Price Paid:
$30.00
at Princeton Sports Favorite Ride:
Roads & rails-to-trails paths Bike Setup:
2007 Specialized Sequoia aluminum frame CF fork road bike. Shimano Sora 3x8 gearing, Topeak rack bolted on and BIG Topeak trunk bag. Next bike - steel frame. Summary:
These tires were standard on my Specialized Sequoia.
A moderately light tire with some under-tread flat protection (flak jacket) that does seem to handle well in all conditions. This is no armadillo, which has flat protection from bead to bead. In 1,700 miles I have discarded two of these tires and still have one on my front wheel.
The first tire had a 1 or 2mm cut left-right in the center of the tread and the rubber was cut down to the fabric. The flak jacket may have prevented a flat, but the opinion of the bike shop was to replace the tire, so I did. The replacement was another All-condition sport due to somewhat limited selection, price, and my cash available. The replaced tire had plenty of tread left and about 900 miles on it.
The next one to go bad was my fault, a major bulge from a sidewall because I was not told about trainers putting greater strain on tires. I wonder if this is true on rollers as well. As I look the tire over, there are the little cuts within a one inch arc of the tread, and another small cut elsewhere. Death by a thousand cuts? I replaced this rear tire with a Bontrager Race X Lite AC (All-Condition) kevlar folding tire.
The fairly soft tread on the Specialized All Condition Sport has always seemed to grip well, and I never had trouble with handling of any kind with 85-90% of my riding being in dry weather, recreational riding. I'm a 160 pound rider and use a rack and trunk bag for another 10-20 pounds (including water bottles). Most rides have been in metropolitan Baltimore, on narrow state and county highways and some garbage strewn city roads. My remaining All Condition Sport, the front tire has a few cuts that are closed and one 2-3mm cut across the center of the tread again (left to right) and it is an open cut.
The rear tire, the Bontrager, has a couple hundred miles on it and only one flaw can be found: something scraped some rubber back, but it is very minor. This may be from some mystery thing that was shot out from under my bike and flew into the side of a car (yay, 10 points!)
I normally ran the tires from 100-115 psi, but am now inflating the All Condition Sport (front) at 90-100 psi. I do this to try for a softer ride (can't tell the difference though) and to get more out of the tire. But with that little gaping cut, I had better get some money together for another tire.
I may go for an Armadillo Elite. an All Condition Armadillo (rougher ride but more protection than the elite?) or another Bontrager like my rear tire, but in 25mm instead of 23mm. The rainy season approaches, and wet traction is a concern for me. I may be bike commuting to downtown as well. Strengths:
Handling has been fine, good traction in wet and dry, but very little of my riding has been in wet conditions. Weaknesses:
Had several flats in both front and rear. Tiny sharp things were getting through; when rear tire was replaced, no more flats. Soft tread grip has trade-off with easy penetration. Flak jacket helps, but tire will 'die' from many small cuts. Should be good for nearly 1,000 miles in my experience. Similar Products Used:
On another bike (Giant Option hybrid) had Bontrager Hardcase 32mm tires on it. Years of no flats, but maybe a few hundred miles per year. 
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