A separate blog post lists the various makes and types of bikes we are riding on the Spring 2013 van-supported Southern Tier ride. This post lists the tires in use mid-way through the tour. As with bikes, there is a variety of makes and types, and no one "right" tire for the tour. Again, a big thanks to Terry for collecting the information earlier.
Linda - Continental Gator Hardshell 700 x 23mm
Carol - Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 26 x 28mm
Julie - Continental Gator Hardshell 700 x 28mm
Julianne - Panasonic Pasela Panracer 26 x 28mm
Andre - Bontrager Race All Weather 700 x 25mm
Bob G - Specialized All Condition Armadillo 700 x 28mm
Bob Pedersen - Schwalbe Durano 700 x 25mm
Bob Plant - Specialized All Condition Armadillo 700 x 25mm
Bruce - Schwalbe Marathon Original 700 x 35mm
Dick - Specialized All Condition Armadillo 700 x 25mm
Flynn - Continental Gatorskin 700 x 25mm
Jerry - Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700 x 25mm
Ken - Continental Gatorskin 700 x 25mm
Mitch - Vittoria Randonneur Pro Double / Infinity Sport 700 x 35mm
Rhodri - Schwalbe Marathon Plus 20 x 25mm in front and x 35 in back
Terry - Schwalbe Marathon 700 x 25mm
Regarding tire width: Arlen Hall, Adventure Cycling's tour director, strongly recommends 35mm wide tires for west Texas chip seal and goatheads. (He has led the unsupported Southern Tier tour.) So that's what I bought and am riding. I ride 28mm tires at home, and believe they would have been acceptable for me on the van-supported Southern Tier. The trade-off is the extra weight you haul up the mountains and hills, and slightly slower ride. In the end, it's a personal decision.
Also, riding on a higher-end tire is no guarantee of avoiding flats. Terry uses Schwalbe Marathons and has had six flats at the time this is being written.
Bruce
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