Even for avid mountain bikers it's nice to ride on the road once in a while. Usually our tire of choice is based on our mountain biking requirements, but a new tire from Michelin is certainly worth testing.
Michelin's Krylion Carbon bike tires are part of their top classification of competition racing tires. They are marketed for those riders looking for a premium racing, touring or training tire. They are considered to be an all-season road tire that handles well and feels great.

On turns, curves and downgrades, the Krylion's have good grip and roll as one would expect from a high quality racing tire. They have a casing of 127 threads per inch, which are the same as the Pro Race 2 tires with the difference being that Krylion's are heavier because they are made of carbon and have a special liner that is puncture resistant. Even with these factor's they are still not as heavy a tire as some with a weight of 235 grams and because of the materials and manufacturing, they wear longer than some lighter tires. Because the center part of the tread is carbon-reinforced, Michelin claims that mileage increases approximately 30%, or 3100 miles total. Even after a few months of riding on gravel and trails, the Krylion's are in perfect condition and no flats to speak of yet.

The Krylion's acceleration ability is something that really impressed me. When accelerating from a slow speed, or from a stop the Krylion's grabbed the road in both dry and wet road conditions. Michelin claims that these are an all-season tire, and from what I experienced, they certainly are.

Michelin Road Tires

Our Answer

Bobby....we appreciate you asking us our opinion. I think you might be reading the weights wrong as a wire tire is almost always heavier than the equivalent folding tire. Double check that.

As for the quality of the Kenda Small Block 8 tire....it is a great all around tire and we are big fans of the Kenda mountain bike tire lineup. The types of riding that you list are pretty much exactly what the Kenda is designed to do so yes I would say that it is a great tire and it should work very well for your application.

Check out the deals below, maybe you can save yourself some money.

Kenda Small Block 8 26” 195 Mountain Bike Road Tire FREE TUBE    US $26.99

NEW Kenda Small Block Eight MTB Tire 26x195 Mountain Bike Folding Clincher    US $14.10

Lightly Used Kenda Small Block Eight Folding Bead 50 60 Dual Compound 26 X 210    US $17.99

KENDA SMALL BLOCK 8 26 x 21 TOMAC 213000 MOUNTAIN BIKE TIRE MTB TYRE K1047 WIRE    US $26.00

Kenda Small Block Eight Mountain Bike Tyre 26x210    US $35.51

Kenda Small Block 8 tires 700 x 32c cyclocross great condition    US $26.00

Our Answer

Congrats on the Giant....my first Mountain bike was a Giant and I loved it. I miss that old bike. As for your tire question....really you have a TON of options for mountain bike tires and you have no shortage of options. One of our favorites is from Kenda and it's called the Kenda Nevegal. It's a great all purpose tire that should serve you well.

If we knew what kind of terrain you normally ride on we could probably give you a better selection but you didn't include that in the question. So, if you're looking for a great performing mountain bike tire then check out the Kenda tire. They're great.

Our Answer

I am not a big fan of a slick tire on a mountain bike but I understand your issue. One of my favorite tires for a situation like this is a Kenda Small Block 8. This tire still has a knobby type tread but it's scaled down considerably and is designed for hard pack and pavement use but still allows you to ride on the occasional trail or dirt path that some slicks are not suited for.

You can read more about the Kenda Small Block 8 here or check out the deals below:

Kenda Small Block 8 26” 195 Mountain Bike Road Tire FREE TUBE    US $26.99

NEW Kenda Small Block Eight MTB Tire 26x195 Mountain Bike Folding Clincher    US $14.10

Lightly Used Kenda Small Block Eight Folding Bead 50 60 Dual Compound 26 X 210    US $17.99

KENDA SMALL BLOCK 8 26 x 21 TOMAC 213000 MOUNTAIN BIKE TIRE MTB TYRE K1047 WIRE    US $26.00

Kenda Small Block Eight Mountain Bike Tyre 26x210    US $35.51

Kenda Small Block 8 tires 700 x 32c cyclocross great condition    US $26.00

KENDA 29 x 21 SMALL BLOCK 8 K1047 29er TOMAC MOUNTAIN BIKE TIRE 213010 MTB TYRE    US $30.00

Kenda Small Block Eight BMX Folding Tyres Pair 20x175    US $26.63

One ride on a bike equipped with Schwalbe Ultremo tires makes it clear that those guys at the German headquarters of Schwalbe, where the company has been developing tyres since 1901, know exactly what they are doing.  The years of experience have served them well because with every generation of tire, they only get better and the Schwalbe Ultremo is the pinnacle of Schwalbes expertise as of today.

