Tubular Tire Recommendation

Rob Weinstock

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

Darryl Mataya

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

Rapunzel

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

Qui si parla Campagnolo

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"