Help Choosing Tires - Jack Brown vs. Compass Stampede Pass

[SeanMac]

Hi folks,

Now that the indoor riding season has begun, my thoughts have turned to getting my bikes ready for the 2015 outdoor season.  Specifically, I am looking for new tires for my Black Mountain Cycles road bike.  This bike was new to me last summer, and is really a joy to ride.  It is my go-to bike, fast rides, long rides - you name it this bike can do it. 

Last summer I had it set-up with some old tires I had lying around - a Rolly-Polly in the front and a Roughy-Toughy in the back.  For 2015 I am looking for something new.  My hope is to find the best combination of speed-comfort-durability. 

The bike is designed to fit tires up to 33.33333 mm wide.  I've narrowed down my selections to the Jack Brown and the Stampede Pass.  Lots of folks here seem to like Jack Brown, but I don't read much about the Stampede Pass tires.  Has anyone used both?  I would love to hear a comparison.  I would also be interested in any long-term reviews of the Stampede Pass tires.

A third tires I considered was the Challenge Strada Bianca.  However, from what I have read, this seems to be a tire that is difficult to mount (I've got Open Pro rims) and not terribly durable.  Any thoughts on this tired (especially compared to the other two I am looking at) would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Sean
Buffalo,NY

[Deacon Patrick]

What's an indoor riding season? Grin. 

I've ridden both JB's and Compass (Barlow Pass) on my QuickBeam, and the Compass tires (feather light) are an amazing joy to ride on pavement and dirt roads that aren't too loose. However, since I ride a lot of looser dirt and single track in combo with steep, I prefer my Clement's. 

With abandon,

Patrick

[SeanMac]

Patrick -
Indoor riding season is what takes place when you get 90 inches of snow in a three day period!  Given the chance, I would rather be out on my cross country skis.  However, on the trainer I can get in a good workout in much less time than I can on the skis - at least when you figure in all of the time it takes  to prepare to go skiing.

From your comment, I am assuming that you prefer Compass tires over Clement's when the vast majority of your riding is done on pavement.

Sean

[Deacon Patrick]

Yes, for pavement and hardpack, it's Compass over Clement for me. But then I don't understand exercising indoors ever, so YMMV. Grin.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Tim]

I have not typically been very sensitive to changes in tires. I tend to not have a very nuanced "palate" when it comes to slight changes in performance or comfort. In fact a couple of years ago I tried Grand Bois Extra Leger tires on my Hilsen and felt no difference at all in performance from my JBs, which had been my tire of choice. So it aged with JBs until this past spring, when I decided to give the Stampede Pass a try (but not the ultra light this time.) I was shocked by the very noticeable increased performance. They were amazing, and this is from a true skeptic. I'm on my 2nd rear tire and I love them. I got about 3300 miles out of the 1st rear tire. I'm around 200 lbs (I was closer to 240 when I tried the Grnd Bois so that's probably a big part of why I didn't have good results.) I would definitely recommend the Stampede Pass.

[Darin G.]

I just put the Stampede Pass tires on my Romulus, replacing a set of Ruffy Tuffy's. My expectations were not particularly high but after two rides I am very impressed. I haven't ridden the Jack Brown blues on my Rom but had them on my Sam and then my Atlantis. I thought it was a good commuter tire and would still use it for that purpose (the Atlantis is wearing Marathon Supremes now). I had only one flat in 4500 miles and it was a nail. Similarly, the Ruffy Tuffy's were indeed very tough. The Compass tire, however is simply in another class. Not only was the ride much more plush than the ride on the Ruffy Tuffy, or the JB, the bike felt very lively, and on my two rides it was considerably faster than I typically ride over the same route--nearly 5 minutes faster over a 25 mile course. Two rides are hardly a sufficient data set to proclaim it a faster tire but I'm confident that it is not slower. I'm looking forward to using it for my recreational riding. Highly recommended.

[stonehog]

Sean - I just dropped my Jack Brown Greens for some new Stampede Pass tires and rode a 200k on Wednesday.  Thoughts. I like the Stampede Pass better immediately, but I am sensitive to tires and weigh in at a whopping 160 lbs.  They are more compliant over rough roads, and are nearly as cush as the much larger Hetres (650b).   Best thing out there for my Hilsen in 700c so far.  If you want a fast, cush tire, and can spend the dough, the Stampede Pass is great.  The Jacks are definitely great, too.  When I removed them, they measured in at 34.5mm (https://flic.kr/p/pEfBeM), and still have a lot of life left in them.  the difference in tread is another area I would point out.  The Compass tread feels more grippy (still new) but the JB tread looks unique.  For reference, I fill my tires to 60psi rear, and 45psi front.

Brian Hanson

Seattle, WA
Ride report on the 200k at http://stonehog.com/2014/11/29/late-season-permanent/ 

[Neil]

Lots of folks here on Compass tires! I had a set of Compass 26 x 1.75s on my LHT, liked 'em, and shod the Sam in Barlow Pass tires.

