High prices and more comfort
I am a huge admirer of the German-made Continental Grand Prix 5000 tires, particularly in the 25mm version that I've used extensively. These tires are excellent, with exceptional quality, easy installation, and remarkable performance on both dry and wet surfaces. Unfortunately, the prices went up as anything else, and I had to look for some cheaper alternatives without sacrifice of quality.
At the same time, I feel the Taiwan road surfaces are getting worse. Summer in the 40 degrees and and cold winter weather deteriorate the roads, so I wanted to try out some wider tires for safer and more comfortable rides.
Getting online for information on wider tires, the data suggested that the 28mm are not slower than the 25mm narrower ones but offer some improvement in comfort. So I thought, I'd try to kill two birds (cheaper price and more comfort) with one stone, and searched online. I discovered a deal for Goodyear Eagle F1 OEM tires (wrapped in plastic, without the original packaging). The prices seemed unbelievably low, so I purchased one pair (two tires) of full black 28mm tires to reduce the shipping costs.
Goodyear Bicycle Tires
Most consumers connect the Goodyear brand with car tires, as the company has supplied and sponsored all major car races and racing series. Interestingly, the Goodyear name 'initially appeared on a bicycle tire already in 1898! The company builds on this experience with a consistent goal: to provide superior performance. At their specialized bicycle tire facility in Taiwan, the tires are designed, developed, and manufactured to achieve this goal: top-level performance'.
Technical Details
Name: Eagle F1, Tube Type
Size: 700x28 (28-622), the tire measures 27.5mm on my 20mm wide alloy rim.
Max. Pressure: 120tpi
Sidewall Color: black
Bead: Folding
Weight: 235g (manufacturer's weight), weighed: 224 grams
Country of Production: Taiwan
Montage
By aligning the rotation direction marked on the sidewall with the letters at the valve hole on the rim, the installation, even with delicate latex inner tubes, was seamless—I only required one tire lever to fit the tire onto the final section of the rim. The tire seated correctly on the wheel once it was inflated to the pressure specified on its sidewall.
My Shimano 105 R7000 and Ultegra R8000 rim brakes are only designed for tires up to 28mm. The whole rear wheel with my new wider wide tires fitted perfectly on my endurance road bike, providing enough space in the rear frame triangle and the rim brake.
Ride quality
Testing the Goodyear Eagle F1 28mm tires paired with a Vittoria 25/28-622 latex inner tube the first time, I was amazed at how much smoother and quieter the ride felt the first time. The wider rear tire noticeably absorbed bumps and cracks in the road, providing more comfort and confidence even on light road debris. The tire corners not much differently from my 25mm tires; the 28mm tires actually feel more supple and reassuring.
During rain and on wet surfaces, there was no difference in handling compared to my previous choice. The tires are glued on wet roads and had good grip on road markings. I did not feel slippery in any way; even my rim brakes gave me good feedback of the tires on wet road conditions.
Plus:
-good priced
-easy to mount, good fit on alloy rims
-low rolling resistance
-lightweight, weighted: 224g/tire for the 28mm tire
-good quality (made in Taiwan)
Negative:
- none so far
Conclusion
In my experiences, the Goodyear Eagle F1 clincher tires are high-quality, capable and reliable to ride, are reasonably lightweight. After covering several hundred kilometers on less-than-ideal Taiwanese roads, I have yet to find a single weakness. Switching from 25mm to slightly wider 28mm tires made them so comfortable that I completely forget about them during rides. Even with sensitive latex inner tubes, I have not experienced a single flat. When you judge a quality tire with speed,, I achieved the same time on a familiar loop as with my previously preferred tire.
I would give these tires two thumbs up for their smooth performance; I found them comparable to more expensive high-end tires.
Writing that I would consider buying and riding them reminds me that I should put some in stock before the offer ends...
Ride safe, Gerhard
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