23c vs 25c

[csm]

made the switch from conti gp 4000s in a 23c to the same tire in a 25c. not sure if the difference was in my head or not but the ride seemed much smoother. rode a mix of good roads, so-so roads, multi-use path and think it is a noticeable improvement. I think the tires are identical except for color and width.

[akelman]

Wider tires (up to a point) + slightly decreased pressure = smoother, happier rides. That formula doesn't always work, of course, but it's been field-tested by a bunch of people who swear by it.

[biker72]

made the switch from conti gp 4000s in a 23c to the same tire in a 25c. not sure if the difference was in my head or not but the ride seemed much smoother. rode a mix of good roads, so-so roads, multi-use path and think it is a noticeable improvement. I think the tires are identical except for color and width.
Did the very same thing on my 91 Paramount. Much smoother ride with the 25's. Some folks claim the 25's are faster too.

[csm]

I felt faster but figured that was in my head... always feel faster with something new on the bike. the tires are a tight fit with the f1 fork but don't hit.

[retrogrouchy]

I felt faster but figured that was in my head... always feel faster with something new on the bike. the tires are a tight fit with the f1 fork but don't hit.

Imo 25s are good compromise between really skinny (21-22) and really fat (29-32). MY SO is riding on Grand Bois 26s (really 25s) almost exclusively now....

[Ralph]

My Continental Gator Skin 25's measure about same section width as some 23 MM Michelin PR 2's I have on another bike. So tires are different.

But geneally....it seems to me 25's (or wider) are the way to go for most riders. No down side for me.

[palincss]

Imo 25s are good compromise between really skinny (21-22) and really fat (29-32). MY SO is riding on Grand Bois 26s (really 25s) almost exclusively now....

Having just finished a century today on 42mm Grand Bois Hetres (i.e., the old "demiballon" size) I got a chuckle out of your thinking 32mm tires are "really fat." Made me think of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01NHcTM5IA4

[hiljentaa]

Not a fan of 23s. I ride the biggest tires I can fit in my bikes. No point in beating yourself, and your wheels, to death to save a handful of grams.

[Fixed]

1+ wider tire fan
cheers

[barker]

I rode on 23s until about a year ago when I switched to 25s. Much improvement in smoothness and now I have 25s on all my bikes that will fit them.

[rickbb]

Just moved from 23's to 25's on Conti GP 4 Seasons. Noticeably better ride but I'm not sure about speed at this point.

[DRZRM]

Yup, I've gone to 28 everywhere they fit, 25 on the Legend with an F-1. I agree with your description.

[gearguywb]

23's are soooo yesterday :)

[Jason E]

I like the 23's, but do like the 25's I put on for D2R2.

I figure with 25's I can now do cross on my road bike this season, they way it was supposed to be! :rolleyes:

[stephenmarklay]

I have been riding 1 1/4 tires on my commuter and really like them. I am going to fit 28's on my rb-1 when it's built up. Love the ride.

[beungood]

I felt faster but figured that was in my head... always feel faster with something new on the bike. the tires are a tight fit with the f1 fork but don't hit.

If I used them on a fatter rim (Velocity or HED c-2) think they will work on an F1? Ive tried them on a regular rim..

[merckx]

Does anyone have experience with the Schwable Ultremo ZX? They are offered in 28c and may be another good option.

[cnighbor1]

Pros have gone to 25c Why? seems contact patch area is perpendicular to tire. 23c contact patch is parallel with tire
Therefore even though 23c patch is just a bit smaller it is slower than 25c due to its patch being perpendiclur and resulting in less friction
Charles

[povofphilos]

ive actually been wondering this myself. ive been wanting to make the switch to 25c, i think this has convinced me. now what tires to get....

[stephenmarklay]

Pros have gone to 25c Why? seems contact patch area is perpendicular to tire. 23c contact patch is parallel with tire
Therefore even though 23c patch is just a bit smaller it is slower than 25c due to its patch being perpendiclur and resulting in less friction
Charles

Huh?

