Tires vary by design. Folding tires are lighter and therefore the rotational weight is less and therefore faster. This is a key. If you want to ride faster without practice, lower your weight but focus on lowering the weight of anything that rotates on your bike. Tires, wheels, crank arms, pedals, shoes even, and so on.

I happen to love Vredesteins as well and the Tricomp has been a staple for me. I ride/race 9 to 11 thousand miles a year and always get good mileage on the Vred's. If you really want to buy speed, get a set of the Tricomp SL's. Only about 190 grams. I put them on race day and take them off after the race but they are easy to get on and off. They are lighter so I "feel" faster (and I am) but they don't wear as well as the tricomps. Plus the tricomps have varying materials for grip that are good for cornering for example. Get a 700 x 23 tire. While they are rated to 175 (though this may vary depending when made) DON'T go that high. The tire rims you have probably can't take it!

Mavic didn't even want to tell me how high I could go with them. I weigh 180 lbs. or so and race day I may go to 145 if the roads are smooth. Less if they are rough. Vred's actually ride better at the higher pressures. Some riders say that too high causes the tires to bump or bounce and as a result you lose road contact which slows you down but usually I keep the pressure up. (Mountain bikers know about putting too high pressure especially in the rear as the tire bounces too much.)

For you big guys out there, consider a 700 x 25 tire as well. Performance has a blue tri comp on sale often for about 25 bucks. Bike Tires Direct often has Vred's at very reasonable prices as many shops don't carry them but I'm addicted and even though I work at a shop I usually have to order them. Now, Vittoria makes some nice tires and others will swear by their Continentals or Michelins, I like the tire to look cool, perform great, and tolerate high pressures. For me, going to 125 lbs from 110 is like adding a free gear.

GRF!*

EJ Levy

*GO REAL FAST!

This is a fun forum and useful to so many who are new to the sport.

EJ Levy

Tell us what tire is working for you

All things being equal, increased tire pressure will reduce rolling resistance, at the expense of grip (less contact area with the road). Additionally, with increased tire pressure on typical clincher rims, one must take into account the strength of the rim tape protecting the tube from the spokes, rim strength, and bead strength. When I was running clinchers (I now run tubulars), I found that Tufo tires allowed the greatest pressure without worring about the other rim factors. Tufo is a tubular tire with a special bead built onto the casing to hold it on a clincher rim. I typically ran them at 140 psi. for training, and on race day pushed up to 180 psi based on the road conditions and terrain. Remember that with heavy braking on down-hills you will generate heat in your wheel which will increase pressure.

Try a pair of Tufo Tubular Clinchers and you will probably never go back to your standard clincher tire!