Lighter and more expensive than a steel wire bead, this feature also makes it easier to carry a spare. Weight These feature 180tpi casings and skin wall sidewalls, which give a clear indication of their ride persona, straight off. That micro diamond tread pattern is also borrowed from the German marques’ Competition World Tour Tubular. Skin walls are supple and, in this instance, contributes to the aren’t the default for commuting, since they are more prone to damage than gum walls. A reflective sidewall is another small but welcome touch.

With the sealant dried out, the tyres become significantly more vulnerable to punctures. For a commuting or town bike where simplicity and reliability are most important, the need to keep topped up on sealant makes tubeless tyres a less compelling option in this area. Although heavier and with greater rolling resistance, a puncture-proof tyre won’t need a second thought once it is set up. We then wanted to get a bit more specific and only look at Continental products that are listed in the Tyres category. Manhole covers and similar ironworks call for a bit of caution, especially when the rains break after a prolonged dry spell but negotiated sensibly, I’ve not had any unwelcome surprises. Similarly you’ll also want to spend some time looking at the features too. Again the table above, listing the features will give you a really good overview. However you should think about the sort of features that you’d expect when buying new Tyres. It’s worth writing a list of the “must-have” features so that you don’t end up compromising and missing some important features, or alternatively end up buying an unnecessarily high specced product.Puncture Force Blunt Needle: The Blunt needle has a flat tip and won't split the casing wires. To puncture the tire, the blunt needle has to cut the casing wires. Lanes layered in dung and hedge clippings, shards of broken glass and even the odd drawing pin have made negligible impression on the casings. No flats in 5 months and approximately 1800miles. Even allowing for the test bike's moderate (34-89 inch) gearing, little effort is required to coax them up to speed, which is great for pulling away at the traffic lights, overtaking slow moving farm traffic, or catching a fellow rider napping. Otherwise, I've happily cruised along, reflecting on the world, at 18-20mph. Durability

Here is a comparrison chart for traditional and ETRTO sizing to help you choose the correct tyre size. ETRTO Number Little efforts’ required to bring them up to speed and I’ve been able to cruise along comfortably, all day at 18-20mph, with some in reserve. These qualities are equally welcome when chasing through town, weaving around holes, opening car doors and similar hazards.You want to leave at least 4mm clearance between your frame and tyres to prevent rub and allow for mud clearance. While gravel and adventure bikes started out with road-sized 700C wheels, many now use smaller diameter 650B rims which allow a much fatter tyre for greater grip and comfort but are roughly the same overall diameter. We've rounded up and tested the very best 650B gravel tyres for both wet and dry conditions, so whether you're upgrading or converting, we've got it covered. NOTE: As of 2021, we've improved the puncture resistance tests and now provide 'Total Puncture Score' as the main puncture resistance indicator.

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it? But it is always going to be a very individual choice, with the right tyre for you depending on your unique combination of road surface and preferences.Wider tyres can be run at lower pressures than narrower tyres without increasing the risk of punctures. This can make them more comfortable and gives you more grip, useful if you are an all-weather cyclist. So long as you're not going too mad, they're surprisingly comfortable off-road too – dirt roads, moderate forest trails and towpaths – great if you want to explore. I'm told the 180tpi (threads per inch) casings are designed for speed and comfort. The skinwall sidewall also contributes to this; traditionally, commuter models tend to employ gumwall, which is much beefier and therefore less prone to sidewall damage. Skinwall sidewalls do require more stringent adherence to recommended pressures. The sidewalls are also retro-reflective on this model. Tyres will generally enlist a variety of compounds for different performance enhancements. Along the centre of the tyre, a harder compound tends to be used, being longer lasting and more resistant to punctures. Tubeless tyres provide many benefits, decreasing weight, decreasing rolling resistance and increasing resistance to punctures as they can self-seal.

The performance advantages of wide-section, lightweight cycle tyres over narrow ones were well understood prior to the Second World War but forgotten in the decades afterwards as cycling enthusiasts looked to competition machinery for technical guidance. Puncture protection and reliability is taken care of thanks to Continental's renowned hard wearing tread compound and two SafetySystem anti puncture layers beneath the tread. Its tread cap is thin, so don’t expect huge mileage, but this and the supple 180tpi carcass keep weight down and allow the tyre to perform well on a variety of surfaces. There are pneumatic tyres that are effectively puncture-proof, significantly faster, and comfier. For the overwhelming majority of people these represent a far better compromise.Schwalbe Marathon GT have a definite edge in terms of speed and seemingly, rival them in terms of durability. I’d opt for the GT, if you weren’t looking to venture beyond metaled road. One of the key features of this tyre is its puncture protection layer, which is made up of Kevlar reinforced, high-strength nylon fabric. This layer provides excellent protection against punctures, ensuring that you can ride with confidence and peace of mind. Their size and the wire beads do mean, for the most part, they're a doddle to mount, with directional arrows to help. You might want a single lever to scoop them aboard deep-section hoops, otherwise it's a tool-free affair, requiring just a pair of strong thumbs. Belt 'n' braces No matter what type of bike product your buying, from the simple accessories through to the full setup of your custom built road bike, there are lots of important considerations that you should take into account, especially when you’re shopping online and unable to test the product first. This is especially true when you’re buying products like Tyres. Puncture Force Sharp Needle: Pre-2021, this score was known as 'Puncture Resistance'. On some tires with weakly bonded casing wires, the sharp needle can split the casing wires resulting in a lower score.