Which tyres for my commuting/tourer bike?

[Bristol_lass]

Hi all

Would really appreciate some advice on what tyres to buy for my bike.

Use: primarily for commuting but also day leisure rides of up to 70miles and some multi-day touring. Mainly on roads, cycle paths and tow paths. In all conditions except snow and ice - lots of torrential rain because I'm in the south-west
Bike: a 1960s/70s steel frame Claude Butler with modern bits
Current tyres: 700 X 32c, very worn, one is a Panaracer but not sure about the other. They have a bit of a tread but can be a bit slippy in wet weather or on gravel. Badly split and worn after about 5 years use.

I have no idea what tyre to buy, options so far seem to be:

Schwalbe Marathon Plus - some people say this is quite heavy, but will I notice if I'm someone who always cycles with a pannier and a steel frame and is going by distance rather than speed? £35 each
Continental Tourer Plus - bit lighter than Schwalbe Marathon £30 each
Bontrager AW1 hard case - man in shop said that these had much better grip (despite no tread) than the above and was significantly faster and lighter £25 each

Main priorities for me are: no punctures, good grip in wet conditions and on gravelly roads, wide enough to not jump around so probably not thinner than my current 32, not crazy heavy (but I have no idea how heavy my current ones are) and £30 each or preferably less. I'm not a slow cyclist but I'd say I'm more on the leisurely side than racing so speed probably isn't an issue.

Any advice?

Thanks, Alice

[mjr]

Schwalbe Marathon Plus - some people say this is quite heavy, but will I notice if I'm someone who always cycles with a pannier and a steel frame and is going by distance rather than speed? £35 each

I think you'll notice because it's 800g in a 32mm and they don't flex as much as most. If your priority is no punctures, it's probably still worth it. However, you can see in my sig that I use one, but I've got Schwalbe's lighter/less protected Delta Cruiser on my front, which is partly nostalgia and partly because I feel it's a bit easier to ride.

Continental Tourer Plus - I've no experience of this exact tyre but it looks good and Continental Twisters lasted well on one bike here. Reviews suggest that it's not quite as hardwearing as M+ and about the same on grip. I've not yet seen it cheaper than Schwalbe so I've not switched. 605g in a 32mm.

Bontrager AW1 hard case - Looks OK but the sparse tread would worry me on the mud-on-tarmac roads locally. I wouldn't mind using it on gravel because I feel that except for big shoulder treads, I feel it's all much of a muchness on gravel. 475g in a 32mm.

It would be remiss of me if I didn't at least mention the Panaracer RiBMo (successor to what you've got) and Vittoria Voyager Hypers. I don't think I know anyone using them, but they have their fans on here.

[barrym]

I'd recommend the Continental Touring Plus. I used to get lots of punctures until I fitted a set of these about 2 years ago, and nothing since (touch wood). I haven't changed where I ride so I assume they work. I have just this week put on as new set as I actually wore them out - very satisfying. And I could use the tubes again as they didn't have any patches! Oh, and I don't know if that price is for one or a pair but you can get them for less than £20 each.

Hth.

Barry

[Bicycler]

Hi,

I've only used the Marathon pluses from your list and I wore them both out without having a single puncture. It came at a price though in terms of ride quality. They are also a pig to get on your bike so make sure you watch Colin's famous video on fitting them (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XUFVrl0UT4)if you do buy some.

I shifted to the normal Marathons which are significantly cheaper and more of a jack of all trades but they are the standard touring tyre for a reason. They are lighter, faster rolling and feel better to ride. So far I haven't had a puncture with these either so I think the puncture protection band must be pretty good. I won't be going back to the Pluses unless never ever having a puncture is my overriding priority. However, If you do go for the pluses they do a "tour" variant with a more pronounced tread which may be of interest.

[mercalia]

I would go for ordinary marathons - these ones in fact at a good price

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s142p1092

if they have the size u want, get a few while you can as not made any more and some people think the replacements not so good

They have good strong side walls & a good tread.

I would also put some tyre liners underneath. Halfords do some , worth a look. I have used something similar for 10 years or so, so a one time buy

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_842767_langId_-1_categoryId_273923#tab3

or for mt bikes -

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_842773_langId_-1_categoryId_273923

I used 700c x1.5 on my galaxy. did a good job

One thing u should realise , putting fat tyres on a narrow rim dont just mean u get wide tyres but also tall(er) tyres

[reohn2]

Panaracer Ribmos are a grippy,fast,very puncture resistant slick tyre of medium weight,at 450g for a wired 700x32 which measure a full 32x32mm on a touring rim.We've been riding them on the tandems for a few years with very few punctures(around 5 in as many years).They're available from SJS for £25 or £28 for the lighter(400g) folding version.

Vittoria Voyager Hypers are also a grippy,very fast,very puncture resistant,lightweight folding tyre at 400g for a 700x37c(actual 35x35mm)(32mm weigh just 350g) and are very comfortable to ride.
I've been using them for over 18 months on solos with one puncture,but I do ride them quite a bit on tracks,trails and a little singletrack.
They're available cheap @£20 from Planet X.

[pete75]

Planet X are currently doing Randonneur Cross Pro Folding for £14.99. This is another puncture resistant and good performing touring tyre from Vittoria. They have a tread pattern which performs well on loose surfaces and on the road. Been using them for years and can recommend.

