30mm durable tyres for audaxing

Not tan wall but really excellent for all weather - Continental GP 4 Seasons.

Generally the only road tyre I’d ever use was the gp5000. It wins out on everything (in the UK I’d run it year round)

But recently I rode the IPWR and at the time couldn’t get my hands on the gp5000 in a 30c at a reasonable price or in time. So I tried the specialized roubaix pro 30/32c. They have been absolutely stellar.

I used them on a loaded bike, tubeless, on hookless rims, regularly riding off the road onto dirt to avoid traffic and no issues and no punctures. They seem to grip well in all conditions (wet or dirt roads), relatively cheap and give a comfy ride. Whilst this riding has been in Australia I would have no worries using them on winter back roads in the uk with hawthorn clippings, flints and greasy road surfaces.

They feel nothing like a marathon or gatorskin though and I’ve even raced a couple of crits on them.

Here they aren’t sold in a tan wall, but I know they do in the US and maybe also in the UK?

The other option you may consider is the  gp5000 all season, they do a tan wall 28c version but I believe it’s not as durable.

specialized roubaix pro 30/32c - I love these. I used them for >5k in Irish shit weather and roads with no bother. 

Cheap too.

Winter/audax bike running Gravel King slicks set up tubeless - theres now a "Plus" version with extra puncture protection.

My Scott Adfict came with 30mm Schwalbe Ones, with tubes. 4000 puncture free miles so far.

I ran rubino pro tlr all through last winter and they were flawless. Quite cheap too.

I like the sound of the specalized but I think 30mm is the limit so these could be pushing it. 

Challenge Strada Bianca in Tubeless for me. Ride quality on them is absolutely stunning.

I like the sound of the specalized but I think 30mm is the limit so these could be pushing it.

My "period Harry Hall" will just take 25mm providing I don't pump them up too hard.

I’ve had 27 vittoria paves in and there’s room for a little more.

I like the challenge (I use them on the cx bike)

I know they can be hard to mount. And I read a review about the strada tyres being really difficult (just thinking if I’m fixing a puncture roadside)

spyke85
Free Member
Challenge Strada Bianca in Tubeless for me. Ride quality on them is absolutely stunning.

Whats the puncture resistance like ?

Been impressed with Conti Ultra Sport IIs. Done 1000s of miles on them, plenty of long and late rides and a tour up and down Wales with a minimal pack in a bar box-bag. Only 2-3 flats and the rear's now squared off but the ride feel and grip's good. The 28s on a 19mm rim measure up at 31mm. Will go for the new version soon.

Sworks mondos, haven't punctured one yet since picking the road bike up at the start of the summer.

I also like the specialized roubaix pro 30/32c but they come up 35mm real width, so too big.

They do the Roubaix Pro is different widths. I've just put the non-tubeless 25/28 on my Tarmac for winter and they visually they look a bit bigger than the Goodyear 28s I had on before. Can't say for certain as don't have calipers to measure

Gp5000’s with latex tubes from Sigma sport. Now installed and 100km over the chilterns impressed me. £100 for the pair seems decent value. I don’t think I’ve ever punctured a GP4/5000. So now I will on the ride home!

i use Panaracer Pasela PT folding but they only come in 32mm or 28mm i think. i run 38mm ones on my commuter/winter bike and they are great last ages, roll fast enough and are puncture resistant plus tan walls and suitably retro looking. plus cheaper than most of the above £30 each roughly

Been impressed with Conti Ultra Sport IIs.

I've always found the margin between Conti's made in the far east Ultra Sports and the made in Germany GP series to be very fine. It's noticeable, but only if you ride them back to back. I've got one on the front of my commuter/winter bike (rear is really tough specialized Borough for smashing into potholes and kerbs).

Having said that anecdotally in the cycling club we had a lot of people trashing a lot of GP5000's the last couple of years. They've mostly swapped to Schwalbe Pro One and Hutchinson Fusion 5 11 storm (its a mouthfull) tubeless.

Another for vittoria rubino pro tlr. Great tyres for miles and miles

I love the sound of the Ruffy Tuffy tyres but they are only available in 28.

I ride some pretty broken surfaces on 28s, so I wouldn't rule them out tbh. That said, I do have wide 19mm rims, not sure what your vintage bike has.

I have 32mm roubaixs on my winter roadie which is actually a gravel bike. Nice tyres. My other road bike has some Jack Brown Mile Munchers which I have been impressed with for the money, some odd size like 26mm as I recall, has been running 25mm, not sure 28's would fit.

On the Challenge Strada Bianca, no issues with the fitting or removal and not had a puncture in 5,000 miles of cycling this year.

They are actually easier to fit once they have been fitted once as the bead stretches a little. Do it, no regrets!

I use gp5000, they are fine on Northumberland roads. I used to like the schwalbe duranos which are more robust. Can't remember the new.name is it just "one".

@spyke85 what sealant are you using in the Biancas?
I’ve just bought some for road use and I’ve mounted them but not added sealant yet as I’m out of action until Dec bike wise. I bought some Orange sealant but I have plenty of Stans in stock - I read that Stans won’t seal the sidewalls on the Biancas though….

I’ve always found the margin between Conti’s made in the far east Ultra Sports and the made in Germany GP series to be very fine. It’s noticeable, but only if you ride them back to back.

I've not ridden the same size of both on the same bike but I'm not sure I'd be able to tell. 2-3W per tyre Vs GP5000 according to rollingresistance.com. Pure Grip compound is pretty good. I bought them because they were silly cheap at trade and in stock in 28 but they've been great.

35k km on gp5000TL and with only a single puncture which wouldn’t seal.

I also like the specialized roubaix pro 30/32c but they come up 35mm real width, so too big.

This is good to know, I prefer 32-35s for road riding.

@oceanskipper - using Peaty's myself. Know someone using Stans though with no issues either

I've bought some Roubaix Pros off the back of this thread. A heads up that they're relatively heavy. My kitchen scales say 430g per tyre.

I've also bought some Gravel King slicks in the same size which come in at 290g.

Any idea how noticeable that difference will be in real world riding?

The Specialized look more robust which I'm drawn to.

I also like the specialized roubaix pro 30/32c, if you can get them in a width that works for you.
And isn't there a winter version of the GP5000 that gets rave reviews?

Rubino Pro's are a good option but I have some great results with the Corsa Next as well.

Used them on a gravel bike last year for commuting and they were great.

Feel tough like the the Rubino but with a bit more speed.

Also took them down a disused railway with no trouble either.

Was using the 30mm tubeless for reference.

No tanwall though i'am afraid!