 

Love love love the feel of these tire...nice and cushy, acceptable traction in the dirt, all around very nice...but not happy with puncture flats at a rate of one every 40 miles, and what I consider excessively quick wear on the rear tire. Jan talks up low pressure as the method for minimizing flats, and I know that environmental factors for punctures are very local in nature, but I ride in the Sierra foothills and Bay Area, run low pressures (around 50 psi), and get lots o' flats.

 

I don't track mileage closely, but I added the tires in May 2014, and the rear tire was reading as 'halfway worn' as of September 2014 (Jan stipulates that when the longitudinal grooves disappear, the tire is halfway worn). Again, not sure of my mileage, but will certainly be less than 3,000 miles on the rear tire. I've toured very lightly with them (maybe 8 days all told), maybe that was a factor.

 

Verdict is that I'll be going back to Panaracer Pasela Tourgards, or Marathon Supremes. I really liked Paselas for the price, and had very few flats on the Marathons.

[Geoffrey]

I have a 68cm AHH with Stampede Pass Lightweights, a specialized sequoia with Stampede passes and when the JB's on my Bilenky wear out, I'll be putting the stampede passes on them. 

[SeanMac]

Thanks for all of your responses.  Based on what I have read, I am leaning toward giving the Stampede Pass tires a shot. 

Neil - you addressed the one concern that I still have - that the Stampede Pass will be more flat-prone than other tires.  I'm sorry that the Stampede Pass have been so flat-prone for you.  My reading online has not really found this to be a problem that many people mention with this tire.  Anyone else have flatting issues with Jan's new tires - specifically the Stampede Pass model?

A number of years ago I purchased a pair of Grand Bois tires (don't remember the specific model) for an old Trek 520 touring bike that I owned.  I liked the way those tires made my bike feel when I rode it, but I do recall that the tires seemed to flat a lot more than other tires that I had used for similar riding.  Who knows, perhaps I just had some bad luck.  Anyway, I certainly do not mind fixing a flat tires.  However, its not something that I would choose to do during a ride.

I'd love to hear a few more data points on these tires.

Sean

[Geoffrey]

I have 2k on the pair of Stampede pass tires on my AHH with one flat, that was part of a hawthorne after a really heavy wind storm.  That's it. 

Funny enough, I've flatted three times over 500 miles on the JB's on my Bilenky.  I think it's just luck of the draw.

[Joe Broach]

Hi Sean,

I've been pleasantly surprised by the flat resistance of my GB Cypres 700x32s. My understanding is that these are practically identical to the Stampede Pass tires. The first 1200 miles have been puncture free. I expected to take them off for the rainy season, but so far so good there, too. I've averaged around a flat per 1000 miles using either plain or TG Paselas over the years, so I'm due, but to say these are flat prone isn't supported by my data (n=1). I'm pretty light and run them between 50-60psi.

Best,

joe broach

portland, or

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[Tim Gavin]

I use the Grand Bois Lierre 650 x 38b on my 650-converted Riv Road.  I've had flats, but they are caused by road debris (mostly glass).  I average about 1 puncture a month when commuting on city streets.  However, I had no flats at all for ~440 miles of RAGBRAI, I think because the highways were quite clean compared to the filth in the street gutters.  My city doesn't run the street sweepers often enough.

So, I highly recommend GB/Compass tires, but with conditional reservations based on the surface you ride.  If that surface regularly has glass shards or sharp thorns, then I'd recommend a tire with a puncture-protection liner.  The Soma New Xpres tires seem like a good compromise; a lightened Pasela but with some puncture protection.

For gravel, dirt, and clean pavement, the GB/Compass tires have a combo of comfort and speed that is unmatched (in my experience).

You could also try taping the rims and going tubeless for the puncture protection.  Jim Thill runs tubeless Hetres on his Surly city bike, with great success I understand.  If you're considering tubeless, I'd recommend the black sidewalls.  The skinwalls on Jim's Hetres had some bleed-through and discoloration from the latex sealant.

Tim

Cedar Rapids, IA

[Thomas B]

The Compass tires are great, no question in my mind. I've been commuting on them since summer. However, when the wet weather came to the Bay Area I started getting flats riding through pretty awful streets of Richmond and put Pasela TG's back on. 

Unfortunately, my Compass experience got me itching for something a bit more lively than the TG's. The Soma New Xpres sound good - I was also considering Vittoria Voyager Hyper after trawling old posts. Anyone care to compare those apples?

[Bikie#4646]

Thomas,

I have been using the (old) Vittoria Randonneur Hypers (now Voyagers) in 35 & 38 mm on three bikes for a few years now with thousands of miles and no flats. Not only that, they seem as supple as Marathon Supremes without the price, though might not be quite as light. Getting great mileage, too. (Haven't worn one out yet.) I like them a lot for pavement and gravel surfaces.

Paul Germain

Midlothian, Va.