(Part 2) Best bike tires according to redditors

I think you're right, here's a similar one.

Here's a modern one.

You want puncture resistant tires really. What tires do you have now? Schwalbe Marathon are great for this, they cost about $38 apiece: https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Wire-Bead-Tire/dp/B004YIC0YI

Let's call it a tire bell.

I have put close to 2000 miles on these tires and only had to replace the rear this season. Sure they are heavy and don't have the best rolling resistance but I have been flat free for an entire season. Worth every penny in my eyes buubthe folding they are hair lighter. Continental Ultra Gatorskin Bicycle Tire (700x25, Folding, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OC6CK0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_q1Ie6iyOT8XmR

I'm not a huge fan of riding on trails like that with slick 23mm tires. It's not the dust I'm worried about, it's the lack of grip when turning.

Many road bikes (eg my Trek 1.5) can take a tire like this or this - 700x28 with some tread - which adds some grip on crushed limestone trails.

You couldn't fit a tire bigger than 25mm on some higher-level road bikes, because they sacrifice clearance on the altar of aerodynamics.

1. I'd replace that plastic strip with actual tape. I'd recommend gorilla tape. Carefully apply it around the perimeter of the rim then poke a small hole for a valve stem to fit through. Leave room for the tire bead to fit around the inner wall of the rim.
   
   
2. Is your rim drilled for presta or schrader valves? If it's presta then buy a presta valve stem, or if it's drilled for schrader, then buy a schrader valve stem. Your alternative is to do "ghetto tubeless" by cutting the stem out of a tube and using that as a stem instead.
   
   
3. Get a pair of tubeless ready tires. If you are on a budget, I'd recommend these. They've never had a problem seating for me and are very good tires for the money on my 29er. If they have difficulty seating on your rim, try spraying the bead with soapy water. You must use compressed air to seat the bead.
   
   
4. Yes use sealant, I'd recommend Stan's. The bottle provides the amount recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004JKNY7I?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Schwalbe Marathon Greenguard in 700x32c

I did want them, I love the look. I was pretty set on the Schwalbe tires though because there are tons of thorns and whatnot where I live. I wanted the most durable tires that I could get.

You don't need specific tires, especially starting out. If you're committed to a training program and don't want to flatten out your good tire, a trainer tire like this is something to consider if you've got a spare rear wheel lying around but it's certainly not a necessity.

With a trainer, you lock the rear wheel into the trainer and make contact between your tire and some sort of cylinder that drives a flywheel which provides resistance. With rollers, you put your bike on top of three cylinders and keep it there through balance, patience, attention, and sheer force of will. If you're asking about the difference between rollers and trainers, you don't need rollers. Most training programs take for granted that you're using a trainer and not rollers - especially ones that focus on your power zones (rollers typically don't have any resistance on them - SportCrafters being a notable exception). Rollers are also harder to learn how to use properly and typically significantly more expensive than trainers of similar quality.

If you want a suggestion, go with the CycleOps Magneto trainer - it's about $250, pretty solid, easy to set up, provides progressive resistance (no knobs or levers to fiddle with) and is relatively quiet. If you can find one on Craigslist or something, so much the better. After a couple years you may want to upgrade and you'll probably have a better idea of what you're looking for based on your personal preferences.

Living in the greater Seattle area and have the same issue as you. What I use are the SKS Raceblade Long Fenders. They attach via a clip to a fitting that fits between your skewer and fork/dropout, and another one that attaches to your brake mount. You can quickly remove or re-attach the fenders without much fussing. Overall they work pretty well

http://www.amazon.com/SKS-Raceblade-Bicycle-Fender-Black/dp/B005NGPJ4I

Get some tire liners. They will reduce flats significantly.

these ones

yes, i'd say my experience with the kendas was non-typical to say the least.

As for the Schwalbe's i'm finding them well within my budget, thanks for the recommendation.

edit: so the link I put there aren't the plus version apparently, will continue researching.

You need tires or tubes... Or both? You need to know the width as well. Here are examples of 26 inch products:

Tube: https://www.amazon.com/Bell-STANDARD-Tube-26-1-75-2-25/dp/B000AAYBHI/

Tire: https://www.amazon.com/Bell-Whitewall-Flat-Defense-Cruiser/dp/B0796B1SC7/

You can get a more mix use tire instead of the stock knobby MTB tires. You wouldn't be able to do anything too wild with them but you would still be able to handle dirt/gravel and have an easier time on pavement.

