Road Cycling - 700x20 vs. 700x23

I've noticed that there are less 700x20 tires available now...what are some opinions on them....how do you feel they compare...I've ridden the 20's more often for many years yet don't notice a big difference when switching back to 23's

I think it has to do with what is going on all accross our beautiful nation. We are getting fatter as a nation, and need wider tires!!!

Captsven may be on to something! Or maybe our roads are rougher now due to age or no tax money to keep them in good repair.

There has been studies to show that the 22 and 23 tires roll a tad faster than 19 and 20 due to deflection of the sidewall-whatever that means! But going to a tire larger than 23 negates that. Maybe someone here can explain this deflection thing and how effects tire rotation speeds. I think, though not sure about my theory, that tubulars are not effected by this sidewall deflection as much, or not at all, like the clinchers are. But the wider tire does have more air volumn thus protecting your rim a little better from small potholes and rocks that a narrower smaller tire may not prevent. Also the air volumn will give a tad softer ride and can handle sharp turns better, stop a tad better due to more rubber contact patch area, and last longer.

I use my bike to commute with and train on so I use a 26 on the front and a 28 on the rear for better handling, stopping and I noticed they don't track or follow the ruts in the road like the narrower ones do.

I use 700x20 tires, and I love them.. I did notice a difference in them, but that could be purely also switching brand tires..They just felt faster, maybe just psycological but who cares I felt faster :)

I think the trick with the 20s are to buy one that inflates to a very high pressure, as this will decrease the deflection issues mentioned. I have seen 20s with only a max 120psi, however my 20s (gran prix foldable) go to 150psi. The are really fast like this, faster than my 23s. The only issue is that at 150psi on an aluminum bike, you feel EVERYTHING. I can even feel an individual pine needle under my tire! So you get some extra pounding.

The stores and Etailers are stocking what they sell the most of, which is not necessarily the same as what's available. The smaller diameter tires (heck, I used ride on 700x18c Conti's back in the 80s) like the 20's and the larger sizes like 28, 30, 32 are all still in production and available in different models of tires from the major producers but you may find you need to special order them. I use Vredestein Fortezza tires in 700x25mm on our road tandems and I can pretty much guarrantee you that few shops or Etailers stock them. Moreover, if they do they don't usually have both the black-wall and skin-wall versions available.

Don't be a victim of mass consumerism; ask for what you want and be willing to wait a week for it.

I considered 20's, but took the advice of a few seasoned riders build like myself... and went with 23's. I also installed a tad larger tube and that almost eliminated flats on our ugly roads. Horay....

Originally posted by froze

There has been studies to show that the 22 and 23 tires roll a tad faster than 19 and 20 due to deflection of the sidewall-whatever that means! But going to a tire larger than 23 negates that. Maybe someone here can explain this deflection thing and how effects tire rotation speeds.

The lower rolling resistance is at the same psi. However, a 700x20 that can be pumped up to 150psi is going to delflect less than a 700x23 at 110 psi. Therefore the 700x20 has less rolling resistance. However, if the 700x23 was at 150psi, then the rolling resistance would be less b/c the total circumfrence would be more, and the bike tire would have less rolling resistance, much like the 29" MTB wheels have less rolling resistance then the 26" tires.

I am 90% sure that this is correct. someone correct me if I'm wrong, plz.

I just switched from 25's to 23's and it is a very noticable difference. Made me wonder if I should have went to 20's.