Tires from Grand Bois, Challenge and Mitsuboshi
Click thumbnails for full-size images
Ed Pavelka and Fred Matheny of roadbikerider.com tested the Grand Bois Cerf tires:
"The Cerfs brought a smile. They rolled noticeably smoother than any rubber I could recall."
What you can do with Grand Bois tires and where they reach their limits.
700C and 650B
• Low rolling resistance
• Excellent grip
• Superior comfort
• Light weight
• Classic appearance
• Clincher tires with the ride of a good tubular
Some of the best tires we have ridden, with tan sidewalls and black, fine tread.
All Grand Bois tires have folding beads. The 700Cx28 and 30 mm tires run about 0.5-1.5 mm wider than their stated width, depending on your rim.
Click here to read the detailed Bicycle Quarterly test of wide high-performance clincher tires from Challenge, Grand Bois and Vittoria (pdf format).
Click here to read Bicycle Quarterly's article on the correct tire pressure for your weight and tire size (pdf file).
Grand Bois Tires
Made in Japan
"Cerf blue label" 700C x 26mm ('deer'), 222 g
$58 (scroll down for discount when ordering 4 or more)
Here's my Grand Bois 1500 mile report: Still like 'em. No flats for the past 500 miles. Not much additional tread wear since 1000 miles. AR, Middletown OH
"Cerf green label" 700C x 28mm ('deer'), 248g
$58 (scroll down for discount when ordering 4 or more)
Ten thousand thanks for finding and importing the Grand Bois tires. If I ran the zoo, all bikes would be designed around them. EK, Washington DC
"Cypres" 700C x 30mm ('cypress'), 290g
"Cypres" 650B x 32mm ('cypress'), 285g
$58 (scroll down for discount when ordering 4 or more)
It's rare that something I buy exceeds my expectations, but these tires did it. I knew in my first 50 feet of rolling that I probably got the smoothest set of tires made. JS, New York NY
"Ourson" 650B x 35mm ('little bear'; coarser tread), 366g
"Hetre" 650B x 42mm ('beech'; ribbed tread, red, white or black tread), 412g
$62 (scroll down for discount when ordering 4 or more)
I have almost 4000km on my Hetres, and they're still in very good shape. I wouldn't be surprised if I got another few thousand. I've only had one puncture, and that was a pop rivet shank that went through the sidewall and then out through the tread. AF, Dulwich Hill, Australia
Challenge Tires
Made in Thailand
"Triathlon" 700C x 23 mm (runs a bit wider, 24-25 mm on most rims), 219 g. The fastest tires both in Bicycle Quarterly's real-road and TOUR's drum tests. Hand-glued tread, tan sidewalls.
$60
"Paris-Roubaix" 700C x 27 mm (runs a bit wider, 28-29 mm on most rims), 279 g. Vulcanized tread.
Mitsuboshi Trimline Tires
Made in Japan
A legend – the tire that started the 650B movement in North America: Fast, supple, durable. Bicycle Quarterly's editor used it in Paris-Brest-Paris 2003.
650B x 38 mm, wire bead, 450 g. Limited quantities, while supplies last.
Sorry, sold out!
Schwalbe Tubes
Made in Indonesia
Quality tubes can be hard to find, and we have had problems with "no-name" tubes suddenly losing air. These are made by Schwalbe, and of very high quality. 40 mm long Presta valve.
700C x 18-28 mm, 112 g
700C x 28-32 mm, 123 g
650B x 30-42 mm, 149 g
Our bank requires a minimum $25 transaction for online orders, so we can sell these only together with a component/tire order.
$8 (only with component/tire purchase)
Quantity Discounts:
- 4 or more Grand Bois tires, handlebars or rims (any model): deduct $5 each. (Sorry, no quantity discounts on Challenge tires.)
Shipping:
Add $11 per order for shipping (U.S.; Canada: $16; International: $ 25 for 2 tires/handlebars, $ 44 for 4 or more).
(Example: An order for four Grand Bois Cyprès tires costs 4 x $53 = $212 plus $11 = $223.)
Send a check with your order to:
Bicycle Quarterly
c/o Elliott Bay Bicycles
2116 Western Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121
Check out our other components:
To order with VISA/Mastercard or PayPal at our secure site, please click here.
Questions? Please contact us.
Check out Grand Bois components at these fine shops.
Bicycle shops: We offer wholesale pricing on Grand Bois products, SKF bottom brackets, and Challenge tires. Contact us for information.
 |