Edit* 90% sure my buddy has these. He likes them for the pavement and said there was a noticeable difference between his knobby ones. Reviews suggest they are good also for hard packed dirt and gravel

Actually, it's usually the rear wheel that gets punctured more often, so you'd want the more flat-resistant tire in the back.

You might also look into the Schwalbe Marathon. Gatorskins are more for road bikes, the Marathon might be better since it sounds like you go offroad occasionally. And they're about $33, so closer to your budget.

Maybe these, if they're long enough? Or these?

You can get the Ventura wheel activated bell

https://www.amazon.com/Ventura-Super-Loud-Bicycle-Tire/dp/B001NGD5ES

You press a button, and the wheel and bell makes contact, and it rings constantly. Doesn't work when you're not moving.

With that said, don't ride paths with blind corners, unless you have a spotter.

Also, ringing all the way down means people hear you, but it places no obligation on them to move out of the way. If you can't brake, evade, whatever, you should go slower, get better, ride elsewhere, or wait until the leaves fall off, and you can see through the trees.

I've been using these Schwalbe 25s and I love them! Nice smooth ride, extremely durable, not noticeably slower than a 23, great for commuting!

I've got these (26x1.75) on my 3700, and it's a comfortable but fast ride.

Also on Amazon.

As far as tires go, CX tires on pavement can definitely feel a little squirrely, especially when descending. I'd say have two sets of tires, one for road and one for off-road endeavors, but it's really up to you. I mean, I'm not the one spending your money.

When you're looking at CX tires, there are basically three categories: "file tread" tires, "all-around" tires, and mud tires. File tread tires have smaller, closely spaced knobs/grooves and are good for fire roads and dry trails. All-around tires tend to have a slightly more aggressive tread pattern than file tread tires, particularly with more pronounced side knobs. These tires are good for lots of conditions. Mud tires have super chunky tread patterns for sloppy racing conditions. They won't be very fun on pavement, and they'll be overkill for most trails.

Your current tires fall into the "all-around" category. Challenge Grifo tires are used by a lot of racers and they have a pretty good reputation. I don't have any personal experience with them, however.

If you want to use the same tires for road and trail riding you'll probably want a file tread tire. Michelin Jet and Kenda Small Block Eight are the first two that come to mind, but there are lots of other options too. And if you want to matchy-match your tire brands, you can always get the Challenge Grifo XS. File treads are definitely viable race tires for drier races with lots of hard-pack and grass sections and not very much mud or sand. A lot of people race with a file tread tire on their rear wheel with a slightly chunkier tire on the front to take advantage of both low rolling resistance in the rear and cornering "bite" in the front.

And as far as my personal recommendations: Michelin Mud 2's are the jamz. Great all-around tire which I would definitely recommend for CX racing if you end up not liking the Grifos. For road tires: Continental Grand Prix 4000S

You might want to pick up a training tire. They make less noise and have less wear so you will be saving money on buying new tires.

Amazon When all else fails, try Amazon. Not a bad price.

For winter (in montana) I just pick up a beater bike, convert to single speed, and throw some Schwalbe Marathon Winter - studded tires. Low PSI for ice and Pump them up to a high PSI when the roads are clear. Disc brakes, while nice during winter are pretty unnecessary for the speeds I'm traveling at on ice.

http://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Studded-Mountain-Bicycle/dp/B003TNOZV0

The one on that bike is a cheap CST with a kevlar-reinforced belt (this is not the same as kevlar bead, which means the tire doesn't have a metal wire bead so it folds flatter for storage, but does nothing to make the tire puncture resistant). Schwalbe also has several in their Marathon line, Michelin has a few City Bike tires, and a few other companies have stepped up too. (If you're a "go big or go home" person, Schwalbe's Big Apple is the concept taken to its logical "check for fork clearance" extreme.)

any 700C and tire ranging from 28 - 32 mm wide should fit using the same tubes you have now.

I Like Conti Tour Ride and the Michelin City myself

Or you could just get the same tires you have now

Thanks everyone for your help. So far I am debating on these tires and this one any opions would be appreciated.

