What tyres for a racer?

[Jonny69]

It's new tyres time for the Jonny69 hack. Problem is I have no idea which ones to get or how much to spend :D

It's a classic Reynolds 231 frame, 12 speed and (luckily) 700c wheels so I can use modern tyres :cool:

Currently it's running some 25mm Hutchinson Excel kevlar tyres but I like the low rolling resistance of a skinny tyre and I think I want to swap to a 23mm wide. First question is I use this bike on the road, will a 23mm tyre be a problem with puncturing etc and should I stick to a 25mm tyre? Second question is I like the idea of a lighter tyre and I'm aiming for the 200g end of the spectrum rather than the 300g end of the spectrum. Again, is this likely to cause durability problems on the road?

I have a few options, ebay seems to be dead cheap compared to the local bike shop:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SCHWALBE-BLIZZARD-SPORT-TYRES-X-2-700x23c_W0QQitemZ320487680542

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pair-Continental-Ultra-Sport-Road-Tyres-700x23c-Black_W0QQitemZ310197800903

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Continental-Ultra-GatorSkin-700x23C-DuraSkin-Tyre-x2_W0QQitemZ300361339695

These look especially yummy:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-Schwalbe-Durano-S-Folding-Tyres-700x23c-White_W0QQitemZ370337953263

What makes a training tyre like the link below different?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-Schwalbe-Lugano-Training-Tyres-Black-Red-700x23c_W0QQitemZ310192423835

Also very yummy:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-MICHELIN-PRO-3-RACE-TYRE-MIC685005-RED-700x23C_W0QQitemZ370336392285

[Jonny69]

I went for the sleek Michelins in red in the end.

Amazingly the old tyres weighed in at 175g heavier EACH than the new ones!

Total weight of the bike is now just a slender 9.4Kg with the lights on it, I make that a shade over 9.25Kg without the lights. Wow :D