Tufo Thundero and Speedero Tire Info

93 replies · 15,403 views

Mtnfun2
27 posts
#21Feb 3, 2023, 4:55 AM
Avid WTB resolute user from the northeast here, I saw the Swampero tire and had to get one, this spring it will go on to replace my rear resolute. I prefer tires on the knobbier side as ,my bike doesn't see much pavement, slogging up steep VT dirt hills it better with knobs, and most of all I feel like I am back in the 80s on mt bike trails. Hopefully the 43 version of this tire comes out soon, fingers crossed on performance.
0
Volsung
878 posts
#22Feb 3, 2023, 5:25 PM
OneSpeedMark wrote:BikeTiresDirect claims to have them.

The 44s are not listed yet
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mytrilife
8 posts
#23Feb 6, 2023, 11:58 PM
I run 40C Speedero rear, Thundero front. I love these tires. So grippy yet so fast. They test only marginally slower than the new Schwalbe G-ONE RS, which are file tread. I'll take the 1W hit for better grip and puncture resistance.
It's kind of shocking how fast they are on asphalt for a tire with knobs.
1
AllTerrainLynx
7 posts
#24Feb 11, 2023, 3:03 AMedited
Hi guys, dude from Czech here, the place Tufos are from and they are very favoured among us for the price and performance. Puncture resistance is something that divides us, as someones are happy with no punctures at all, some are less lucky. What most, if not all, guys claim tho is the active distance put into these. To some they last like 5k, read the comment one user had them for 8k kms. Considering the price which is like 3/5 of Cinturatos, one really cannot go wrong with em. Bought my lady 40s Thunderos and shes happy for sure. Nice they do 36/40/44 mm. On the 19mm inner rim, they are like 1,5mm less real-life.
4
SWGraveler
247 posts
#25Feb 11, 2023, 10:38 AM
SWGraveler wrote:

I don't think the S-Works Pathifinder exists anymore; not sure what happened, it sold out quickly and is not on the S site at this point..

Ironically, they are back but there is no online availability..
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phrantic09
12 posts
#26Feb 16, 2023, 3:39 PM
Still up in the air.

90 % of my gravel riding is on hard pack dirt, so tread isn't an issue (in the summer I ride slicks), but early spring the top layer can get a bit soft in spots. I had no issues with gravelking SK in those spots last year, but want to try something different. I think the Speedero is a good alternative although the Thundero doesn't appear to be any slower if you hold to BRR numbers. That makes it seem the better of the two - but perhaps the Speedero is truly faster in the not so gnarly stuff.
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GravelInSipsey
24 posts
#27Mar 5, 2023, 7:31 PMedited▲ Top
I’ve got 500 miles on my Thunderos, running them both front and rear, so thought I’d add a bit. Mine are 700x44c, but have settled to 46c on a 25mm internal, hookless rim. I had to use an inner tube to get them seated, but after this they have held air pressure incredibly well. After 5 days I only loose 3-4psi; your results my vary, but I am completely impressed by their air retention. My system weight is ~215 lbs, so setting the front at 28psi and the rear at 30psi works well for me. They have a rounded profile, and I’m not sure I’ve ever fully engaged the side knobs.

Subjectively, these tires absolutely fly on tarmac and hard-packed gravel/dirt. Objectively, I’m pulling fewer watts over the same roads/trails that I’ve ridden many times. The tires work very well on softer, tacky dirt. They will on occasion throw up small bits of gravel (what the guy behind me said anyway). During a 50 mile race, I bombed down several hard packed fire roads around 30mph, hitting embedded square edge rocks, potholes, washboard, and one dead squirrel. No damage, no flats, and no evidence of pinching. Two days after the race, the tires were still holding air just fine.

They are not mud tires, but do have enough flotation to get you through a short muddy part of the trail as long as you keep momentum. Also float ok in fresh gravel. If you can’t guess by now, I really like these tires.

6
Xenophon
44 posts
#28Mar 19, 2023, 3:08 AMedited
I've been running a pair of 36 mm (order error, my bad) thunderos on my gravel rider/commuter since the end of October, about 4000 km on them. Tubeless. Nothing but praise but I believe I found their one weak point: puncture resistance.

Was out riding yesterday and suffered a catastrophic puncture in my front tire. Not even a couple of thick bacon strips, an emergency extra 2 oz dose of sealant and 2 24 gram CO2 cartridges were able to fix things or at least allow me to limp home. I had gotten cocky and didn't carry an inner tube, nor a pump, nor tire levers. Lady fortuna came around to cash in. So I hoofed it 2 miles to the nearest road that was accessible to cars and dialled roadside assistance, who drove me and my bike back home.

