two hundred sixty four

Continental Contact Plus 700x37c

TOURING TIRES

This is my latest tire choice Continental Contact Plus. It is an upgrade but I have no idea how reliable this model is other then the reviews. It is a high quality shielded designated touring tire, I just haven't had any experience using them.  I am a Continental Contact fan and have had a good experience with other models, all four sets. 

Touring specific tires are designed for reliability. They are built to resist punctures with extra layers of protection. The treads are designed to handle most surfaces. They were good in the rain (except for my crash on a wet steel bridge in Maine). The rear tire wears more then the front and gets most of the punctures. A new rear tire will get you from coast to coast but that is about it. The front tire holds up well but it is also subject to flats.

I use internal puncture shields as an extra layer of protection. I once went coast to coast with no flats but that was unusual. Slime does not help I run 90 psi  pressures, Slime only works up to 80 psi. Slime also gets weird and clumps causing lumps and vibration, plus it is a sticky mess.

Bicycle tubes come in different thicknesses but I haven't noticed much of advantage to the extra thick tubes. I always carry three extra tubes while touring so I avoid the extra weight.

There are solid tires filled with a hard sponge rubber but they are useless on a tour bike. They work great on the giant tricycle, you know the ones with a milk crate basket and flag.

No matter what you do these tire shreds will find a way to flatten your tires. The shreds have these tiny wires that somehow work their way through every layer of you tires to find the air. Even if you miss the big chunks the next 100 yards are like a mine field. 

Other puncture nightmares are the Goathead thorns and broken glass. I lived in Arizona where these were an on and off road nightmare. The "plus" in the Continental Contact Plus is for an extra layer of protection that is designed to help deal with these demons.

 

I'm a roadie by heart so 700 cc wheels are my preferred size. The tires are 700 x 37c, they are a little wider but not enough to ride on sand or dirt with a load. This is an issue in a few states that have a soft gravel berm but I prefer the feel of a road tire. This is just a personal choice.

I once cut a tire that was over an inch long. I scrounged around the highway trash until I found a plastic soda bottle. I cut a patch to insert into the tire to keep the tube from bulging through the hole. It worked so well I road a few hundred more miles until I found a tire.

No matter what you do you will get flat tires it is just the cost of having fun. The only thing you can do is take it in stride and be prepared.