Gators + Mr Tuffy is an excellent combo if you are having trouble with punctures *(at the cost of heavier rolling weight.)

Other contender tires:

• Michelin Country Rock
  
• Schwalbe Crazy Bob
  
  

Depends what size tire you run, but if you're running 25c tires those are good. I'd recommend 25 or 28c Gatorskin or the 4 Seasons (feel smoother and faster but more expensive) http://www.amazon.com/Continental-Grand-Prix-Season-Road/dp/B000EX6IJK

My commute takes me through an industrial area in Long Island city New York. All through Williamsburg and lower east side Manhattan. I use to get flats often. I always have a spare tube and tools in my back pack and at work.

I bought a tire liner and haven’t had a flat tire in years. My tire looks like Swiss cheese but not a single flat.

Mr. Tuffy Bicycle Tire Liner (Yellow, 20 X 1.5-1.9) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001J8GRIG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7xjVCb37ZK6TZ

The 700x25 folding are the best IMO. $35 on amazon.

Continental Ultra Gatorskin Bicycle Tire (700x25, Folding, Black)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OC6CK0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cUuRCbZVCMMSV

I recommend gator skins if you’re getting a lot of flats If you’re not getting flats, they’re not really going to help you. May want to consider something with a better ride, better grip, more efficient.

I only ride gatorskins though.

I agree with /u/DoOgSauce 100%.

I'd also say they aren't necessarily that much of an upgrade from the ATX Lite as adding suspension forks means you need to spend significantly more to get something good quality vs a fully rigid bike. The ATX Lite is also more suitable as a commuter than any of those, it would be a downgrade in many respects for everything except actual mountain biking. Snow use would be debatable, like I wouldn't be surprised if the forks on several of those bikes would sieze and go rusty the first winter, and I wouldn't like to bet on cheap Tektro hydraulic brakes in freezing temps.
A large proportion of mountain bikers don't use their proper MTB to commute on but have a bike like an ATX Lite or a hybrid or road bike as a second bike to use on the road and light trails that doesn't have suspension or knobbly offroad specific tires.

It's also not true that the ATX Lite isn't designed for trails, just not more extreme offroad like anything tougher than 'intermediate' grade MTB trails in good conditions. I've done offroad cycle touring in the mountains on a similar bike in preference to my modern expensive MTB, here's a photo I took when I was 50km from the nearest sealed road.

Edit - should clarify what makes a difference to snow performance is tires, that's like 95% of it - and you could run the same tires on all the bikes except the Cujo as you could on the ATX Lite, as the ATX Lite has the same tire clearance as a regular MTB. Only a plus tire MTB like the Cujo that can fit 2.8 or 3.0 tires would give you superior performance in the snow, and that would come with even bigger drawbacks with use on the road the rest of the year compared to the ATX Lite. Extra fat tires are also perhaps more if you're riding offroad or in fresh powdery snow - for icey conditions more often seen on the roads many riders prefer narrower spiked tires like these.

Thanks for the quick response and the education. So I think this should work:

• Wheel - $48 - http://www.bicycleoutfittersindy.com/product_p/we8677.htm (depth is 16mm, but as you said, brakes are not a concern for trainer)
  
• Cassette - $38 - http://www.amazon.com/Shimano-CS-4600-10-Speed-Bicycle-Cassette/dp/B0065FIE52
  
• Tire - $25 Vittoria-Zaffiro-Home-Trainer

I have Conti GP4000SII and love them. Wet weather performance is noticeably better than the stock tires I had and I haven't had more than one flat in five months of riding them through the city.

buying cheap stuff always ends up being more expensive in the long run. that hole looks like it has one of those recessed allen screws. its hard to tell from the picture tho. didnt this thing come with an instruction manual? if not, did you try to find a pdf of it online? i would also suggest that you get a trainer tire. they are made to withstand the friction better
http://www.amazon.com/Tacx-Trainer-Tire-700c-23-mm/dp/B001C6DBXE/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1448970657&sr=8-7&keywords=trainer+tire

For a road bike I currently run the conti grand prix 4 seasons.

I just went with the recommended Tacx Trainer Tire from Amazon. Works well, matches my bike, and doesn't slip.

