversize so the 28 might be just right.
They have a tyre called 'the four season'?! [emoji23] that's very posh [emoji23]. Really good shout re the 28's. I already bought a pair of Sport Contact II's in 35 at a silly price but then figured I wanted to reduce rolling resistance a bit more. However, is there is a significant difference between the 28 and 35 of the same model tyre? I understand that wider tyres can roll better but aero / tyre pressure impacts mean that skinner tyres are more efficient overall (my knowledge is near zero)? If I'm not going to notice the difference between a 28 and the 35's I already have then I could keep the 35's rather than returning and getting 28's.
I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
reohn2 wrote:If the bike takes 35mm tyres,then 32 or 35mm Vittoria Voyager Hypes are a very fast and very comfortable tyre
Planet X sell them at knock down prices,but don't buy the wired bead version they're an inferior version.
I read that they have super low rolling resistance - good call. I ended up buying a pair of Specialized Espoir Sports in 700cx30 because I saw them on a nicely specced adventure bike in a shop yesterday and the reviews looked favourable. Depending on how this thread develops I'll send back either the 35mm Conti Sport Contact II's or the 30mm Espoir Sports. I'm 90% road and 10% light offroad for the time being so I want a fast road, safe (decent dependable grip), fairly puncture resistant and relatively inexpensive pair until the winter months when I'll likely pop my Sammy Slicks back on.
I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my wobbly bog brush using hovercraft full of eels
- The utility cyclist
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Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
schwlabe marathon Racer
Specialized Espoir Sport
Ziffiro IV folding https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vittoria-Zaf ... 6UI0hk_RHA
zipp tangient https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Zipp-Tangente- ... _86969.htm
Challenge Strada Bianchi
Mavic Yksion Elite Allroad Evans or Ac cycles
Grand Bois Cypres https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grand-Bois-C ... RjkczUXzFg
depends on how you define 'good value', if you want a good tyre they don't come cheap usually. I'm on 28s or 32s plus I've started using some 40s on a gravel bike. I'm actually going to try some 30mm tubs I think
Specialized Espoir Sport
Ziffiro IV folding https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vittoria-Zaf ... 6UI0hk_RHA
zipp tangient https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Zipp-Tangente- ... _86969.htm
Challenge Strada Bianchi
Mavic Yksion Elite Allroad Evans or Ac cycles
Grand Bois Cypres https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grand-Bois-C ... RjkczUXzFg
depends on how you define 'good value', if you want a good tyre they don't come cheap usually. I'm on 28s or 32s plus I've started using some 40s on a gravel bike. I'm actually going to try some 30mm tubs I think
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
peetee wrote:If the sport contact is anything like its 'posh' relative the Four Season then it comes out a bit oversize so the 28 might be just right.
Continental tyres seem all over the place with their sizing. The 28mm Four Seasons I had until recently (so bought a couple of years ago) measured just over 26mm on 14mm internal rims. 28mm GP400SII measure 29mm on 13mm internal rims.
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
Don't obsess with a millimetre or two of nominal width: actual width is not the same, carcass volume is not the same, and different rims will produce different results.
I would suggest going for a full slick 28ish (the GP4000Sii is the best I've used) if you want speed on tarmac at the cost of off-road capability, and if you want more of a compromise then get a 32 at least, preferably a bit larger, with a light tread and a good flexible carcass. Width alone is a poor guide as to rolling resistance: these two other factors are more important. Another point worth noting is that IME you need to spend a decent amount to get a good flexible carcass (though no doubt there will be exceptions).
I would suggest going for a full slick 28ish (the GP4000Sii is the best I've used) if you want speed on tarmac at the cost of off-road capability, and if you want more of a compromise then get a 32 at least, preferably a bit larger, with a light tread and a good flexible carcass. Width alone is a poor guide as to rolling resistance: these two other factors are more important. Another point worth noting is that IME you need to spend a decent amount to get a good flexible carcass (though no doubt there will be exceptions).
