TIRE TALK

[crm]

For extended road touring, with probably 40lb max (rear panniers only) what tires, size, and PSI have you found works best for ride, durability and pinch flat avoidance?  I have had Panaracer Pasella TGs, 700x32 at 95PSI recommended.  Have been told Armadillos are great, except they ride like lead. I am riding in Spain, so there will be enough work to do with the terrain without having to add a hard-riding set of tires.

[wanderingwheel]

My favorite tires for loaded touring are Avocet Cross, but they are probably overkill for your application.  I tried Paselas on some fast, stupid-light tours and was not impressed by the ride.  Maybe with a little more weight (such as your load) they would work better.  For light loads, I now prefer Rivendell Roly-Polys.  They roll so nicely and corner nearly as well as a racing tire.  Your 40lb load might be a little heavy for the Roly Poly, so consider its big brother, the Ruffy Tuffy.  The ride is only slightly diminished from the Roly Poly but they are much more durable.  In my experience, they are as big, if not bigger, than the 32 Paselas, and have much better road feel.  I would recommend 100-105psi in the rear and 90-95psi in the front for your load.

Sean

[Badger]

Schwalbe marathon's I have 700-35's after one ride with them, I won't put anything else on my touring bike. They made that much difference in the ride and handling of the bike.

[TwoWheeledExplorer]

I use WTB All-Terrainasaurus tires (1.95x26) on my patrol/EMS bike and am getting a pair of them (38x700) for my touring bike. They wear like iron; I used them on my personal MTB for years, on and off-road, with no problems and no flats! I told the WTB factory rep that I wished we had known about the All-Terrainasaurus when we went to Russia in 1997. It would have made the ride a lot easier.

Ride safe,
Hans

www.trailpatrol.org

[crm]

Thanks for the Reply; Rivendell are the folks who recommended the Panaracers; I will ask them about the Rolly and Tuffy.

[crm]

Thnks...I will do further research.

[crm]

WOW....38s?  And I thought I was stepping up to put on 32s!  

[biker_james]

I've always (almost) used Continental Top Touring (700x37) and love them. My fairly short trial of Schwalbe Marathons (a few hundred km's) was a huge dissappointment-they rode horribly, and felt like lead.

[don quixote]

I am using 700x23 Specialized Armadillos on my road bike and am quite happy with the ride. I will switch to Armadillos for my touring bike the next time I need tires for it.

George Olmstead
San Diego

[ptaylor]

Try the Schwalbe Marathon Plus, 700x35 or 700x37. I love them. Have about 2,500 miles of loaded touring so far, and have had no flats.

Paul

[driftlessregion]

As you can see everyone has their favorite tire and it may be someone elses least favorite. Same with the size depending on the type of terrain. I find 32s fine for touring that is mostly paved. Some folks feel more secure with the ride that wider tires give. I have toured with a trailer and 25's when the terrain is 100% paved, but would use 32 or 38 for long fast mountain downhills when pulling a load or if the terrain is rough or not paved. All of the tires mentioned are the tops for touring. One caution though: the max inflation on the tire is just that, the max and not the ideal. 100 psi and above makes the tire hard and less comfortable but more importantly makes the tire less as supple for handling on those long descents.