Retailing on-line in most stores for around £15 for a folding tyre, these are a great deal. They are a lightweight, durable and safe all weather training tyre, which look good on the bike and provide a comfortable ride.
Here are a few highlights:
- Tread: Lithions are branded as a good all-weather tyre, which is certainly true. The have a slick centre tread, with grooved outer panels. This provides good speed, yet safe and confident cornering even in wet conditions.
- Puncture Protection: A high density rubber and inbuilt puncture protection mean that these tyre have a strong resistance to punctures, with the majority of punctures I have encountered coming from pothole pinch-punctures.
- Durability: As mentioned above, I've been running one of these tyres for close to three years on the front wheel of one bike and it is still looking in good condition. When wear does occur it becomes evident through a squaring off of the centre slick strip, and a loss of the herring bone outer grip; indicating that replacement is required from a safety and grip view-point.
- Look: An important factor for many, the Lithion 2 comes in four different colours (red not shown above), and looks very similar to the Pro3 Race tyre at a glance. Therefore having the appearance of a much more expensive tyre.
- Fitting: The folding nature makes it easier to fit to the rim (as well as making the tyre lighter). It also means that the tyre is a useful spare tyre. I took one folded up and strapped to my rear rack on my France and Spain touring trip last year.
Overall, a great training tyre. Not as fast as the GP4000s that I use to race on, and not as durable as the 25C Vittoria Rubino Tyres on my touring/winter bike. But they are a fast, grippy and durable summer training tyre; which is strong enough and safe enough to use in the wet as well.
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