Commuter tyres - which ones now?

[Top_Bhoy]

The last twice I've gone to buy tyres for my commuter hybrid, I've opted for Continental Sport Contact City Tyre. They've done well for me. Unfortunately, this time around they are not available but the Continental Sport Contact II City Tyre is. Looking at pics of the tread of both types, they appear sufficiently different so it appears that differences may not be of a minor nature.

Although I am looking for a more 'slick' tyre, the other one under consideration is the Continental Contact II Road Bike Tyre which has a more definitive tread. Does anyone have an opinion after having used either the Continental Sport Contact II City Tyre or Continental Contact II City Tyre?

Any other alternatives to consider?

The tyres will be primarily used on cycle paths or roads for my commute to work. Most definitely no off-road usage.

Thanks

[carcharias]

Hello.

have not used thinner than 28C. I think this width is a good comfort/speed balance.

I have had a good run so far with Michelin City Bike tyres 28C x 700. They are $20- $23 from this link is broken. Not so light but great wear/grip so far. Only swapped the rear to the front recently (tyre has worn flat in the middle), bought the tyres early 2014.
They are good in wet, slow wearing, no punctures yet...! Has reflective material on side-walls. Cheap too.
Other Michy's that look good:
Michelin City Road Tyre- $19 (Reflective side-walls also) These look good to me.
Michelin Word Tour- $17- $19 Last for ages....a bit agricultural, but sometimes that's exactly what you need...
Michelin Classic Road Tyre- $15.50- $17 maybe fragile this one...Note: these prices don't include freight.
May help...
Cheers.

[biker jk]

Pity you're not in Sydney since I have two Michelin City Bike tyres (700 x 28 with reflective sidewall) for sale at $20 each.

[SuperSix]

I am running a Schwalbe Kojak which is a full slick. Grip seams ok and no punctures yet(touch wood). Last week I pulled about 6 or 8 shards of glass from the tread but nothing went through the protection layer. I ride a lot of bike paths and the local past time is smashing bottles. I've also ridden it on gravel without issue but it's pretty loose on wet grass and mud.
I'm running them on a 29er hard tail which is set up as my commuter.

[Top_Bhoy]

Cheers

I'm great at giving the right advice but clearly not as good at listening to myself. I thought I should have changed them a couple of weeks back or at least buy a couple of new ones in preparation.....bit of tardiness on my part. On fixing the resultant puncture this evening it seems the top layer of rubber on one of the tyres has partly worn away. This has resulted in me inserting a piece of tubing underneath between inner tube and tyre to provide additional protection. I'll check it in the morning before setting out for work but I'll be doing well too reach the weekend on these tyres. Fingers crossed though .

[rodneycc]

Hey Chris, got a couple of Schwalbe Marathons almost new (just the Marathon not the Plus) in a 38c from the 29er Ive packed away which might be a little too wide for you but happy to throw them up there for your consideration if you want to make me a lowball offer [WHITE SMILING FACE]

[tez001]

Had a good run with the Vittoria Rubino Pro's. Had some spare 23mm versions lying around which I used on the commuter. Got about 3,300kms out of the rear tyre before it wore through and I started getting punctures. The front still looks fine with 5,500kms on it. I then put some Vittoria Radonneurs on the rear, 25mm and they have clocked 2,200kms without any incidents, however I think the lift will be around 3,500 - 4,000kms if Im lucky.

Im still trying different tyres to see which ones I get the most bang for buck. I'll probably step up to 28mm tyres next time the rears need replacing.

My rear always wears out a lot quicker due to my weight, rack and panniers.

[Top_Bhoy]

Hey Chris, got a couple of Schwalbe Marathons almost new (just the Marathon not the Plus) in a 38c from the 29er Ive packed away which might be a little too wide for you but happy to throw them up there for your consideration if you want to make me a lowball offer [WHITE SMILING FACE]

I'll pass on the 38c Marathons Rodney; just a little too big. I'm probably going to go for a 32c size which so far have been good compromise for speed, comfort and an ability to handle the weight of the rear pannier.

Cheers

[rodneycc]

No probs, yeah reckon 30-32s are a really good size for a commuter

[MattyK]

Marathon Supremes. Expensive yes. But last for ages (still have rear tread at about 8 or 9000 km), ride well, roll fast, look good, zero punctures.

[queequeg]

Marathon Supremes. Expensive yes. But last for ages (still have rear tread at about 8 or 9000 km), ride well, roll fast, look good, zero punctures.

I liked the weight reduction from the Marathon Plus, but the sidewalls are paper thin and I had a piece of glass tear it apart like tissue paper. $58 tyre binned. Then 6 weeks later the other supreme delaminated and had to be binned as well. $118 if tyre and barely 1800km between them.

I just rotated off my rear SMP tyre after 10,000km from new. $34 a tyre and they last for ages.

[tez001]

I just rotated off my rear SMP tyre after 10,000km from new. $34 a tyre and they last for ages.

I want to try SMP next time my tyres need replacing, where do you get them from? I thought they were around the $50 mark?

[queequeg]

I just rotated off my rear SMP tyre after 10,000km from new. $34 a tyre and they last for ages.

I want to try SMP next time my tyres need replacing, where do you get them from? I thought they were around the $50 mark?

c r c is where I buy them most of the time, although the exchange rate has knocked them back up. I bought my current set last year. According to my order history I paid $37.49 each, and the RRP was $64.49.
On c r c now, the RRP has increased to $76.99 and they are selling for $51.99.
Any time I see them on special I grab them.

Btw The Marathon Supreme is now $65.99, so they are still is a smaller increase over the $58 I paid for them.

[Thoglette]

In the it's-not-fancy-but-it's-cheap category the Maxxis refuse (can be found in 28mm) is pretty tough and cheap, if you have to deal with a lot of "bogan glitter"

I'm running Continental Ultrasport which are a little more expensive, a little stickier but which also appear to be narrower than stamped (e.g. my 32mm are actually 28mm )