Now, this puncture is not the issue, it was a massive hole and I don't honestly believe that anything could have plugged it or that -whatever caused it- it could have been handled by any tire. The thing just cleanly punched through.

But, when I reached home I took off the tire to install an inner tube and then a couple of things became obvious:

1) At least 6 locations where the tire had been punctured previously (but that I never noticed on the road), 2 of which still had a piece of embedded metal in them. This is way, way more than what I've experienced with other tires and I ride more or less the same roads all the time.
2) This has nothing to do with the tire but to my horror I saw that almost all of the added latex had coagulated and was covering the center strip of the tire. I was using Squirt with ceramic 'beadblocks' as a regular sealant but my 'emergency bottle' was Schwalbe Doc Blue. Did mixing both cause a reaction? I dunno but for sure it's not something that I'll do again.

So, back to riding with a tube until the patches that I ordered drop in the mail. Think I'll go back to Stans Race Day sealant after that. One drawback: it can only be added by removing part of the tire from the bead.

Love the Tufos but I shudder to think of what I'll find the day I remove the rear tire. And for sure, from now on I'll always carry a tube and tire levers.
0
ljsmith
762 posts
#29Mar 19, 2023, 6:10 AM

Xenophon wrote:
I've been running a pair of 36 mm (order error, my bad) thunderos on my gravel rider/commuter since the end of October, about 4000 km on them. Tubeless. Nothing but praise but I believe I found their one weak point: puncture resistance.

Was out riding yesterday and suffered a catastrophic puncture in my front tire. Not even a couple of thick bacon strips, an emergency extra 2 oz dose of sealant and 2 24 gram CO2 cartridges were able to fix things or at least allow me to limp home. I had gotten cocky and didn't carry an inner tube, nor a pump, nor tire levers. Lady fortuna came around to cash in. So I hoofed it 2 miles to the nearest road that was accessible to cars and dialled roadside assistance, who drove me and my bike back home.

Now, this puncture is not the issue, it was a massive hole and I don't honestly believe that anything could have plugged it or that -whatever caused it- it could have been handled by any tire. The thing just cleanly punched through.

But, when I reached home I took off the tire to install an inner tube and then a couple of things became obvious:

1) At least 6 locations where the tire had been punctured previously (but that I never noticed on the road), 2 of which still had a piece of embedded metal in them. This is way, way more than what I've experienced with other tires and I ride more or less the same roads all the time.
2) This has nothing to do with the tire but to my horror I saw that almost all of the added latex had coagulated and was covering the center strip of the tire. I was using Squirt with ceramic 'beadblocks' as a regular sealant but my 'emergency bottle' was Schwalbe Doc Blue. Did mixing both cause a reaction? I dunno but for sure it's not something that I'll do again.

So, back to riding with a tube until the patches that I ordered drop in the mail. Think I'll go back to Stans Race Day sealant after that. One drawback: it can only be added by removing part of the tire from the bead.

Love the Tufos but I shudder to think of what I'll find the day I remove the rear tire. And for sure, from now on I'll always carry a tube and tire levers.

That is always going to be a concern with lightweight high tpi tires. Though BRR rated their puncture protection pretty good. You should never mix sealant. You’re essentially performing a chemistry experiment because you don’t know all the chemicals in them and how they will react. Stans Race is the best sealant, but it will make a real mess of the inside of your tires over time.
stu
646 posts
#30Mar 19, 2023, 2:47 PM
ljsmith wrote:That is always going to be a concern with lightweight high tpi tires. Though BRR rated their puncture protection pretty good...
IMHO puncture resistance is hard to quantify. Every road has its own hazards and sharp rocks, glass shards, and puncture test needles have little in common. That said, I've had terrible results with 3 tires rated by BRR for tread puncture from 33 to 41, decent results with 1 tire rated at 47, and good results with 7 tires rated from 45 to 84. BRR rates the Tufo tires between 31 and 33, which is in the bottom third of their CX/Gravel ratings. Only a few Panaracer-made, one Maxxis, and a few WTB Light are significantly worse.
0
AllTerrainLynx
7 posts
#31Mar 19, 2023, 3:56 PMedited
Hi guys, our Czech marathon cyclist Dan Polman used one pair of Speederos whole his journey which lasted over 7k kms. Claiming no defects, no other tire swaps. Some guys trully complain about puncture resistance, tubeless is recommended then. Some guys are having no issues.