[troymac]

This was a great tire ... Our team leader Doug rode these on our RAAM team this year. Loved them and only flatted once. He flatted literally with 2 miles to go in the race. I have a set also just waiting for my current tires to wear out.

[gearguywb]

For quality of ride (on clinchers) the Vittoria 320tpi's (25mm) can't be beat.

[wooly]

I just Bought some 25 conti competition tubies to mount on some zipps that I bought for my Speedvagen. Now I'm hoping that they will fit the frame. Does anyone have an know if this will be a problem?

[Dlevy05]

Wasn't there some huge tire test done recently? (Within the past year) I completely forget who organized the test, or even where I heard of it, although I'm pretty sure it was through this forum.

Anyway, the conclusion they came to was that wider tires deform less than smaller ones. So, regardless of greater rolling resistance, (up to a certain extent), smaller tires will not necessarily roll faster than larger ones.

If anyone has heard of this and remembers what was said exactly, or even better, has a link, please chime in!

Oh, and I ride 25's

[cogswell23]

I just Bought some 25 conti competition tubies to mount on some zipps that I bought for my Speedvagen. Now I'm hoping that they will fit the frame. Does anyone have an know if this will be a problem?
I run Michi PR3 25mm tires on Velocity A23 rims on my Speedvagen. Those tires, which run wide anyway, balloon out to nearly 28mm on the wide rims.

They fit my Speedvagen and Enve fork no problem. I'm not sure how old your SV is--if you've got one from the first year or two with the Reynolds fork, you might have less clearance, but should still be fine.

[Pete Serotta]

25 is not a negative for speed over a 23, :beer: :D PETE (Brett running the conti booth is next to us at the MAVIC booth at Ride the Rockies.)

He is very knowledgable and also a :beer: buddy and the end of the day. I now use Conti 23 or 25s and like both sizes. :bike:

Just moved from 23's to 25's on Conti GP 4 Seasons. Noticeably better ride but I'm not sure about speed at this point.

[stephenmarklay]

I run Michi PR3 25mm tires on Velocity A23 rims on my Speedvagen. Those tires, which run wide anyway, balloon out to nearly 28mm on the wide rims.

They fit my Speedvagen and Enve fork no problem. I'm not sure how old your SV is--if you've got one from the first year or two with the Reynolds fork, you might have less clearance, but should still be fine.

Those are the rims I am going with. What kind of pressures are you running? Sounds like a nice combo.

[eddief]

body poundage at 195, tires at 80psi. it just seems right.

[stephenmarklay]

body poundage at 195, tires at 80psi. it just seems right.

Very nice. The must be comfy!

I am not surprised that the wider rims are getting good reviews. Seems like the logic is not much different than car rims. Wider rims to a point are a positive in that there is less side wall deflection and better handling is a result.

[djg]

I just Bought some 25 conti competition tubies to mount on some zipps that I bought for my Speedvagen. Now I'm hoping that they will fit the frame. Does anyone have an know if this will be a problem?

Should fit. No Speedvagen in my house, but I've used that same 25 (both the standard comp and the pro-tec comp) on both Look and Serotta road bikes -- with alpha q, reynolds ouzo pro, and look forks, and found the clearance to be just fine.

[wooly]

I run Michi PR3 25mm tires on Velocity A23 rims on my Speedvagen. Those tires, which run wide anyway, balloon out to nearly 28mm on the wide rims.

They fit my Speedvagen and Enve fork no problem. I'm not sure how old your SV is--if you've got one from the first year or two with the Reynolds fork, you might have less clearance, but should still be fine.


Thanks Cogs

[merckx]

Does anyone know what a Conti GP 28c 4 Season actually measure on a bog standard 20mm rim? Thanks.

[Dustin]

I don't understand the point of making a frame/fork that won't fit 28s. Does anyone think a couple extra mm of clearance makes a bike slower?