Schwalbe Ultremo Features and Benefits

The Schwalbe Ultremo fits the mold of a race tire in almst every way.  It is a very lightweight tire coming in at 195 grams and it features what Schwalbe calls a Triple Nano Compound that is designed to reduce rolling resistance.  They also feature a couple of revolutionary design features into the construction of their Ultremo tire.

The first being radial construction technology.  They incorporate a dense weave of "Vectran" radially into the tire compound that provides superior puncture resistance and flat protection.  The Schwalbe Ultremo offers better puncture protection than many training tires and is probably the best true "race tire" on the market when it comes to durability.

The second is that the tire compound is permeated with microscopic bits of "ceramic" material that also serve to protect as another layer of protection against sharp bits of glass or rocks that become embedded into the tire.  Ceramic particles will wear the invading object smooth and render  it harmless.

Schwalbe Ultremo Riding Impressions

First impressions of the Schwalbe Ultremo was not what I expected.  The hype of these tires had me believing that they would walk on water and improve my speed by 10 mph on the flats but as  you might have guessed, that is not the case.  The tires roll very fast, they are no question a race oriented tire but what I did notice was that they were a bit of a harsh ride.

I typically ride either Michelin Pro Race Tires or Continental GP4000S tires and they are quite comfortable.  I recently tested a pair of the new Michelin Pro Race 3 tires and the Pro Race 3 tires were noticeably more comfortable than the Ultremos.

It is important to note however, that Ride Comfort is VERY subjective.  I found the Michelins to be more comfortable but your mileage may vary of course.

There is no question the Schwalbe Ultremo is a race oriented tire...it's fast and light and you can really feel it the quality in the corners because it corners on rails.   The tires confidently stay glued to the road and inspire confidence in the rider, you just need to be careful they don't inspire more confidence than your skill level can handle, because that could be a little less fun.

Conclusion

To summarize, I think the Schwalbe Ultremo tires are an outstanding choice for a race or performance oriented rider.  The latest incarnation is super fast, lightweight and offers much improved puncture protection than previous model tires.  If you want a second opinion, here's what RoadBike magazine had to say about the Schwalbe Ultremo bicycle tire in a head to head test they conducted in 2007.

ROADBIKE Test winner 05/07

“Schwalbe’s new Ultremo is an ideal allrounder that no other manufacturer even came close to in the test. An extremely light tire, it offers the best puncture protection and rolls well. More importantly however: In all riding conditions, it is so surefooted, it can be relied upon absolutely on the road - even in the wet it offers still good traction.

You need to remember that when you get into this class of tire, the differences between them are very small.  I'd be hard pressed to find a noticeable advantage to these tires over say the new Michelin Pro Race 3.  They are both superb quality tires and both handle very well.

I would have to give a small edge to the Michelin Pro Race 3 tire in ride comfort but I will admit I felt faster on the Ultremo, even though my computer didn't measure a difference.  Maybe it was the exotic name that inspired me, who knows.  I know that if you are looking for a high quality race tire then you won't go wrong with either the Michelin or the Schwalbe Ultremo tire.

Pair 2x Schwalbe Ultremo ZX HD Evolution Road Bike Tires Orange 700x23c    US $114.99

Pair 2x Schwalbe Ultremo ZX HD Evolution Road Bike Tires White 700x23c    US $114.99

Pair 2x Schwalbe Ultremo ZX HD Evolution Road Bike Tires Green Stripe 700x23c    US $114.99

Find a great deal on Schwalbe Ultremo tires here.

