Commuting - Commuters with roadbikes, what tire size you use?

Just wondering for those who commute on roadbikes, what width tires do you use?
Part of my commute include crush gravel. I am looking to switch out my 700cX23 for something wider. But not sure to go with 28 or 32(if it fits). The rims are Alex DC19s.
Or would I be better off to use my hybridized hardtail mtb since there is some unpaved sections?
thanks.

I've ridden levee roads on 25mm tires pretty comfortably. 28 or 32 would be even better. I don't think there's any need to use a MTB just for crushed gravel.

FWIW I used to ride an old road bike with 28mm tires on pretty much anything that resembled a path or road regardless of whether it was paved, gravel, or just packed dirt. Sand or real loose gravel might be problematic but otherwise the 28s were fine.

I commute on 23s from April through November now but my commute is all on pavement.

I use 700 x 28 on both my roadies. The singlespeed only sees pavement use these days, but the brevet bike gets a fair amount of hardpack dirt and crushed/packed gravel trail use. On days when the gravel is feeling loose or the dirt roads are more mud than hardpack, I'd prefer a 32mm or even a 35mm light CX tread; but since most of my riding is on concrete and asphalt, I stick with the 28mm.

I use 32 on my commuter I also used to have that rim and have fit up to 38s on that rim no problem assuming your frame will allow. I really like the range in tire pressure I max pressure every couple of week and don't mess with air until a couple weeks later. These are what I have http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10052&storeId=10053&productId=153986&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=201485&top_category=10000 cheap and no flats yet except a someone let the air out of both tires when locked on the rack a couple of months ago while at work, lame prank.

I commute on a touring bike with 28's. It goes through grass, packed sand, and gravel just fine. My road bike has 23's and I'm nervous any time those tires are not on pavement, but I don't use it for commuting.

I use 32 on my commuter I also used to have that rim and have fit up to 38s on that rim no problem assuming your frame will allow. I really like the range in tire pressure I max pressure every couple of week and don't mess with air until a couple weeks later. These are what I have http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10052&storeId=10053&productId=153986&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=201485&top_category=10000 cheap and no flats yet except a someone let the air out of both tires when locked on the rack a couple of months ago while at work, lame prank.


That's great to know that the DC19s will fit wider tires. Your tire suggestion look like slicks! I think I will need some thread given some of the crushed gravel sections I have to negotiate.
BTW, how do the DC19s hold up in terms of maintaining trueness? spoke integrity?

The issue is not with the rim, as my CX bike and Road bike both have the same size rims, it is what sized tire will clear your brakes and frame.

I run 38s on my CX bike, and 28s on my road bike (well, 28s on one, and 25s on the other).

I've used 28s, 26s and 25s on my road bike, and the 28s (Vittoria Randonneurs) were far and away the best on gravel or otherwise unpaved surfaces.

I'd go with 28s or 32s, if they fit.

Right now I've got 40s but as soon as they arrive I'm putting 35s on my "touring" bike. I have to drop off a curb every day and occasionally ride on cobblestones so big and soft is nice. I was using 30s on my last bike, that was as big as it would take and even then I couldn't mount my rear fender.

mine were laced to formula hubs and stock on my cross bike and took a beating on the mtb trails and some bad curb hoping they would need the occasional truing but overal pretty decent wheels.

25's have become my tire size of choice for all of my roadbikes. Noticeably more comfortable without any perceived increase in effort or rolling resistance. Even if they slowed me down a bit, I think I'd still use them due to the comfort factor.

It should be noted that I'm a fat bastard and a pretty slow one at that. I'm also getting a bit long in the tooth and comfort now trumps speed in my world.

I'm going to recommend you stay with slick tires, even though you have a little crushed gravel. Think about it this way, the knobs will help you a little over the small amount of gravel, and then hurt you significantly on the road, and even the hard packed dirt.

28mm is a great all around size, rolls well over rougher terrain, but still at home on the road.

