Tubular Tire Recommendation

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Hi,

What are considered to be the finer tubular tires available today?

Cost no object?
If I want to limit price to $75 each?
Best value for the money?

Thanks and regards,

Rob Weinstock

I get best results with the hand-made ones. I've got the following
setups - Veloflex Criterium, Conti Competition, and right now I've got
Michelin Service Course on my TT bike. But I'm pretty sure Michelin
doesn't make those themselves (green sidewalls/black slick tread).
Like them all, especially like the profile of the Veloflex - a bit
wider. I guess that would be cost no object for the latter two and
maybe you can still get Veloflex at $75US.

Occasionally you can find older, Italian made Vittoria CX/CG on ebay
for a decent price. Those are still very nice riding and durable.

-Darryl Mataya

Darryl Mataya wrote:

*Hello,

> I get best results with the hand-made ones. I've got the following
> setups -

*I have use all of these tires listed and these are my impressions of them.

> Veloflex Criterium

*Still my favorite or ride quality, road feel, grip and traction. They
are quite durable, I usually get 1500 to ~2000 miles out of a rear tire
and more from the fronts. I have had a tire gashed by something very
large and sharp, it left a 1/2" long cut on the tread, but the tire
still went down slowly, it did not flat suddenly.

>Conti Competition

*One durable tire, these wear well, light weight with nice grip and
traction. The only thing I don't like about these are the ride and price
in the USA.

> Michelin Service Course on my TT bike. But I'm pretty sure Michelin
> doesn't make those themselves (green sidewalls/black slick tread).

*I used these for a while and did not like them. The ride was quite
similar to their clinchers and overall feel on the road were very
similar too. These simply don't feel like a nice tubular.

*I did have problems with the base tape coming un-glued from the casing.
This got me concerned enough to stop using these tires. I have rolled
more than one tubular over the years, and rolling a tubular during a
race is too dangerous for all involved.

*I'm pretty sure Michelin did build these tires, but Michelin is pretty
much our of the tubular tire business. They have concentrated on
clinchers and a new tubeless road tire.

*There are others like the Vittoria CX, it's kind of a classic standard
nice hand made tubular. I have used them over the years and like them
just fine, not as nice riding as the Veloflex, but definely good. It's
one of the standard issue among the pro-peleton.

*Vittoria All Weather Pro and Special Pave. Both really good when it's
cold, wet and the roads are mush. I use these during the wet season.
Better ride then the CX due to the larger casing, softer tread compound,
but it's one tough tire.

*There is TUFO, no inner tube. I have not tried these yet, and Dugast,
they are under new ownership and offers a variety of handmade tubulars.
You can find them on the web.

> Like them all, especially like the profile of the Veloflex - a bit
> wider.

*Veloflex now makes a tire called the Roubix, it's 24mm wide. I have not
tired them yet, but they might be the new Del-Mondo.

> I guess that would be cost no object for the latter two and
> maybe you can still get Veloflex at $75US.

*Contact Danny at Crit USA, he has pretty good prices and great service.

> Occasionally you can find older, Italian made Vittoria CX/CG on ebay
> for a decent price. Those are still very nice riding and durable.

*Better yet, Clement Del-Mondos, Criterium, Paris Roubix. Egyptian
cotton casing or silk. Those were the days..

> -Darryl Mataya

Bernice

Rob-<< What are considered to be the finer tubular tires available today?
>><BR><BR>


Conti Sprinters for the rear and Vittoria CX for the front..Velomax also a good
choice.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
> Rob-<< What are considered to be the finer tubular tires available today?

*Conti Sprinters.... I got near 6,000 miles out of one. The center of
the tread was very near the casing. It never flatted, but just wore out.
That is one durable tire. The ride is not to my liking, otherwise, it's
a pretty good value overall.

Bernice

> Conti Sprinters for the rear and Vittoria CX for the front..Velomax also a good
> choice.
>
> Peter Chisholm
> Vecchio's Bicicletteria
> 1833 Pearl St.
> Boulder, CO, 80302
> (303)440-3535
> http://www.vecchios.com
> "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"