Vision Metron wheels are used by the pro peloton. This 40mm depth version is the predecessor to the Metron SL 45, which I've been lusting after for the past few months. However, considering I wanted to upgrade the (aluminum) DT Swiss R460 wheelset that came stock on my 2018 Ridley Carbon X-Trail, I was super stoked to see this 40mm Metron wheelset on sale for an incredible $845. Sign me up. The unboxing told the story I wanted to hear. Wheelbag? Check. QR skewers and adapters (in case you need these)? Check. Tubeless valves and tape? Check. The wheels themselves were wrapped in a fabric protective case, and then inside a plastic bag, and then safely ensconced in a side-by-side cardboard and foam board carrier inside the sturdy cardboard shipping carton. Everything arrived to my address in Texas in perfect condition. These wheels will save me almost 16 ounces of rolling weight on my Ridley, and I can hardly wait to test them out. Oh, one last thing: my Ridley wheels were setup with 6-bolt disc brakes vs. centerlock, which is what these new Metron wheels feature too. So, it saved me even more time and money. Truly a 5 star product and deal.
For some reason, the "classic" tan wall of these tires were much, much harder to mount on my Roval wheels than the same exact tire I bought last year that was in a different color (black). Makes no sense to me either.
Black tires, mounted both in 45 minutes. These classic tan wall tires? Took me a day and a half. Not joking.
But the tires are excellent once mounted, extremely durable and puncture proof and the rolling resistance is right up there with the very best I've used in that regard (GP5000).
1) For all their many virtues, Conti GP5000s make a roadside flat a crisis: "Will I be able to get this OFF the rim and then get it back ON before I freeze to death?".
2) I'm not sold on tubeless. I run TPU tubes year-round and average one flat every two years riding 3-5k miles a year. I replace tires frequently enough that they are never worn or degraded and ride on familiar roads, paved trails. IMHO, tubeless is just too complicated with little discernable advantage.
3) I HATE wrestling tubeless tires onto carbon wheels!
I gave these Goodyears a try and they immediately won me over --they are EASY to install. Next, with a little soapy water sprayed along the bead and 80 PSI they popped into place and ran true. The ride is the equivalent to the Vittoria Corsa N.EXT -- which is to say: very good training tire.
I prefer Vittoria Corsa Pro or Veloflex for race tires, but they don't wear as long and are a bit more delicate for daily riding on public roads, so I reserve those for specific rides.
Overall, the Goodyear Eagle F1 R tube type is an excellent tire -- especially for higher mileage volume where the possibility of a flat far from home is higher and you need to be able to remove and remount in short order.
I commute at not great hours of the day, in all sorts of weather. One thing I don't need to deal with is a flat. I usually use the Cinturato Velo, which is one of the worst feeling tires I've ridden, but in terms of what I need it to do, it's awesome. But, I was wondering if I needed to go that nuts on a tire.
This all season tire seems to be a good balance between a performance tire, and a bombproof tire. I can also tell you, it's super easy to mount, did it with my fingers, but of note I can get a GP5K S TR on with my hands. The Cinturato though, that thing is impossible, and what I always worried about is at 4am, in the dark, in the cold, that it flats on me, and I can't get the tire plugged, and then can't get it off the rim easily out in the field.
This seems to be more day to day usable, which I do like. It rolls faster too than the Cinturato, that thing is SLOW. The 4S tire is also pretty comfy, not GP5K comfy, nor GP5K fast, but I wreck those tires on day to day miles, not worth it.
