while we’re talking tires…good compromise between gravel and slick?

[vern]

@Powerful Pete 126225 wrote:

Don’t go with the Gators. Cycling is meant to be fun. Honestly, a less enjoyable riding tire is yet to be invented.

I am converted. After two flats this week I changed tires last night and put on a pair of Gatorskins that I bought at a deep discount late last summer. I had used them before and didn’t really notice anything. The tires I replaced last night were stock Mavic tires that came on the wheels I bought last fall. Whatever the Mavic tires were/are, I found them to be supple and smooth. This morning, after no more than 50 feet on the Gatorskins I noticed a BIG difference, and none for the good. They felt very sticky, almost like glue on the road. I had dead legs this morning, so that’s probably part of it, but I really hated the way the Gatorskins rolled this morning. Out of guilt (because I payed for them), I’ll probably use them through the Winter and let them take the abuse of all the garbage that’s collected on the roads, but I’m going to switch them out in the Spring, maybe to the GP4000S’s the Hozn touts.

[vvill]

@vern 134912 wrote:

I am converted. After two flats this week I changed tires last night and put on a pair of Gatorskins that I bought at a deep discount late last summer. I had used them before and didn’t really notice anything. The tires I replaced last night were stock Mavic tires that came on the wheels I bought last fall. Whatever the Mavic tires were/are, I found them to be supple and smooth. This morning, after no more than 50 feet on the Gatorskins I noticed a BIG difference, and none for the good. They felt very sticky, almost like glue on the road. I had dead legs this morning, so that’s probably part of it, but I really hated the way the Gatorskins rolled this morning. Out of guilt (because I payed for them), I’ll probably use them through the Winter and let them take the abuse of all the garbage that’s collected on the roads, but I’m going to switch them out in the Spring, maybe to the GP4000S’s the Hozn touts.

I use one of mine as a trainer tire… muahahahahaha. Sweet revenge.

[Tania]

WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT.

Want.

I really kinda want them for Monster Cross.

Rock and Road Tires 700×43

Emailed the company to see if they thought they’d fit my Warbird (I can fit 700×44 and the 40’s on there right now have plenty o’room on either side by the chainstays…

[hozn]

I have heard/read about those Rock-and-Road tires as good all-terrain options. I do not have a good option for mud on the ‘cross bike; maybe those would be? But for hardpack and pavement hard to imagine anything better than the Trigger.

(The Panaracer Comets look nice too. Would love to hear a comparison between those and the Trigger.)

[Tania]

Bruce wrote me back right away so I ordered them. You’re welcome to borrow them for a test run when they get here.

[dcv]

@Tania 135106 wrote:

Bruce wrote me back right away so I ordered them. You’re welcome to borrow them for a test run when they get here.

I’d like to hire you as a personal bike parts shopper

[Tania]

If you’ve got a bike that can handle 43mm tires, the Rock and Roads are AMAZING. I didn’t have any issues with them yesterday at Monster Cross and it was pretty much every kind of surface you can think of plus it rained the last hour so they’ve been tested in dry and wet. Absolutely love them.

[hozn]

@Tania 135320 wrote:

If you’ve got a bike that can handle 43mm tires, the Rock and Roads are AMAZING. I didn’t have any issues with them yesterday at Monster Cross and it was pretty much every kind of surface you can think of plus it rained the last hour so they’ve been tested in dry and wet. Absolutely love them.

How does the pavement rolling compare to the Clements you run normally (are those 40mm MSOs?) ?

My current list of off-road tires to try includes:
– Kenda Flintridge (40mm, tubeless)
– Panaracer Comet (40mm, and apparently works tubeless)
– Schwalbe G-One (40mm, tubeless)

But it’ll be awhile before I wear out my Specialized Triggers, so probably any other tire will be one that is less exclusively for hardpack.

[Tania]

@hozn 135351 wrote:

How does the pavement rolling compare to the Clements you run normally (are those 40mm MSOs?) ?

My current list of off-road tires to try includes:
– Kenda Flintridge (40mm, tubeless)
– Panaracer Comet (40mm, and apparently works tubeless)
– Schwalbe G-One (40mm, tubeless)

But it’ll be awhile before I wear out my Specialized Triggers, so probably any other tire will be one that is less exclusively for hardpack.

