Bontrager Race Lite

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Rollyview

Bike Setup:
Lemond Tourmalet w/Reynolds DV46UL tubulars.

Summary:
These came stock on the bike and have been used for training and rolling in the off season. Currently, there is about 6000km on them after a couple of years of use. They are starting to show some wear on the tread and sidewalls, but are still very useable. Overall, a great trainer tyre.

Strengths:
Thick and cheap. Not a single puncture after 6000km - about half of which has been on chip seal roads and the other half on rollers. They've seen plenty of pot holes and railroad tracks, too.

Weaknesses:
Heavy and slow, but that is the trade-off for extreme durability, at least in my experience.

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bike Barn, Houston

Favorite Ride:
Hotter n' Hell 100

Bike Setup:
Me 208#, 6'5" Clydesdale. Bike is 62 cm Trek 5200 OCLV carbon, custom raised stem 1 cm, 180 mm Dura Ace crank, Specialized saddle, Dura Ace pedals; else stock.

Summary:
A pair of Race Lite clinchers came stock on my 5200. Presently have 1700 miles on them; just rotated front to back. Looking at the wear pattern, I expect they will be good for perhaps 2500 miles which I would class as great for stock tires. Over 1700 miles I have had 2 puncture flats and one pinch flat (after hitting a big piece of steel road trash going really fast down a steap bridge).

Strengths:
Wear really well. Traction is good (group rides, not racing). Come off the rim easy for maintenance (I do not even need to carry tire tools).

Weaknesses:
No fancy brand name on the side of them.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Ponte Vedra County Line Ride-Jacksonville. All are welcome; 6:30pm Tue&THur. Call American Bicycle.

Bike Setup:
2008 Madone 5.2 Pro

Summary:
It is mutually agreed by the other team members on our Crit Team that these tires handle well and are lite, however, are absolutely terrible for flats. They puncture easier than any other tire I've ridden. Example, 3 flats in the first 7 rides (50 milers) I'm surprised Trek puts them on their new Madone's.

Strengths:
Lite. Good handling.

Weaknesses:
Flats, Flats, Flats. Cheap price. Cheap tire.
Nothing handles well when its flat

Price Paid:  $29.00 at bike line

Favorite Ride:
out my front door

Bike Setup:
Trek 2200 stock

Summary:
I really find these tire hard to beat at $30 a peice. I have been using them for a bit over 2 years now and had only 2 flats. They have very good wear and are very resistant to flats. In the past 4 very snowy salted rides for 3+ hr rides I have ridden with guys running the conti gator skins and maxxis tires (not sure which one. we have had a total of 7 flats due to glass but only 1 flat for the bontragers. They are awsome. They wear well and grip well. I have no problem cruising at 45+ mph.

Strengths:
durable, relatively light weight, grip

Weaknesses:
not a big brand name HA!

Similar Products Used:
Various panaracer, hutchison, michelin and conti's

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bicycle Sport

Favorite Ride:
Da bonnies

Bike Setup:
Stock Lemond Buenos Aires 2007 model (which rocks, but that's on a separate review).

Summary:
These tires were stock with my Buenos Aires. They work fine. One flat in 1000 miles and that was a pinch flat that was the result of my fat butt slamming a bit too hard into a pothole. No premature wear issues.
I don't feel passionately about these tires, but I think folks here slam them because it's fashionable to do so.

Strengths:
Came with the bike. They look and work fine.

Weaknesses:
Apparently no sex appeal.

Similar Products Used:
I'm primarily a MTB, so I use Panaracer Fire Tires for my MTB.