Michelin Pro Race 3

The Michelin Pro Race 3 is the latest incarnation of the venerable Pro Race line and replaces the wildly popular Pro Race 2.   The Pro Race 3 specs list it at a very respectable 190g of weight and Michelin claims to have improved rolling resistance by up to 27% over the Pro Race 2.   I don't have the kind of sophisticated equipment required to test this claim but I can tell you that they ride great and feel very solid on the road at all speeds.  They also corner very nicely in our opinion but much of a road tires feel is very subjective to the rider.  I can tell you I like them.

I test rode them on a Trek 5900SL mounted on some Mavic Ksyrium SSC wheels.....typical set up that many riders will encounter.    It is not uncommon for tires to behave differently on different wheels so your mileage may vary but my experience is that a tire as good as a Michelin Pro Race tire, will probably perform well on a wide variety of wheels.

The trend of late has been to go as narrow as possible when it comes to racing tires but I can tell you that for me personally, not much can beat the all around effectiveness of the 700 x 23 tire size.  I will occasionally even run the 25mm tire as well if it is a crit race or a lot of descending as I want as much contact patch as possible when cornering at high speed.  Recent studies have suggested that a higher pressure tire that has a wider cross section of tread in contact with the ground can actually improve rolling resistance.

I have ridden the Michelin Pro Race 3 tire for a few weeks now and it would seem that the tire is getting better with a little bit of mileage on it.  I don't know this for sure, but my butt-o-meter tells me that they have more grip, especially in damp conditions.  Maybe some residue from construction?  I don't know....but you can't beat a tire that gets better with age.

A few other big tire manufacturers such as Continental and Schwalbe, have begun producing front/rear specific tire combinations.   Michelin Pro Race 3 is not that way, the front and rear are the same design and quite frankly with a slick design tread, I see no need for a front and rear specific.   The whole point of a race tire is to keep a nice rounded profile that minimizes rolling resistance yet maximizes grip.  This was always the advantage of a tubular tire but the Michelin has overcome the issue with the Pro Race line of tires.  The "slick" design keeps the rounded profile and the rubber compound they are using is very sticky.    The only downside to the Pro Race 3 is that it wears fairly quickly compared to a training style tire.  This is not a flaw, but rather something inherent in most race style tires.

Conclusion

In conclusion, tires are a very personal choice for most people and what one loves, another might despise.  It all depends on what you are used to riding.  What can be said for a tire that is designed as well as the Michelin Pro Race 3 is that it performs well at almost everything it does, making it very hard to develop a bias against it.  I put it through it's paces from Greenway trails to street conditions to wet weather and the tire works well in every condition. I would estimate that after testing the Michelin Pro Race 3 tires under almost every condition I could produce, they work best at 120PSI in dry conditions and I could duplicate the grip in wet conditions by reducing pressure about 10-15 lbs.

The wear was quite acceptable, even for a race tire and they held up very well under training mileage.  I personally would even use them as a training tire but others opinions may vary.   I typically race Schwalbe Evolution tires and I would consider them the very best tire on the market for racing, but the Michelin Pro Race 3 tire may be changing my mind.  I would at least put their performance in the same category as the Schwalbe Evolution and THAT is some rarified air up there.

NEW Pair Michelin Pro Race 3 Tires Blue Black 700 x 23 Tubes FREE SHIPPING    US $85.00

Michelin Pro Race 3 Clincher Tire 1 700x23 Full Tread    US $16.60

Michelin Pro3 Race Tire Dark Blue 700 x 23c New    US $34.99

Michelin Pro 3 Race Road Bike Tyre Pro3 Folding 700 x 23 Red    US $37.86

Michelin Pro3 Race Service Course Road Bike Tires 700x23C 23 622 White Gray Pair    US $45.00

2 x Michelin Pro 4 Service Course Clincher Tire Black Replaces Pro 3 Race    US $84.00

New Michelin Pro Race 3 700x23 racing clincher tires YELLOW Pair 2    US $78.00

New Michelin Pro Race 3 700x23 racing clincher FLASH YELLOW pair 2 tires    US $78.00

2 x Michelin Pro Race 3 Road tyres 23mm IVORY WHITE    US $71.05

Part 2 in the series of the proper way to change a bicycle tube.

