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I need a new set of road tyres for the up and coming triathlon season. I need something which will make the 25km road rides on my diverge as quick as possible!
I figure with all the new year sales on at the minute I should be able to get a bargain! Ideally I am after something for tri use and long road ride use. I have no idea where to start as I cannot remember what I have used in the past!
Width around 25mm I think would be appropriate.
Do you have your position sorted out on that diverge? Will make 50 times the difference that a fast tyre would in a time trial.
A very fast clincher tyre would be something like a vittoria corsa speed with a latex inner tube. You wouldn't train on it though - something like a continental GP4000 or 4 season is a v popular all rounder for training.
tbh though sticking a corsa speed onto a diverge in a TT would be like driving one of those dinky cars around with a really loud exhaust. Bit of a futile gesture as the basic machine is not the tool for the job. But you have to go with what you have, so something like a GP4000 would work fine.
I'm fine on my diverge, I know it's not a TT bike and I'm content with it. I just need some tyres which aren't the cx ones I just for commuting!
I will check out deals on the GP4000.
GP4000iiS would also be my recommendation.
I also need a rear tyre for my road bike. Not too slow, nice and comfy since I can only use 23, not too soft either.
Gp4000S2 are on offer at the moment as they’ve been replaced. I found them a nice ride but very hard to fit. That includes changing for a puncture. I like Schwalbe Ones a lot, especially in their dark skin wall. Also Vittoria Corsa are great tyres too I’ve raced both Ones and Corsas. There isn’t much in it at the top end. Expect to pay about £35 per end.
Fit a pair of Vittoria latex inner tubes for 5 free watts. You’ll pump them up more but will give a better faster ride.
And definitely not Corsa Speeds!! Insanely fast. I ran them tubeless on my TT bike for a season. Very fragile but almost impossible to mount as they are so tight. One did seal in a 25, but I reasoned that if I punctured over any longer distance and it didn’t, I would lose more time trying to get the bugger off, than I would save on watts. Very nice ride just too fragile. So I TT on corsas with latex tubes myself.
Aren't there tests on watts saved for tyres?
Corsa speeds sound life-changing...
Tubulars
There's really nothing to choose between the fastest clinchers run with latex tubes/tubeless, and tubular these days.
Aren’t there tests on watts saved for tyres?
There's some here:
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews
There's another good list somewhere, but I can't find it at the moment.
+1 For the GP4000s.
I've had loads of issues with Schwalbe Pro One tubeless, fragile as.
Loving Maxxis Padrone at the moment as a solid tubeless alternative to the Pro Ones.
Just bought a Vittoria Rubino Pro for £12
Al the Corsa Speeds are the fastest tyre. Ever tested by bicycle rolling resistance. When run tubeless they are fabulously fast and make a great noise. But they are fragile. I’ve run them without and then with latex tubes when they didn’t seal. And when they do seal they will not pump to the previous pressure. Mounting them is errr challenging.
Amazing tyres. Just a very harsh taskmaster! I do race them in circuit races sometimes. But not on the road any more.
I really rate Specialized SWorks Cotton and SWorks Turbo these days after years of being a Schwalbe fan. The Turbo 2bliss are about £30 at Sigmasports. I’ve always hated Conti GP4000’s and anything Vittoria for what it’s worth