~47mm outside the rim, but they are getting bald.
Schwalbe Big Apples are available in 700x48 both black and creme: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schwalbe-Apple-29er-Slick-Bicycle/dp/B007TSMZFE
The 700x45 Marathon Plus is another option: http://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Bicycle-Black-Beaded/dp/B00277GFDU

Tube + Trainer tire. Be advised should you purchase the trainer tire. It's a real tight fit. The Amazon page has a nice exploded view.

https://www.amazon.com/Vittoria-Zaffiro-Home-Trainer-Fold/dp/B007IEHWDO

Where are you finding Marathon Winters for that much? Just buy them off Amazon.

Rain doesn't hurt the bike, it's only water, and you will keep everything properly lubricated, won't you?

What causes the damage is cycling on wet roads without fenders. The spinning wheels throw water and grit onto the moving parts, this forms a grinding paste that strips oil off the moving parts, and rapidly wears down the steel in your drivetrain.

The only way around this is to get yourself a set of fenders, and get a model that's sufficiently long to keep your feet dry. If you think that fenders are too dorky (a silly sentiment), then there are fenders that quick release from the bike in a few minutes.

Swap the front and rear tires. If the flat follows the tire, it's the tire.

BTW, don't use Slime. I've done that and I regreted it. It only works for really small pin hole, and it leaves a gooey mess when it has a bigger cut, and it's hard to pack it up when you swap the tube. It also clogs the valve and I'm afraid of using the pump as slime coming back out can cloge the pump head.

You could try tire liners. I use the liners for my grocery getter.

perhaps these in 37s

Tubeless is awesome but depends heavily on the type of riding. For tubed, tire liners aren't too heavy probably only a couple ounces per tire. You can find them on Amazon or maybe a local bike shop. It should prevent these issues. Example

What is "black chili" referring to?

That was a very helpful website. Out of everything I looked at the Schwalbe Marathon's looked to not only have good puncture resistance, lower rolling resistance, but were also the only ones I found that fit my bicycle.

https://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marathon-Wire-Bead-700X32/dp/B004JKNY7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473807134&sr=8-1&keywords=schwalbe%2Bmarathon%2Bgreenguard

Do you think I will be good using those tires with puncture resistant tubes?

I haven't seen the data, thats why I ask :)

This little guy? Just to be sure.

Thanks.

While I've got you, what's the difference between these two tires.

wire bead

other?

What does "wire bead" mean and why do/don't I want it?

My bike has these or similar tires, gumwall similar tread and are the same size. Are they particularly good tires, or should I look into getting better tires? Use my bike for commuting.

700c (aka ERTO 622) is the most common road bike tire size by quite a bit. Just look for tires marked 700x25, 700c x 25, 700x25c, 700x25 mm- basically you want to see the numbers 700 and 25. The measurements are in mm (unless you see something like 29x1.25, that would be a mountain bike tire measured in inches), and the c just indicates a 622mm bead seat diameter (the same for all 700 size tires). It's unlikely that you will see it, but 622 is the same size. However, 650 or 650b tires won't fit, so keep your numbers straight.

Every bike shop will have appropriate tires, even Wal-Mart has them (but don't get Wal-Mart tires). You can spend anywhere between $20 and $200 for a tire. I'm guessing you want a tire that will last a long time but don't want to pay a ton. Conti Gatorskins are pretty hard to beat for those criteria: https://www.amazon.com/Continental-Gatorskin-DuraSkin-Folding-Bicycle/dp/B001OC6CK0/

The Conti 4 Seasons are another good option, but usually cost a few bucks more.

installed tire liners: https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tuffy-Bicycle-Silver-1-5-1-9/dp/B000NO0L8E/

and added slime sealant

no issues with tires at all

vroom vroom maybe these will help?

This is a shorter link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JN4YDTC

Why not go for these
https://www.amazon.com/Continental-GatorSkin-DuraSkin-2-Count-Folding/dp/B01JN4YDTC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=59709845927&gclid=Cj0KCQjwp5_qBRDBARIsANxdcin8fW3ZwwTawaZVxoeNDS9yGMP__kfPZUTqNezSM3YdvFZSbm7Gqd4aArF7EALw_wcB&hvadid=274757763586&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9033356&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=6279664244774245837&hvtargid=aud-647006051489%3Akwd-298990444983&hydadcr=16208_9875472&keywords=continental%2Bgatorskin%2B700x28&qid=1565072163&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

Jesus that's a giant link...