I usually keep the 40 MSO’s on there all the time and ride a lot of pavement in them. The Rock and Roads didn’t feel any slower at all – there was a 2-3 mile paved section around mile 10 (mostly uphill?) and both times around I used that section to open it up and gain a lot of time. That could be due to relief at finding some recovery time on pavement though. They only time they felt slow was in a few of the sandier spots (the feeling where you’re not quite sure if your tire is flat or not).

I tried them Sat when I first put them on at 70psi and HATED them. They were squirrelly if you moved the wheel even a little bit and I was really nervous I’d made a huge mistake. But I let out some air and they flattened a bit and were fine. I doubt I would have been as happy with the MSO’s especially after it started raining. I wish I could tell you what I was running but I did it off feel. Probably around 40 which was almost too much.

Seriously – take them for a test spin around Lake FFX if you think they’ll fit your bike (they’re pretty meaty). Once things dry out, I plan to do just this.

[hozn]

Ok, I might take you up on that if/when the logistics work out. I would be kinda nervous about borrowing tires, but it would be useful to know before buying.

My frame should fit them; it is supposed to clear 45mm tires, though I have not tried anything larger than 42.

[hozn]

@Raymo853 129855 wrote:

First ride this morning to work on the 30/32 Specialized Roubaix Pro 2BR. I am finding it tough to not buy another and replace the Bonti on the front. I love it. Rolled fast, cornered great, holding air well without a tube, had a good smooth feeling ride, and shrugged off one hard pothole edge slam.

It seated up with only a little difficulty on my Stan’s Grails. Like most Specialized tires, it is huge. It has about 0.5 cm clearance to the chain-stays on my Salsa Colossal.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]10253[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]10254[/ATTACH]

I am grateful you posted these. I ordered a set of these in gumwall to try out after my Schwalbe Ones are finished. Around 5k miles on my One front tire — and no flats. Probably another thousand miles on the set.

I am hoping these Roubaix Pro 2BR fit ok under my fenders; other “32mm” fit, but we shall see! I am very happy with the Schwalbes, but these are cheaper. Worth a shot.

Raymo, what pressures are you running? I see the range listed, but expect that it should be on the lower end when running tubeless. I would like to run these at around 60-70psi if I can since I will be running these as pavement tires and want to keep the rolling fast. But I notice they are not called out specifically as “road tubeless”.

[Raymo853]

I am very bad at being consistent on pressures. I typically check and pump them up every so often, to about 60. Too hard, I think 50 is perfect on my wide Grails.

[hozn]

I got impatient (and the One with over 5k on the front is looking kinda done). I pumped these up to around 70psi. They don’t feel as fast as the Schwalbes, but the do roll smoothly and look great. At $40 pretty amazing value. I will give them a try on some faster road rides and see if that is noticeably more difficult.

[Raymo853]

Here are my Spec Roubaix Pro 2BR tires with some miles on it. It has developed these small round holes in various places. They do not seep sealant at all.

I also have one cut (photo did not come out) that was leaking sealant. I put more Stan’s in and it now is sealed up fine. Held the whole 52 mile Rough Roubaix without and more seepage.

And regarding pressure, I pumped it and the Bonti 28 on the front to 62. That was way too hard, I dropped both mid-RR to an unknown level and was much happier.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11558[/ATTACH]

[DrVoidberg]

@Raymo853 138465 wrote:

Here are my Spec Roubaix Pro 2BR tires with some miles on it. It has developed these small round holes in various places. They do not seep sealant at all.

I also have one cut (photo did not come out) that was leaking sealant. I put more Stan’s in and it now is sealed up fine. Held the whole 52 mile Rough Roubaix without and more seepage.

And regarding pressure, I pumped it and the Bonti 28 on the front to 62. That was way too hard, I dropped both mid-RR to an unknown level and was much happier.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11558[/ATTACH]

I know some continental tires have small holes that serve as wear indicators. Looks like that could be the case here?

[Author]

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