Grand Bois Tires
Price reduced:
Handmade Challenge tires in 27 mm (700C)
$68 (was: $80)
These tires have been quite popular, so we got Challenge to lower the price.
(Click thumbnails for full-size images)
700C and 650B
• Low rolling resistance
• Excellent grip
• Light weight
• Classic appearance
One of the best tires we have ridden, with tan sidewalls and black, fine tread.
$55 each (Cyprès, Cerf, Ourson)
$60 each (Hetre)
(scroll down for quantity discount)
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 the of wide high-performance clincher tires from Challenge, Grand Bois and Vittoria (pdf format).
"Cerf blue label" 700C x 26mm ('deer'), 222 g
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
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
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 or black tread), 392g
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 Handmade Tires
"Paris-Roubaix" 700C x 27 mm (runs a bit wider, 28-29 mm on most rims), 279 g.
$68
650B Tubes
You can use 26" or 700C tubes, but these are the correct diameter and width for 650B tires between 28 and 42 mm wide. After trying many different tubes, the French Confrérie des 650 ("Association of 650B Users") found Schwalbe's to work best. Presta valve.
We are not set up to process small orders, so we can sell these only together with a tire order.
Schwalbe 650B tubes: $6 each (only with tire purchase)
Quantity Discounts:
- 4 or
more Grand Bois tires (any model):
deduct $5 each. (Sorry, no quantity discounts on
Challenge tires.)
- Add
$10 per order for shipping (U.S.;
Canada: $15; international: $ 25 for 2 tires, $ 40 for 4 or
more).
(Example: An order for four Grand Bois Cyprès tires costs 4 x $50 = $200 plus $10 = $210.)
Send a check with the note “x 700C x xx mm/650B x xx mm Grand Bois/Challenge tires” to:
Bicycle Quarterly
c/o Il
Vecchio Bicycles
140 Lakeside Ave. #C
Seattle, WA
98122
To order with VISA/Mastercard at our secure site, please click here.
Questions? Please contact us.
Bicycle shops: We do offer wholesale pricing on Grand Bois and Challenge tires. Contact us for information.