GamJams Reviews: Winter Training Tires

[All cyclists are experts, at least when it comes to our equipment choices. We know why we chose what we chose, and what we think of the product after we've been using it. GamJams Reviews channels that collective expertise - category by category - into a tidy package of articles designed to help all of us make better equipment decisions. Buying what pros get paid to use is one way to go. But the candid testimonial of fellow racers who paid out of their own pocket - that's an endorsement that really counts.]

This week's GamJams Reviews is on Winter Training Tires. If you want to add your own review, do it in the comments or on your own blog and throw a link in the comments.

• KMAX TRAX swears by his Specialized Armadillos: "The rear tire, which is covered with skid marks (fixed gear) is worn through to the inner red surface and should have blown a solid year ago, but it still rolls along no problem. To me that’s a sign of a truly tough tire (and a truly cheap rider)."
• Flamenco Chuckwagon has no idea what his Continental Gatorskins are made from, but he fully expects them to outlive his trainer: "I am no way going to change tires on my Powertap wheel to switch from riding inside to out. Meaning that my rear tire has to deal with the punishment of the trainer, avoid getting flats and ride acceptably. No mean feat."
• The Bike and More rolls all winter on the Forte G2 Kevlar Road Tire: "The good thing about these tires for mileage folks or heavy ones like me, is the big bulbous center that packs allot of rubber. This gives the tire a smaller faster footprint. Since the center is so tall, the tire doesn't get that "flat" section that us heavier riders get on the back tire..." 
• First Dropped uses the indoor-specific Continental UltraSport: "While the old tire worked fine, after a while I noticed fine black particles collecting all around the trainer (i.e. - floor, roller, resistance unit). This does not happen with the Continental tire."
• K-Blogg lets it all hang out with reviews on the Victoria Cross XG Pro and Cross XN Pro, Specialized All Condition Pro, Tufo tubulars, and Maxxis Raze and Locust, including photos showing wear and condition for each. Did I leave anything out, K-Blogg?
• The Wrob writes an ode to his Gatorskins, and to Ben Landers. "I think I was fixing my second flat tire and that's when I could tell Ben was really getting annoyed with me. He was riding in circles and I think contemplating leaving me while I was fixing my flat. When we got moving again he just said 'you need a set of Gators, bro!'"
• Beth Bikes rides the Continental Grand Prix 4000, and echoes what a lot of us might be asking: "Wait...am I supposed to change my bicycle tires in the winter? Truthfully, I ride the same tires all year round."
  

Next week: Trainers & Rollers.

Comments

[Jim]

I basically endorse Dave Kirkpatrick's take, and I'm tougher on tires than most. I get the better part of a winter out of a pair of Conti Gatorskins. The 700x25, folding, are the best bet. They are actually quite light, and last 1500-2000 miles including some heavy trainer use. They handle pretty well, they are sticky enough to do circuit races on (Tradezone, Quicksilver, the early season stuff like Carl Dolan) though they are a little treacherous in the wet. Run them with standard heavy rubber tubes and you'll do fine. The Armadillos are durable but they ride like steel donuts and are vile wet weather tires. Other heavy rubber cheapies are okay, but you drop to a 60 TPI tire, the handling and road feel us generally awful, and that matters on those long slow rides. Cold feet and hands and nose are enough to deal with, without adding "feels every single pebble" to the misery index. Tufo T22s are pretty nice if you're going to run Tubie training tires. Durable, decent handling, very comfortable road feel.