ying out these new "Super Sport Plus" tires from Continental, and now having put a couple hundred miles on them, I feel I can confidently give them my seal of approval. I've ridden quite a few tires since working at Athletes Lounge, and I've been enjoying trying some of the heartier offerings for the winter months here in Portland. So far, I have not had a flat since switching to puncture resistant models (knock on wood), and I'm looking forward to trying more in the future.Things I like about this tire:
*Amazingly puncture-resistance, I would venture to say nearly impenetrable. I've ridden over every patch of glass I've seen on highway 30 (notoriously bad for flats) and it's hard to even find a scratch on the tires.
*Not overly heavy considering the level of protection they offer. (my Vittoria Randonneurs are insanely heavy) They are definitely heavier than the typical road tire however, so the rolling resistance is considerable and their spin-up leaves something to be desired. (still not as bad as the Randonneur)
*They fit in my Cervelo S2 frame and don't scuff the paint off! These tires are 25c (the width) and they just fit in between the seat and chain stays, even in high-torque situations.
Dislikes:
*The heavy feel. As I said above, these tires feel heavy, not unbearably so, but definitely a noticeable difference from the continental GP4000 racing tires for example.
*Tough to install. I had difficulty getting these on my wheels due to th
e thickness of the rubber/Kevlar/space age anti-flat material. But with some persistence and my ultra-useful Mavic tire levers, I was rolling.Overall, I'm a fan of this tire, and I expect I could get two seasons out of it if I tried. It's marketed to commuters and fixed gear riders after all, the people setting the standard for wear-and-tear on bicycles.
For a slightly more racy feel, but still highly puncture-resistant, I recommend the Ultra Gatorskin or the Gator Hardshell.
You can get all of these awesome tires at Athletes Lounge of course. Portland's triathlon source!