[MikeF]

Welcome to the forum.
Hope this is not sucking eggs etc., but do you have a pump with a tyre pressure gauge or at least a gauge? If not you might want to consider buying one, as correct pressure plays an important part in wear, ride quality, rolling resistance etc.

Panaracer tyre weights are herehttp://www.panaracer.com/urban.php.

As you've probably found there is a bewildering range of tyres and many people are happy with different ones, as you can see from the replies. As reohn2 says not all tyres are the size marked on the wall. In my experience Panaracer tyres seem to measure close to the indicated size. In the Continental range I have recently used 700x32 Continental Contact II for about 600miles. They seem to roll reasonably well, give reasonable grip in slightly muddy conditions and don't throw up a lot of spray in the wet, but their width is only 28mm not 32mm and also they are one of the hardest tyres I found to fit on the rim. Weight is medium at about 515g.
Folding tyres are always much lighter of course, and I personally favour keeping rotating weight down, but if you are commuting perhaps you may want to optimise on the most puncture resistant tyres, which unfortunately are the heaviest.

[sreten]

Planet X are currently doing Randonneur Cross Pro Folding for £14.99. This is another puncture resistant and good performing touring tyre from Vittoria. They have a tread pattern which performs well on loose surfaces and on the road. Been using them for years and can recommend.

Hi, They look good value, rgds, sreten.

[reohn2]

...........As you've probably found there is a bewildering range of tyres and many people are happy with different ones, as you can see from the replies. As reohn2 says not all tyres are the size marked on the wall. In my experience Panaracer tyres seem to measure close to the indicated size. In the Continental range I have recently used 700x32 Continental Contact II for about 600miles. They seem to roll reasonably well, give reasonable grip in slightly muddy conditions and don't throw up a lot of spray in the wet, but their width is only 28mm not 32mm and also they are one of the hardest tyres I found to fit on the rim. Weight is medium at about 515g.
Folding tyres are always much lighter of course, and I personally favour keeping rotating weight down, but if you are commuting perhaps you may want to optimise on the most puncture resistant tyres, which unfortunately are the heaviest.

After making enquiries,I've just fitted a pair of 700x32 Gatorskins @365g to a bike with restricted clearances(Thorn Audax Mk3) which measure 30x30 on a 15mm internal rim (DRC STouring).
The 28mm Gators they replaced measured 26wx23h ,so there's a lot more cushion and scope for lower TP's.
I haven't ridden them yet but will report back.

[mjr]

Gators seem to be vulnerable to Norfolk arrowhead flints and sea shell shards puncturing the sidewalls, so they're run pretty hard here AFAIK.

[reohn2]

Planet X are currently doing Randonneur Cross Pro Folding for £14.99. This is another puncture resistant and good performing touring tyre from Vittoria. They have a tread pattern which performs well on loose surfaces and on the road. Been using them for years and can recommend.

They look to be a bargain but TBH I find slicks handle most gravel etc surprisingly well,obviously muddy tracks need a bit of caution.
The ordinary Vitt Randoneur are a good tyre too,my 10 year granddaughter and I have been riding them on the childback tandem for a while in 26x40mm size(two for £20 at Decathlon ) PlanetX have the 700x32/37 Pro version in for £15 (folding),the weights are respectable too @ 420g and 460g

[reohn2]

Gators seem to be vulnerable to Norfolk arrowhead flints and sea shell shards puncturing the sidewalls, so they're run pretty hard here AFAIK.

Not much of a problem in my neck of the woods,thorns are usually the culprits here.
I usually average two punctures a year with an average mileage between 7 and 8,000 miles.Last year conversely was a low mileage one @ 5,000miles and I had three,two thorns and a panel pin of all
things .
65to70% of my riding is tarmac,the other 30to35% is towpaths(concrete,bad tarmac&hoggin) bridleways,tracks and a small amount of singletrack.

[beardy]

Planet X are currently doing Randonneur Cross Pro Folding for £14.99. This is another puncture resistant and good performing touring tyre from Vittoria. They have a tread pattern which performs well on loose surfaces and on the road. Been using them for years and can recommend.

I can not say if it is a good tyre or not in operation as I havent actually fitted and ridden it.

Described in the Vittoria catalogue as 700 35C and ETRTO 37-622 and weighing 450g.

It rather disappointingly doesnt match that description, weighing 483g and measuring nearer 32mm when fitted on a 15mm rim.

[reohn2]

I can not say if it is a good tyre or not in operation as I havent actually fitted and ridden it.

Described in the Vittoria catalogue as 700 35C and ETRTO 37-622 and weighing 450g.

It rather disappointingly doesnt match that description, weighing 483g and measuring nearer 32mm when fitted on a 15mm rim.

That's rather naughty!
The Voyager Hypers marked up as 700x37c measure 35x35 on a 17mm internal rim and weigh 400g(just weighed one) catalogue says 395g.
BTW Planet X have Vittoria Randonneur* Hypers in 700x37&40 for £15

*Not to be confused with ordinary Randonneur and Randonneur Pro,the Randonneur Hypers are the same as the Voyager Hypers.I suspect the name was changed to avoid confusion.