25mm clinchers, choices?

[T-Crush]

I'm making the move to a bigger tire and looking for a bit of guidance. I've been running Veloflex Pave 22s, and want a bit more volume for a bit better ride and would obviously like to sacrifice as little of the "nice-ness" of the Paves as possible. While it's only a 24, I'm leaning toward the Vittoria Pave Evo CG. Mostly because I like the idea of P-R trickle down technology (I know the pros run the tub version). Other ideas?

I'm not small (6'4" and between 225 and 240 depending on time of year). No racing, just group rides, training and the occasional century. Durability and ride quality mean more to me than 20 grams ever could, and our SoCal roads don't suffer the winter quite as much as you Nor-East guys.

Thoughts?

[echelon_john]

Mavic Pro3Race 25s. Plenty light, decent mileage, good volume.

Vittoria Rubino 25s. More tread.

Rivendell Roly[Polys. Still pretty much the smoothest, nicest clincher I've ridden. 27mm profile.

[veloduffer]

Try the Rivendell Rolly-Polly tires (made by Panaracer for Riv). About 28mm and nice ride with good volume (so they're comfy). Plus they don't feel like balloon tires and roll nicely. (www.rivbike.com)

I've used these on my non-racing bikes and my wife's touring bike for years.

[caleb]

While it's only a 24, I'm leaning toward the Vittoria Pave Evo CG. Mostly because I like the idea of P-R trickle down technology (I know the pros run the tub version).

The 24mm Vittorias are awesome. They have a little more cush than the 21mm Veloflexes, but they don't feel floppy like big tires can.

[bigman]

Great rolling and durable tires, avaiable in folding bead and 25 width, also the Panaracer Tserves a little harder riding but you can get them with a reflective strip - use these for commuting.

[Pete Serotta]

the Conti 25s are very nice.... I rode a pair (from Brett) on Ride the Rockies last year. Conti has come a long way and Brett and the gang really believe in the brand.

[rwsaunders]

Conti Gran Prix 4 Season....offered in 23/25/28mm.

[PacNW2Ford]

Anyone tried the Michelin Pro Optimum 25's?

[BCS]

25 mm Vittoria Open Corsa EVO Cx 320 tpi. Prone to cuts but IMO, better ride than the 24 mm Vittoria Pave which I also really like.

[torquer]

Getting "a bit better ride" than what you've got with the Paves might be a reach (unless you're only thinking about lower pressure). In my dreams, Veloflex, Gomitalia and Deda (same as VF?) all come out with 25mm tires, and a price war breaks out. (I said I was dreaming, didn't I?)

Another brand to consider is Specialized. I bought a pair of their 127 tpi All-Condition S-Works 25mm tires two seasons back. A broken bottle trashed one tire after only a few miles, but the second one has done yeoman duty as a rear on my bad-weather bike for several K miles since. Not as nice a ride as the Italians (wherever they make them), but decent, and durable.

Specialized also offers a spendier, 290 tpi Roubaix S-Works in 25mm, but I have no personal experience with them.

And Vittoria's 320 tpi Corsa EVO CX (the gold standard for clinchers, according to many) is listed as available in that size over at World Class Cycles. (As are Schwalbe, which are also highly regarded, despite a half-assed recall last year.)

[dave thompson]

You might take a look at the Bontrager branded tires at Trek dealers. I've had the 25 and 28MM Race Lite model tires on our bikes for a couple of complete seasons and they've done very well; long wearing, nice ride, not at all a fragile tire.

[veloduffer]

Since you're focused on the "ride", the Riv Roly Polys are very round , ie have more volume than most other tires. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a lightweight, well cushioned tire.

[Kirk007]

25 mm Vittoria Open Corsa EVO Cx 320 tpi. Prone to cuts but IMO, better ride than the 24 mm Vittoria Pave which I also really like.

+1 these kill it. And latex tubes make a big difference. I really like the Pro Race3 servicio corse, but when I road these, man....

[Ken Robb]

I suggest you go as big as you can fit in your bike. At your weight you need all the volume you can get to enable you to run pressures under 100psi. I found the critical clearance on a couple of bikes was between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fork rather than the sides of the tire and fork. The suggested 700x27-28 Roly-Poly tires ride well and are rounder (less tall) than some others. 700x28 Paselas were taller and skinnier. Ruffy-Tuffy tires are similar to Roly-Poly but there is an extra 1mm of rubber on the tread and I think they have a puncture-resistant belt as well.

At 200-210lbs I run both RP and RT tires them at 90psi rear 85 psi front for a really nice ride vs. ANY 700x23-25 tire.

[alancw3]

conti gp4000 in 700X23c. i am 6'4' and 220 and find these tires to offer the best possible performance and puncture resistance. i have thought about trying the 25s but then think about the performance of the 23s. the 23s are actually a very wide 23. give them a try you won't be disappointed.