When installing a new bike tire tube, expert bicyclist will show you how make sure the valve is straight and seated, before you pump up the tire in this free bicycle repair video.

]]> http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-installing-a-new-bicycle-tube-step-two/feed/ 0 http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-installing-a-new-bicycle-tube-step-one/ http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-installing-a-new-bicycle-tube-step-one/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:22:25 +0000 Bill http://bicycletiresonline.net/?p=183 expertvillage asked:

Hey check out this video which shows you the proper way to change out a bicycle tire tube.  For many new riders, this can seem like a very daunting experience but in reality, once you see it done, it's a piece of cake.

Follow along with our video series and see for yourself how easy it is to work on your own bicycle.  In many cases it does not require anything special for tools and will give you a sense of empowerment to work or repair your own bicycle.

Watch as this experienced cyclist gives tips on installing a new tube in a bicycle tire, the proper way to add air to the tube and even small tricks like lining up the label with the valve hole.

Once you see it done, you'll be surprised how easy it is.  Enjoy.

]]> http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-installing-a-new-bicycle-tube-step-one/feed/ 0 http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-how-to-loosen-a-bicycle-brake/ http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-how-to-loosen-a-bicycle-brake/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:18:02 +0000 Bill http://bicycletiresonline.net/?p=198 expertvillage asked:

Sometimes the most simplest of tasks can seem very daunting for a new rider or someone who has little mechanical experience but if someone would just take the time to show you how, it's a skill that will be learned for a lifetime.  Follow along this video as we show you how to loosen the brakes on your bicycle so you can remove the wheel.

Once you see it and a few of the other videos we offer then you will see that bicycle repair is a piece of cake and requires little to no mechanical knowledge for most things.

Expert cyclist shows how to loosen the brake on a bicycle, to remove the tire, when repairing or replacing a flat tire in this free bicycle repair video.

]]> http://bicycletiresonline.net/repairing-a-bicycle-tire-how-to-loosen-a-bicycle-brake/feed/ 2 http://bicycletiresonline.net/gp4000s-test-winner/ http://bicycletiresonline.net/gp4000s-test-winner/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:20:30 +0000 Bill http://bicycletiresonline.net/?p=466 GP4000S - Test Winner!

German magazine TOUR has recently featured a comprehensive road tyre test, covering many aspects of tyre performance, even including 'real time' wet grip where their human tester donned motorcycle leathers and pushed his specially adapted test bicycle to the limit on each different set of tyres.

The complete test can be downloaded here.The Continental GP4000 was a clear winner by performing well in all areas. There was a significant difference between the top models from each brand in terms of grip wit hsome clear winners and losers.
Test rider Fabian Kleiner courageously rode each tyre to its breakaway limit on the wet test circuit. Measuring maximal speeds in the curves, the test rider was able to gain the feel of each tyre prior to its breakaway point, pointing out that the better tyres coveyed a feel of 'full bodied rubber' and showed sensitivity through increasing drift which could be controlled by the rider.

Another finding was that the difference between the best and worst tyres is bigger than the aerodynamic difference between the best and worst wheels! Puncture resistance has generally improved also, with nine tyres passing TOURS puncture test, more than ever before.
Grand Prix 4000S was the most consistant tyre with a weight of 207 grams on the test sample. Its rolling resistance measured in at 34.3 watts, beating even the lighweight race only tyres from the competitors. The resistance was measured using a rig where each tyre was spun against a rolling drum at 35kph at a load of 50kg, conducted by independent TOUR engineers. The variable was the force, converted into a power output in watts needed to power each tyre at the given load & speed.

The speed at which the GP4000S reached on the wet corner was 33 km/h, almost the same as our wet specific GP4Season, and higher than its main competitors. The time it took a sharp screwdriver to penetrate the GP4000s through the tread at a load of 35 kg was three minutes. In fact the test was stopped prior to any penetration as three minutes was defined by the magazine as a 'pass'. Only two other brands also attained a pass grade here.