Cyclist75354986865

25mm versus 23mm. Okay, so I've read a lot of articles on line and even went so far as to order as to order a pair (Schawlbe 1), but I am just hesitant to mount them. I am teeter tottering back on forth on sending them back. Who here has made the switch to a wider tire and how is it performing for you? I am posting here in stead of the "41" hoping to get a more realistic opinion. Thanks in advance.

Doge

Depends on road, your weight and type of riding.
The TdF guys use both - same rider sometime in the same race. The winning guys are on 23s.
If you are light, the road is smooth, maybe uphill and you are not turning a lot - go 23.
If you have rough road, weigh more - go 25. They deform better - closer to a circle than an ellipse and the casing likes that / dos not resist as much.
25s tend to give more turning confidence.

I'm quite biased to tires you glue on, but different discussion. Smooth road racing - 23s, for general riding I think 25s are a better choice.

longe

they changed their return address. PM me and i'll give you the new address to send them to.

furiousferret

I've only ridden 23's. The bike shop I go to highly recommended 25's overs 23's. Said they roll better.

I doubt it had anything to do with the fact they only had 25's in stock.

Duke of Kent

Most of the bikes I've seen (TvG, some Sky dudes, etc) are using 25mm tires this year.

Doge

Looked like Froome went up the hill on <23 (my statement about what the winners use) - but hard for me to see on TV - and I didn't ask.
In the past he (Froom) used ax-lightness SRT 24s unbranded and 22 mm light FMBs.
And seems poor quality roads are very popular. So I understand that 25s would be popular.

Doge

For my kid I buy:
Veloflex Records 22 for TTs
FMB 25s silk for general racing (the rash of early season flats was because my order was late and I only had Vittoria Crono 24s that I had to use)
Dugast cotton 25 (really 27) PR for nasty roads - Chico SR and Paris Robaix
Veloflex - 23 - several for front tire, or conti for training
Whatever I can get/old race tires for rear. Generally 25s.

That said, as I posted he cracked both his rims on 25s this month, then a borrowed 23 2 days later.

TheKillerPenguin

I recently went to 25c from 23c. IMO, they corner a bit better, roll a bit better, and are less chattery on bumpy roads. Will probably not go back to 23c.

Ygduf

it really depends on the width of the rim.

TheKillerPenguin

That's a good point, I don't ride them new fangled wide rims.

Cyclist75354986865

The wheels I have are Boyd Vitesse (first generation), I weight around 175lbs. I ride on back roads in the country and like to go to the mountains of NC to ride every chance I get. No racing, yet, average ride is around 40-50 miles @ around 20mph.

shovelhd

This. And 100% leakage.

Matt2.8NJ

I switched to 25s from years on 23 two winters ago... crap NJ roads. On 23mm Hed Belgium wheels.

I won't go back... ride quality is wonderful.

I do however race on 22 Conti tubulars on carbon rims. But for all other riding, 25s are the answer to all questions for me. Makes big days in the saddle so much better.

Cyclist75354986865

So I tried the 25s and just really don't like them. It's probably just a mental thing but I'm selling them none the less. I'm going to list them on the for sale site as well but if anyone wants them I'm selling them for $85.00 shipped CONUS, payable through Paypal. I can email pictures if anyone want to see them. They less than 60 miles on them.

beatlebee 

IRC 25mm Roadlite tubeless measure 28 mm on Stans 340. YMMV with rated tire width.

tetonrider

all else equal, a wider tire tends to roll a bit faster than a narrower one (esp if run at slightly lower pressure). lots is made of this.

a reality at the pro level is that when you see riders on 25s it is often because they may have to ride a bit on flat tires before they get a change, and with a wider tire + a wide rim you have to go 25s. (this from a personal conversation with a tech director of a world tour team a while back.)

gong 25 from 23 is always an aerodynamic hit. on wider rims it can be less​ of a hit, but it is a hit nonetheless.

grolby

Yes, the aerodynamic hit concerns me and at <130 I find 23s perfectly adequate in comfort and rolling resistance. I do ride on wide rims now, which helps a bit (though the main difference I detect between 23s on narrow vs wide rims is visual). Of course one reason I tend to not use 25s is that they barely fit under the rear brake on my current bike, which means I would have to be careful with any newer tubulars. But it's also that I've ridden both and prefer the 23s.

Poonjabby

+1 on the Hed Belgium with Conti 4000S II tires

kensuf

and the ass.

Wilfred Laurier

I changed my wife's tires from 23s to 25s without telling her there was a difference. She was raving about how much faster the bike felt.

bostongarden

I'd like to go with 25s, but, with a similar concern as Grolby, I'm not so sure my bike, 2011 Super Six, would have sufficient clearance.
I did just order some clincher Conti 4000s ii in 23. My understanding is that they measure out wider when on the rim. I'm going to try
them on my "regular" width training wheels, and on my Firecrest 404s and rear 808, and see how they fit and ride. Should I get a newer
frame that has more clearance, I will switch to 25s without any hesitation.

tetonrider

See,s weird a 2011 wouldn't have clearance for a 25, but you know your bike. Is it the frame or the brake arch?

23 clinchers will measure wider on wider rims....but not as tall. Depending on your clearance issue, that is either good or bad (probably good).

bostongarden

I'm most concerned about the brake arch. Although, I was only eye-balling it, and inspecting it with my training wheels in place. I didn't put the FCs on to see how things look. When I get the Contis, which people tend to say run larger (25ish for a 23), I'll see how things look and take it from there.

Sittimg in the back of my mind is my experience with my 2007 System Six. A 25 fit on the rear. But, the gap at the brake arch was about the size of a pebble. And, I'd feel scraping when road debris would make its way to that area. Yes, this is an older model, but, this experience is in my conscientiousness.

I'll see how the Contis work and take it from there. I did consider measuring things out and such, but, I figured I'd make an error somewhere along the way; so, going with some trial and error for calibration.

shovelhd

BG, if you end up trying the Conti 25's and they don't fit, I'll take them.

Poonjabby

I just pulled a pair of Specialized S-Works Turbo's 700 x 24mm off my wife's bike. I've never had a set of tires get so many flats. Their billed a as great racing tire but if the tire flats your not winning anyway. I put a pair of 700x25 Conti 4000S II on here Roval CLX60 wheels and she fell in love with them instantly.

Poon