But there is a news, some new thicker, more puncture res. Tufos starts to be available. So fresh, only 40s yet and they have 30 more grams. Sold as a pair but you need to register or something. On other hand, price for that pair is about 1500 CZ crowns only, compared to about 1800.
2
TimmyR
147 posts
#32Mar 21, 2023, 3:53 PM
stu wrote:You might also consider the 45 mm Pirelli Gravel H/M or the Challenge Getaway Pro. Those have tread patterns similar to the Tufo and get good reviews. I've been happy with the 45 mm Gravel H except for resistance to glass punctures on pavement. I've also been happy with the 36 and 40 mm Strada Bianca Pro but I haven't used either the 45 mm or the Getaway Pro.

It seems like I see a lot of complaints on the Gravel H on pavement. I have Gravel Ms and was looking for something for pavement and dirt. I was hoping these were the solution. I know I read a positive review on another thread I started.

0
stu
646 posts
#33Mar 21, 2023, 4:36 PMedited
TimmyR wrote:It seems like I see a lot of complaints on the Gravel H on pavement. I have Gravel Ms and was looking for something for pavement and dirt. I was hoping these were the solution. I know I read a positive review on another thread I started.
FWIW the 34 mm Corsa N.EXT are my current favorite road tires. I didn't mention them in this thread because I don't think 34 mm is wide enough to work well off road. If they're ever offered in 38 or 40 mm I'll buy a pair right away.

For me the Strada Bianca Pro are a pretty close second on the road and the 40 mm version (which runs a bit big) is better off road. But neither the Corsa nor the SBP have any significant tread so I mentioned the Gravel H.
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TimmyR
147 posts
#34Mar 21, 2023, 4:52 PM
stu wrote:FWIW the 34 mm Corsa N.EXT are my current favorite road tires. I didn't mention them in this thread because I don't think 34 mm is wide enough to work well off road. If they're ever offered in 38 or 40 mm I'll buy a pair right away.

For me the Strada Bianca Pro are a pretty close second on the road and the 40 mm version (which runs a bit big) is better off road. But neither the Corsa nor the SBP have any significant tread so I mentioned the Gravel H.

Makes sense. I started a thread for a tire to ride RAGBRAI on my Diverge. Want to just pick one tire and be able to ride the gravel day and the other 400+ miles on concrete. I'll probably either run my MSOs or grab some GravelKing SS's possibly.

Back to the original thread topic now that I've taken it off-track (but was really interested in the Speedero's)
0
Xenophon
44 posts
#35May 13, 2023, 1:28 AM
Xenophon wrote:

So, back to riding with a tube until the patches that I ordered drop in the mail. Think I'll go back to Stans Race Day sealant after that. One drawback: it can only be added by removing part of the tire from the bead.

Love the Tufos but I shudder to think of what I'll find the day I remove the rear tire. And for sure, from now on I'll always carry a tube and tire levers.

Took off the rear tire yesterday, it was done for and had developed a leak that seemed to plug but I was only able to maintain low pressure. The sealant in there was also Squirt and this time no mixing with other products. It had almost totally coagulated on the inside tire surface. Bottle was empty and that's all good because for sure I'll never buy this again.

For the Tufo's: good tires but if you make a lot of miles it will become an expensive exercise. And they're certainly not flatproof. I'll get flamed for this but slowly but surely I'm coming to the conclusion that if you rack up the miles and unless you absolutely need to run low pressures and use a highly profiled tire, a wide touring tire with tons of protection rather than most of this exotic 'gravel' rubber is really the way to go. They last, are virtually leakproof, some have good rolling resistance and the compound doesn't melt away like snow on a Florida afternoon.

Anyway, not there yet, still had a pair of Conti gravel speeds around but didn't mount them tubeless (traffic light relationship with tubeless setups).
0
AllTerrainLynx
7 posts
#36May 13, 2023, 3:00 AMedited
Xenophon wrote:

Took off the rear tire yesterday, it was done for and had developed a leak that seemed to plug but I was only able to maintain low pressure. The sealant in there was also Squirt and this time no mixing with other products. It had almost totally coagulated on the inside tire surface. Bottle was empty and that's all good because for sure I'll never buy this again.

