anyone have any experience w/using tufo tubular/clincher tires? I'm curious, thinking of gettin a pair.

thanks!

They're a case of worst of both worlds IMO

Best tires I ever used. I have had only one flat in 4,000 miles (my puppy gnawed through one). They are about the most puncture resistance tires I have seen. They ride very well.

I do not carry a spare just some extra sealant and and a small hand pump so weight is not an issue. Easy to change, no tools needed. They lock on to the rim like vice grips-- far more secure than a tubular with glue. They will hold up to 150psi and hold for several days. You can ride them flat if need be -- rode 5 miles with an uninflated tire just to see, averaged 13mph and the tire made no attempt to get off the rim.

I can't find a reson not to use them. :)

thanks for the input! I keep hearing both sides of the tufo issue. re: the pro side: thanks for the data based on experience.
re: the down side: I could use more data--did you use the clincher/tubulars? if so, what experiences have led to your dislike?

I appreciate the input--as I said--the more specific information I can get--the better, and ultimately--the more helpful in my making an educated decision.

I use Tufo tubulars. I have used a variety of them and currently favor the Hi Comp Carbons.

Likes:
Price is right. Just bought three new HI CCs on Ebay for around 110 bucks.
Tufos hold air well. Vittoria Corsa CXs (which I also like very much) would lose 30psi by the afternoon.
Tufos are puncture resistant. I seem to flat less on the Tufos than on Vittorias.
Tufo sealant. This stuff has saved my ass many a time. Put half a tube in each training tire, gives you instant peace of mind.
Tufo valve extenders. The core replacement kind is much better than the screw over kind.

Dislikes:
Tufos ride a bit harsher than Vittorias.
Tufo sealant: if the gash is big enough, you sit there watching it spraying out of the hole onto the pavement as your last CO2 is spent. And because you rely on the sealant, you don't carry another spare tubular.
Tufos can not be repaired. Once they are gone, they are gone. Although Clive at Glory Cycles has told me of a way to use sealant and some thread to make a patch (similar to the way that car tires are repaired.) Have not tried it, though.

What else have I forgotten to mention?

thank you for the info!

excuse my ignorance--here's my question: do you put the sealant is as a preventative measure or only when in trouble?

thanks

I use it as preventive, but carry a tube with me when I ride.

I've got two sets glued right now and I need to put sealant into both pair.

I am not so certain about carrying it with you to repair an after-the-fact flat. Imagine the scenario: You flat. You pull out your tools: a single tire lever, the sealant, a CO2 cartridge, a core removal tool. You use the lever to pry the glued tire off the rim (because if you've got aero rims, you need to be able to get at the valve stem), remove the valve extender and the valve core so you've got the core-less stem and then you carefully pour the sealant into the tire without it getting all over your hands, on the outside of the stem (and especially avoid dribbling or wiping on your 200 buck+ Assos shorts because once it dries they will forever look like you just walked in on Pam Anderson in the shower or fired off a misguided nose cannon shot on them.) Replace the core, tighten it up with the core tool, replace the extender (pray that the remnants of the teflon tape is sufficient to keep the extender tight), remount the tire (this is why I use glue and not the Tufo tape). Now you're going to need to reinflate in such a way that the sealant has pooled at the puncture site and you need to do it before your only CO2 blows thru the unsealed hole.

Oh yeah. All this on the side of the road and, if you are like me, it somehow always happens at some ungodly predawn hour and you are fumbling with the liquid in the dark.

If you do it as a preventative, you just go at it with the CO2, the sealant has been spinning around and coating the inside. In this case you just rotate so the sealant is pooled over the puncture. It usually works fine. I did have one instance, however, when the puncture was on the sidewall and it was hopeless, I watched all the sealant ooze out onto the pavement and then walked over to the roadside and stuck my thumb out.

I'm going to put the sealant in one night this week. Perhaps while watching a Pam Anderson video....

.....Vittoria Corsa CXs (which I also like very much) would lose 30psi by the afternoon...

Newsflash: Vittoria Corsas use latex tubes, hence the loss of 30-40 psig each day. If this bothers you, why on earth did you buy them? Everybody knows that they use latex tubes!

Dave,
Yes, pooly written. I did not mean to imply that it bothers me sufficiently that I wouldn't use them. I still do use them and I actually prefer the ride of the Corsas over the Tufos. The thread was debating the differences of the Tufo over other tires, and the pressure retention is definitely a difference.

Thanks for the input--I am thinking of purchasing the tufo's on ebay and the clincher/tubulars made sense to me (I miss sew ups but cannot afford a new wheelset.)

If I am understanding this correctly, Vittoria makes a tubular clinchers as well? what is the cost?
I am on a budget at this time and have a limit.

No, Vittoria does not make a tubular clincher.

If you are on a budget, just buy the best clinchers you can find. They will be a much more economical venture than anything tubular or Tufo.

I had 2 legacy sets of Mavic GP4 tubular wheels for my 2 decades old Team Miyata. When I resumed riding couple years ago didn't want to buy new set of clincher wheels so tried tufo S33s and was very pleased with roundness and durability - I was 225 then. Got a new clincher wheelset for the the Shimano 9spd capability and flatted constantly though mostly pinched tubes. I don't get along with clinchers !

Switched to the Carbon Comps recommended by Steve at Sdeals and have had no flats in 1K miles last Fall. I used the latex in the tubular Tufos but not for half that mileage on the tub-clinchers till I realised I needed a contingency. This was with 160 psi inflation thoughI had dropped to 208 by then. Steve was right, smooth, quiet, and resilient. Also, at only 1k tire shows little wear.

The standard one weighs a ton, but the light weight model is a possibility for someone who wants to race on tubies, but doesn't want to buy extra sew up wheels.