Gommitalia Calypso K

Price Paid:  $30.00 at Local

Favorite Ride:
Long windy mountain roads

Bike Setup:
Full Campy custom steel

Summary:
I'm easy on tires - I kept my Pro Race 3's for 5000 km last year (racing). The gommitalias lasted about 300 km before both sidewalls were gashed. I'm not even racing this year, just a couple of training rides on decent roads. These are light, grippy and fast, but the sidewalls are made of paper. Don't buy them if you're on a tight budget (I got them at a firesale) - you'll need new tires in a month - hence the low value score.

Strengths:
Grippy, fast, Italian.

Weaknesses:
Paper sidewalls.

Similar Products Used:
Cadence Propulsion Kevlar, Conti 3K, Conti 4K, Michelin ProRace 3, Challenge Gara, etc etc

Price Paid:  $55.00 at Excel Sports

Bike Setup:
Bianchi 928 Carbon lugged Dura-Ace with Rol Volant wheels

Summary:
Love the way the tires feel, ride, handle and last. They have a supple ride compared to other tires I used in the past. Feel alot like the Vrestein Fotezza but lighter and seem like less rolling resistance. Been using for about 3 years now and never been dissappointed. When I start to see some small cuts in rear just rotate to front to extend tread life.

Strengths:
Handling, traction, supple ride and impressed with durability consider the plush ride they give.

Weaknesses:
Not ultalight like some but that would probably make them less durable

Similar Products Used:
Older Continentals, Specialized, and Vredestein Fortezza

Price Paid:  $70.00 at Excel Sports

Bike Setup:
Doesn't matter. It's a review of the tires, not how great my bike may, or may not be!

Summary:
I've had these on for about 500 miles. I had my first flat today. It was due to a cut in the tire from a very small piece of glass. A few things on these tires.

1) Price is fantastic for a set!
2) I live in the desert and I must say that the area around the bead has become gooey to the touch.
3) The rear will only last about 200 miles more for a total of 700miles.
4)Puncture resistance is ok at best.
4) I weight about 200lbs at 6'4 so it could just be my huge @$$.

Don't get me wrong, great tire for the money, but I was hoping for a bit more life. The gooey thing has got me scratching my head a little.

Strengths:
Value-

Weaknesses:
TIRE LIFE!!!!

YMMV

Similar Products Used:
all of them!

Price Paid:  $40.00

Bike Setup:
serotta ottrot

Summary:
I have used the tire for nearly 3 months and recently experienced a slit on the rear tire which rendered it unusable. I felt the tread/feel of the road was good, but am disappointed the rear didn't last very long.

Strengths:
good feel and tranction on the road

Weaknesses:
vulnerable to slit

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bikeworks Brandon

Bike Setup:
Colnago CLX with Campy Chourus and Campy Zonda wheels.

Summary:
Overall a very nice tire. Value is excellent and the overall is a 4 due to higher puncture rate for me than other tires I have owned.

Strengths:
Excellent grip in both dry and wet conditions. Very nice ride feel (though this is always subjective.) Tires also have a good tread life.

Weaknesses:
I have found the tires to be susceptible to punctures from small wires directly into the tread. (vs the sidewall) While this is true for any tire, it seems to be more so than many of the other tires I have tried. FYI I am about 150lbs (67kgs).