Price Paid:
$15.00
at eBay Bike Setup:
The Stradius TTs were used with a Mavic Ksyrium SL wheelset and a Velomax Ascent 2 wheelset Summary:
First, let me get a few things out of the way. Super high inflation pressures do NOT decrease rolling resistance, especially with more flexible tires (such as these) or on rough roads. Remove the waxy mold release agent from new tires or they'll have extrememly poor traction; I run a utility knife over the whole surface of the tire at a very acute angle (it takes forever, but a waxy-new-tire crash once left my hip in bad shape for half a year). If a tire is very tight to mount - as most are the first time - try rubbing some bar soap on the edge of the rim. Finally, I recommend against switching tire positions as a way to control the wear rate; instead, let the rear wear out, then put what was the front onto the rear and get a fresh front tire.
Now for the review.
I've used the 20c and 23c widths, but only on the front. Before buying, I knew they were light and I hoped they'd be supple, sticky, and have low rolling resistance. They are indeed light (see www.weightweenies.starbike.com), they're amazingly supple, they stick like mad, and the rolling resistance seems to be very low, but it's hard to tell (despite the "Three gears faster!!!" claims so many people make).
Upon unpacking them, they were so thin and flexible that it was as though Panaracer had just packaged up casings with no tread. The tread is very thin, so they probably won't last as long as my previous GP3000, but that's to be expected from a tire billed as a "time trial" model.
I first tried a 20c model and inflated it higher than my previous 23c to compensate for the reduced width. A narrow tire at high pressure is just asking for a harsh ride, but this was smoother than my GP3000.
The traction is remarkable. They've never even begun to slide on me, despite some truly silly lean angles. I may not be an exceptional racer overall, but I can corner hard enough that numerous people comment on it, yet the 20c Stradius TT has showed no signs of being at its limit.
Rolling resistance is difficult to tell, but I think I noticed an improvement from the GP3000. I'd be shocked if a tire this thin and flexible wasn't among the fastest rollers available.
No issues with puctures or cuts so far.
The 23c was similar to the 20c, but even smoother. I was checking my tire pressure after every ride for two weeks before I accepted that a tire could be that smooth. Very, very nice ride.
Both tires were perfectly round and straight. The only quirk is an unusually large diameter. This was nice on my tight Ksyrium SLs (Shimano wheel owners should like this, too), but they're disconcertingly loose on my Velomax Ascent 2 wheels. Velomax tells me I have nothing to worry about and it's true they haven't blown off, but it's still spooky. They're so loose I can just deflate the tube and shake the wheel to remove the tire. Yikes.
Simply put, this is my favourite tire so far and it'll be very hard for anything to take the TT's place. Strengths:
- Light
- Outstanding traction
- The smoothest ride I've found by far
- Cheaper than most competitors
- Very low rolling resistance
- Looks good in all-black with big white lettering
- If your rims are tight, you'll like the loose bead
- No punctures or significant cuts yet
- Perfectly round and straight Weaknesses:
- If your rims seems slightly undersized, the loose bead is disconcerting, but hasn't caused a problem yet
- Thin tread makes them light and flexible, but doesn't help with durability Similar Products Used:
Continental GP3000 (good), Granfondo Via Roma (shockingly bad), Maxxis Xenith Equipe Legere (no verdict yet)
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