[dana_e]

I ran Michelin Pro Race 2 in 25s, very nice. The Pro 3 is narrower and more race oriented. Switched to the Michelin Lithion 25. Nice volume. Nicer than 23s/

[monkeypants]

So far (less than 500km) I like the Michelin Krylions.

[rugbysecondrow]

I have some Schwalbe Marathons that I bought from Wallbikes that I like. They seem to roll well, nice tread and very confident and comfortable ride. I also like the Conti4000s, but I haven't ridden them as much.

[DarkStar]

So far (less than 500km) I like the Michelin Krylions.
2nd the Krylions, long lasting, resists cuts and punctures and don't seem to mind my 230lbs.

[kevintice]

Grand Bois 26mm..probably measures out at a true 25. Great ride quality-maybe no so much on the puncture resistance. But quite nice!

[quehill]

Michelin Pro Race 2s are phenomenal in 25mm. You gain extra cush and extra grip in the corners and you give up, basically, nothing. I haven't tried the Pro3s in 25mm yet, but they can't be hugely different, can they?

Cheers

[Buzz]

Michelin Pro Race 2s are phenomenal in 25mm. You gain extra cush and extra grip in the corners and you give up, basically, nothing. I haven't tried the Pro3s in 25mm yet, but they can't be hugely different, can they?

Cheers

They are different. The Pro 3s measure a true 25mm. The Pro 2's were 27.5 and have a rounder profile. Lucky me I still have a NOS pair of Pro2's I picked up from Wiggle for a grand total of $35 including shipping about a year ago when they were trying to clean out their stock.

I prefer the Pro2s.

[indyrider]

The 24mm Vittorias are awesome. They have a little more cush than the 21mm Veloflexes, but they don't feel floppy like big tires can.

+1 on the Vitts!

[vpierce1]

+1 on the Vitts!
I also like the clincher Pave. So far so good on slushy, debris littered roads this winter.

[C5 Snowboarder]

Has anyone ever road 23s in the front and 25s in the back? Wondering just cuz we have most of our weight back there and me being about 215 lbs or so .. like the 25 size tire but do see the need for a 25 in the front.

so -- my question is -- is there any negatives of not running the same tire front and rear?

[PacNW2Ford]

The matched set Continental Attack/Force are 22 front and 24 rear, so probably no issues with rolling your own. That said, I don't see the disadvantage of an equal size tire on the front, you can run different pressures front to rear. Better comfort and possibly better cornering with a wider front tire.

[gearguywb]

Another vote for the 320tpi Vittoria. I thought I had ridden good tires...until these. As others have said, they are a bit more prone to cuts though.

[acorn_user]

I used 25mm Conti GP4000s all season until I had to swap in some Marathons for riding in Texas. They were great, and I had no puncture issues, even on gravel or glass roads (I get to ride past the frat houses fairly often).... I got them with reflective sidewalls, which was cool too.

[pjmsj21]

The Vittoria Open Cora's is a wonderful tire, rolls very fast, rides wonderfully especilaly in the 25 size. I will put them on my summer bike and expect a season of wear and wonderful riding. In the non summer months when the rain of the northwest seems to make every shard of glass in the roadway stick to your tires I pretty much use Conti Gatorskins or the 28c Schwable.

Pat Mc




Another vote for the 320tpi Vittoria. I thought I had ridden good tires...until these. As others have said, they are a bit more prone to cuts though.

[vpierce1]

Although I haven't used the 25s, Continental GP 4 Seasons are great if you're looking for something a bit less bulky than the Gatorskins. I've ridden the 23s for over a year now, including dirt and gravel, with no issues.

[ShutupandRide]

I like Vredestein's Fortezza. They come in 25mm and feel super. Great tires.

[Ahneida Ride]

2nd the Krylions, long lasting, resists cuts and punctures and don't seem to mind my 230lbs.

Another satisfied Krylion user. 23 front, 25 rear

[torquer]

There seems to be a new thread about zaftig tires every week or two, but I couldn't help reviving this one after coming across this link:

http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/BQ64TireTest.pdf

Although almost two years old, it had some great information, especially about brands you don't run across every day. Makes you want to build up a bike with 650B wheels just so you can pimp it with some Grand Boise "Hetre" tires (or is it "tyres"?)

[cmg]

just put on Vittoria Diamante pro lights in 25mm this weekend. this is the way to go. rolls sweet and almost as light as the 23s. nothing negative.

[Ken Robb]

just put on Vittoria Diamante pro lights in 25mm this weekend. this is the way to go. rolls sweet and almost as light as the 23s. nothing negative.

Price? :rolleyes:

[Rueda Tropical]

Another vote for the Michelin Pro Race 2 25's. 27+ on my Velocity rims. The Challenge 27 Parigi Roubaix's were better, ride and performance wise but were really fragile. No flats and not much wear on the Pro Race 2's so far and while a step below the Challenge they are still a pretty damn nice ride.

I've got some Schwalbe Ultremo R.1 28c tires on the way. Looking forward to trying them.