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
Bez wrote:Don't obsess with a millimetre or two of nominal width: actual width is not the same, carcass volume is not the same, and different rims will produce different results.
I would suggest going for a full slick 28ish (the GP4000Sii is the best I've used) if you want speed on tarmac at the cost of off-road capability, and if you want more of a compromise then get a 32 at least, preferably a bit larger, with a light tread and a good flexible carcass. Width alone is a poor guide as to rolling resistance: these two other factors are more important. Another point worth noting is that IME you need to spend a decent amount to get a good flexible carcass (though no doubt there will be exceptions).
I have a pair of 700cx35 Conti Sport Contact II's already, which i could put on but my suspicion is there mightn't be much of a reduction in rolling resistance over the 35 Sammy Slicks, which have minimal tread in the centre of the tyre. Interested to know people's thoughts. Awaiting a pair of 700cx30mm Espoir Sports, which I guess will be more road focused and have lower rolling resistance. Ideally, if they are fast on the road then I'd go with the 700cx35 Sport Contact II's because i imagine that they will work a bit better off road than 700cx30 Espoir Sports.
In general, if you have tyre A in width X and tyre A in width Y, will Y have proportionally more rolling resistance/air resistance or isn't it that simple?
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
Bez wrote:Don't obsess with a millimetre or two of nominal width: actual width is not the same, carcass volume is not the same, and different rims will produce different results.
I would suggest going for a full slick 28ish (the GP4000Sii is the best I've used) if you want speed on tarmac at the cost of off-road capability, and if you want more of a compromise then get a 32 at least, preferably a bit larger, with a light tread and a good flexible carcass. Width alone is a poor guide as to rolling resistance: these two other factors are more important. Another point worth noting is that IME you need to spend a decent amount to get a good flexible carcass (though no doubt there will be exceptions).
So i figured that a 30 would be a nicer compromise than a 32 because it will be a little more road-focused and hopefully noticeably faster than my current 35 Sammy Slicks, whereas the difference going down to 32s mightn't be as significant?
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
The utility cyclist wrote:schwlabe marathon Racer
Specialized Espoir Sport
Ziffiro IV folding https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vittoria-Zaf ... 6UI0hk_RHA
zipp tangient https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Zipp-Tangente- ... _86969.htm
Challenge Strada Bianchi
Mavic Yksion Elite Allroad Evans or Ac cycles
Grand Bois Cypres https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Grand-Bois-C ... RjkczUXzFg
depends on how you define 'good value', if you want a good tyre they don't come cheap usually. I'm on 28s or 32s plus I've started using some 40s on a gravel bike. I'm actually going to try some 30mm tubs I think
Thanks very much! I'm awaiting some Espoir Sports (I think they were £17 each, so not too bad) because i spotted them on a nice adventure bike in a shop at the weekend, so seeing them on your list is another vote for them.
Re: Fast, dependable, good value 700x30 tyres
30mm is not that common a size, many models jump straight from 28 to 32, even more models either stop at 28 for road tyres or start at 32 for touring... really as has been said a couple of mm isn't going to make much difference if everything else about the tyre is what you want.
Marathon Supremes are my current favourite faster touring tyre, the wired version are currently on offer for £20 each and I don;t notice the difference between them and the folding ones.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s142p32 ... reme-wired
Down a size to 28s and my favourites are Continental GP4S though even when you find them on offer I'm not sure they meet your value criteria, depends what you value! Almost as good and a lot cheaper are the Rubino Pros.
All three of the above I've used on mild off road, mostly the rolled stone NCN tracks and canal paths.
Marathon Supremes are my current favourite faster touring tyre, the wired version are currently on offer for £20 each and I don;t notice the difference between them and the folding ones.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m2b0s142p32 ... reme-wired
Down a size to 28s and my favourites are Continental GP4S though even when you find them on offer I'm not sure they meet your value criteria, depends what you value! Almost as good and a lot cheaper are the Rubino Pros.
All three of the above I've used on mild off road, mostly the rolled stone NCN tracks and canal paths.