For the Tufo's: good tires but if you make a lot of miles it will become an expensive exercise. And they're certainly not flatproof. I'll get flamed for this but slowly but surely I'm coming to the conclusion that if you rack up the miles and unless you absolutely need to run low pressures and use a highly profiled tire, a wide touring tire with tons of protection rather than most of this exotic 'gravel' rubber is really the way to go. They last, are virtually leakproof, some have good rolling resistance and the compound doesn't melt away like snow on a Florida afternoon.

Anyway, not there yet, still had a pair of Conti gravel speeds around but didn't mount them tubeless (traffic light relationship with tubeless setups).

Hi Xeno, sorry for your experience. As I wrote before, it might be hit and miss and no clue about variables. Some guys rides em 6k kms with no flats, others are disappointed. Some has problem about not keeping the pressure or milk leaking and not working well when flats occur (STRONG SUGGESTION TO USE MILK FROM TUFO for them), others have no pressure issue even without milk.

Flatwise, I suggest you the new tiny more heavy version. Seems its out because the potential issues and experience of people. BTW, how heavy you are? Might be different for 70kg light dude or 60kg lady, than behemoths like me with 110kg.
0
Xenophon
44 posts
#37May 13, 2023, 6:38 AM
AllTerrainLynx wrote:

Hi Xeno, sorry for your experience. As I wrote before, it might be hit and miss and no clue about variables. Some guys rides em 6k kms with no flats, others are disappointed. Some has problem about not keeping the pressure or milk leaking and not working well when flats occur (STRONG SUGGESTION TO USE MILK FROM TUFO for them), others have no pressure issue even without milk.

Flatwise, I suggest you the new tiny more heavy version. Seems its out because the potential issues and experience of people. BTW, how heavy you are? Might be different for 70kg light dude or 60kg lady, than behemoths like me with 110kg.

Don't be sorry and just to be clear: I'm not saying at all that the Tufo tires aren't good (the Squirt sealant otoh is rubbish imo). On the contrary, they excell in many areas but everything depends on the use case. I'm not a featherweight at 78 kg for 1m 82 but no behemoth either.

But: I own only one bike, a titanium drop bar gravel model. Also use that for commuting, every single weekday of the year and I rack up some miles. The commute alone is good for a hair under 12k km/year (about 7500 miles I guess) and 85% of those are on tarmac. Then I ride recreationally during the weekends and participate in some non-competitive long distance events (anything from 200 to 800 km).

With those distances, running costs of consumables become a consideration and one of the elements in that equation are tires. For instance, I just mounted a new set of Conti terra speeds. If I don't swap 'm out, that rear tire will likely last until August, then the profile will have largely gone and it'll start springing leaks.

What I'm saying is that for my use case, touring tires might be more appropriate due to their longer lifespan. But if I were participating in a race on hardpack gravel, I certainly wouldn't hesitate mounting a set of Tufos.

1
stu
646 posts
#38May 13, 2023, 1:24 PM

Xenophon wrote:...

What I'm saying is that for my use case, touring tires might be more appropriate due to their longer lifespan. But if I were participating in a race on hardpack gravel, I certainly wouldn't hesitate mounting a set of Tufos.I've used the Marathon Almotion (Addix) and Marathon Efficiency in 40-622. Both are really durable and have reasonable rolling resistance but are somewhat stiff compared to supple road or gravel tires. I prefer the Almotion for having a recognizable tread and feeling a little more supple.

I'm eager to try the Pirelli P Zero Race TLR SpeedCore in 40-622. I'm hoping that will have a great combination of rolling resistance, supple feel, and puncture resistance. Unfortunately that will have to wait till I recover from a crash. 🙁
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John Z
174 posts
#39May 20, 2023, 8:58 AM
I ordered a pair of Thunderos on Wednesday evening and they are supposed to arrive later today. I had been running Continenal Terra Speed/Trails and love them except for one issue: they are very, very tight fit on my wheels (Mavic Allroad Elite). Earlier in the day, I had a valve stem break (never heard of that happening to anyone). Thankfully, I carry spare tubes; you can get a pair of TPU tubes in the same space as a regular tube. However, in the woods, re-seating the Continental Terra Speed was quite the ordeal.

I had some concerns about Thundero puncture resistance and will report back. Right now, I just hope they are easier to mount on my wheels than the Continentals.
0
John Z
174 posts
#40Jun 1, 2023, 9:33 PM

I had some concerns about Thundero puncture resistance and will report back. Right now, I just hope they are easier to mount on my wheels than the Continentals.

My concern was founded -- puncture at the end of my second ride, with sealant spraying out. Thankfully, it did seal the leak.

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