Tires (reflective sidewall)

[crack monkey]

I'm looking for new tires for my San Jose. Use is mostly commuting, with the occasional C&O or dirt road thrown in. This will be to replace the WTB All-Terrainasaurus that are currently intalled. They aren't very "flat proof" - I've experienced more flats in the last 2 months than the previous 9 months (which was on Conti Gatorskins on my road bike).

Must haves:
- 700x28 to 700x35
- puncture proof
- some semblance of tread, but still relatively fast rolling
- reflective sidewall would be nice
- <$50

So far, it looks like the Vittoria Randonneur Cross Pro is at the top.

The Conti Contact looks like it might work as well. The TopContact looks sweet, but is way pricey at $80.

Some of the Specialized Armadillos would work, but I don't see reflective sidewalls as an option.

Am I missing any options?

[jabberwocky]

I loves my Panaracer Pasela TG tires (in 28mm). They roll very fast (I've heard that they were one of the top tires for rolling resistance in a recent test in some road biking mag, besting even some race tires), pretty light, relatively flat resistant (they have a Kevlar liner, but they aren't as hardcore as something like an armadillo), and comfortable. And generally only 25 bucks each.

No reflective sidewall option though. As an option, I've seen some people put reflective tape on their rims that worked very well.

[sevenforty]

My father put some Continental 'inverse tread' tires on his old 'Dale for commuting and just general paved surface trail riding. He swears up and down by them. I forget which ones they were but I remember taking them out for a spin one day and was pretty impressed. Smooth ride.

They've held up for about 3 years now...and still going!

[CRAIG2]

My father put some Continental 'inverse tread' tires on his old 'Dale for commuting and just general paved surface trail riding. He swears up and down by them. I forget which ones they were but I remember taking them out for a spin one day and was pretty impressed. Smooth ride.

They've held up for about 3 years now...and still going!

Sounds like the Top Touring 2000 tire. If he's riding 26" tires, it might also have been the Conti Town and Country tire.

[g_barr]

Am I missing any options?
Specialized's Infinity Reflect (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=35675), Nimbus Reflect (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=35678), and Hemisphere Reflect (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=35681). The Infinity has a 700x32 option. The other two are wider than your 35 max. Sure they aren't all out Armadillo protection but you could run them with Desert Protection (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=26664), Airlock (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=26661) or Puncture Resistant (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=26666) tubes.

[toonces]

Michelin Transworld City and Transworld Sprint have a reflective stripe and puncture protection. They both run around $18. I haven't used either one, but they are another option to consider.

http://two-wheels.michelin.com/2w/front/index.jsp?codeRubrique=209200411521 0&lang=EN

[nocro]

Sounds like the Top Touring 2000 tire. If he's riding 26" tires, it might also have been the Conti Town and Country tire.

I really like my top touring 2000s. The have a narrow straight inverted tread. Town and Country are the anti-flat version, with large, chunky looking inverted tread pattern. There was a vrederstein 26" mtb slick that I used to get, which was incredibly sticky, but prone to flatting from punctures from road debris (glass, metal, etc.).

[CRAIG2]

I really like my top touring 2000s. The have a narrow straight inverted tread. Town and Country are the anti-flat version, with large, chunky looking inverted tread pattern. There was a vrederstein 26" mtb slick that I used to get, which was incredibly sticky, but prone to flatting from punctures from road debris (glass, metal, etc.).


LOVED the TT 2000's. I rode those as a messenger, and *might* have flatted once or twice per year. And, they made for a good, all around touring tire.

[crack monkey]

Well, I found the Conti TopContacts for <$50, so I went ahead and ordered them. This will be the first time I've spent anywhere close to that much on tires, so fingers are crossed that they work well for me.

[MD Fire]

I have a set of Specialized Specialized Infinity Armadillo's (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=35674) in size 38 that are real nice. They are described as "city/trekking". I havent really done any offroad with them. Just cuts through some grass and through road grime around town.

However, it appears that none of the tires with the "Armadillo" treatment are available with reflective sidewalls. Specialized has several nice tires with their "flak jacket" protection that do. According to the specialized website

"What Armadillo is to flat prevention, Flak Jacket is to basic puncture protection. Used as a subtread element, this proprietary technology reduces flats by a full 40% in laboratory tests and adds virtually no weight to the tire."

"Armadillo" added 70g to each tire for the 38 size. I think, for the weight savins, I will go with a good ole' flak jacket tire or pony up for armadillo elite.

It appears that the only tire with a reflective sidewall specialized has under a 700x38 size is the Infinity reflect.

[MD Fire]

Whoops! Just read the above.

Give us a quick review when you get them!

[markie]

And FWIW, schwalbe touring and commuter tyres have reflective sidewalls. I only have their snow studs.... I like the panaracer paselas when I get to use them.

[akern2]

Just so happens that after reading this thread, i went and checked out Specialized website about the Armadillo tires. Now not being a commuter, i had no idea what they were, but i did stumble upon this:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=35689

Reflective Armadillo tires. New design.

But sizing is an issue at 700x25. eeks.

[MD Fire]

But sizing is an issue at 700x25. eeks.

Yikes! Too thin for me. I have an aluminum frame and 700x38 rides a little rough for me! I had 700x43 CX tires on there and the ride wasn't too bad, but they had a lot of resistance on pavement and they were even heavier than the specialized I switched to.

I have been contemplating selling the tires I have in favor of some lighter tires I could save a little over 800g of rotating mass by going to the All condition 700x28 Armadillo Elites. This will come into play when I try and start commuting 18~ miles each way to work in warmer weather.