what i'm looking for essentially are some tires that will allow me a little more safety going over messy gravel and such on my way to and from work, but won't slow me down or require a swap-out when i go riding for speed and fitness on my normal riding routes on much better roads.

ideally, of course, i'd have a commuter and a bike set up to go fast, race, etc. but it's not really feasible for me.

thanks! :thumbsup:

(if it makes any difference, i've got a specialized allez that i've been lightening up/upgrading for a awhile.)

Probably better for the Tire/Wheel folder, but that's okay.

I have one road bike and one set of wheels and do some commuting. I have used both Michelin Litheon and Pro2Race. Both have been fine. The Litheons wore a bit better. I only had one flat last year and that was because my tire was underinflated.

The Pro2Races are a bit pricey but I got about 1,800 miles out of the rear and the front is still going strong.

I have heard good things about Rubino Pros as all around tires so you could check them out too.

Do a search under the tire and wheel folder for "commuter tires" and I think you will find what you are looking for.

you probably don't want to use them as race tires but michelin speediums make good commuter/training tires in my experience.

Vittoria Open Paves are my choice. I bought one bike and one pair of wheels/tyres with me when I moved from the UK to Canada last year, which had to suitable for everything. The wheels are Record/Open Pro handbuilts, with Vittoria Open Pave tyres (700x24) - I ride to work on them everyday, I've ridden them over cobblestones and on dirt roads, and I've ridden them in races, including crits. They're a good tyre, but I need to buy a new pair every spring, so not indestructible.

Pasela 28s.

Grand Bois... http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/tireoffer.html

You aren't going to get any real improvement on loose stuff by going from 23 to 24. You will get an improvement switching from 23s to 28s or 30s.

'Course, that's assuming yer bike can fit them...

Pasela 28s.

Grand Bois... http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/tireoffer.html

You aren't going to get any real improvement on loose stuff by going from 23 to 24. You will get an improvement switching from 23s to 28s or 30s.

'Course, that's assuming yer bike can fit them...
$ 57 each? That even more than my Ruffy Tuffys, which are awesome by the way.

I suggest Michelin Krylions, maye 25cc. You can get them on sale for $25 or $30 each.

I run some Bontragers in 32 with the kevlar etc, minimal tread on 'em and they've worn very well. Yep they're heavy, but they roll well and corner great.

$ 57 each? That even more than my Ruffy Tuffys, which are awesome by the way.

I suggest Michelin Krylions, maye 25cc. You can get them on sale for $25 or $30 each.

Supposedly, the grand bois make the rolly polly/ruffy tuffies feel like blocks of wood...

buy yeah, I'll stick with my paselas...

The two best commuter tires I've used are the specialized armadillo elite and the continental gatorskin ultra. They are both in the 40-45$ range for each wheel but will last forever and offer excellent flat protection.

Conti GP 4-seasons. I get 3-4000 miles out of mine, racing, training and commuting...best tire for the buck I've found.

+1 on the Armadillo Elites. (Not the regular Armadillos, the Elites.) I have them on my commuter bike and, except fro the one time I was cornering hard over a bunch of tacks someone had maliciously strewn across the road & punctured the sidewall, I have never flatted on them and have never even had to pick shards of glas out of the tread.

Since my commuter bike is also my "My Good Bike Is In The Shop" bike, I've taken it on a lot of high speed club rides, and it's amazing how those Armadillo Elites do *not* slow me down or adversely impact handling. If I only had one bike with one set of wheels that I rode 100% of the time, I'd probably put Elites on it.