25's

When I commute on my race bike, I ride on 23's, because that's what I have on that bike. Skinny tires work great on pavement, and are fine for stretches on packed dirt roads and paths (I've raced on the stuff, it's absolutely doable). Crushed gravel, not so much - it's doable, but unpleasant. If I were to build a road bike up as a commuter/rando bike rather than a racer, I would probably put 28's on it. If I expected lots of riding on gravel paths, I might go as wide as 32, but I would prefer 28 as a compromise.

We haven't had much slush yet this winter, so take my experience with a grain of salt.

Anyway, I have been riding many widths, since I ride many bikes. My main/favorite commuting bike has a 28 in front and 32 in back.

I also have a fixed gear bike with some really narrow tires. They're 23 or 25, not sure.

I also recently got an old 3-speed with 26x1-3/8" tires, which works out to 35mm wide, in theory.

I'm not much into fat-tire bikes.

I've parked the skinny tire roadie for the winter. For commuting, I prefer my 28s pretty much year round. It's also the biggest tire I can squeeze under the fenders. I ride through some nasty stuff and I'm pretty sure crushed gravel wouldn't even be the worst of it. Should be fine.

I have 28s with thick, thorn-resistant tubes on my commuter and they work fine. I ride mostly pavement but hit several railroad tracks and some really bad asphalt on my commute and they handle that well.

My rb has 23mm at 115psi (and I let it fall to around 90psi if I'm real bad, oh the ride is so good) and my cx has 32mm 80psi tires (oh boy this bikes is so comfortable after the rb). Aksium on rb, DA22 on cx. My preference is rb whenever possible, cx on those odd occasions (full fenders, rack, rain and snow conditons). I might try 25mm on my rb one day, but so far I'm not bothered.

Currently I'm using a frame that can only fit 23s under fenders, so that's what I'm riding. They do fine on packed gravel and dirt, but I wouldn't mind more clearance especially in winter, so I'm switching frames. I think 28s are the best compromise for rough but clear roads, for me.

I have both 25 and 28c tires. If you have gravel I would stick with 28s as a minimum tire width.

I'm using the stock Bontrager 23's, no issues so far.

I guess I should've also add, what tire brands do you roll on? Schwalbe Marathongs?

Depending on brand, there seems to be some overlap on sizes. On my 27 inchers, I like 1-1/8 and 1-1/4 tires. On my 700's, I have 25C Kenda Kriteriums, since that's what the bike had when I got it. They are working just fine. I occasionally have patches of gravel to deal with, when it is dropped or kicked onto the bike path by larger vehicles, other than that all pavement, however, there are a few nasty ridges on the bike trail due to concrete blocks settling and poorly installed bridges. So for that and the gravel, I'd be pretty uncomfortable on tires smaller than what I'm using now, at least on the rear, when loaded up for the commute.

I guess I should've also add, what tire brands do you roll on? Schwalbe Marathongs?

My commuter has 700c x 28 Forte GT2/K with Forte Thorn-Resistant tubes. Installed in November 2008 and haven't flatted yet. Stopped avoiding glass about 6 months ago and ride over pretty much anything in the way.

28s would work OK; 32s would be better. When it comes to trails though, nothing flies quite like my 650X42b Grand Bois Hetres (http://www.veloweb.ca/mybikepages/blerioso.html).

Make sure you have enough clearance though, especially if you want to run fenders.

27" x 1 1/4", or 32-630.

I'm still running a Specialized Armadillo in the front, but the rear and my spare (and any in the future, if I can still find them) are Continental Gatorskins.

I'm a recent convert and fan of the Panaracer T-Serv 25's. I take it through gravel, trails, what have you on my commute. 90% pavement, but not at all afraid to take it off road.

One of my old bikes came with 19's, and I commuted on those for a few weeks before swapping them out for Vittoria Randos at 28c. Only reason I changed was the sidewalls were cracking from dry rot. Had no problems with the 19s, but that was also in late summer, and my commute is purely paved.
Been riding on 27's for a couple months, I believe they are 1 1/8 due to clearance issues. (couldn't fit 1/4 under a fender)

My favorite are all around tires are ritchey speedmax by far , but for commuting I really love 32 slicks because the occasional gravel path just doesent make up for the sketchy road cornering with off road with tread. The major difference will be cornering, tires with knobbies will give you better offroad cornering slicks will give you better road cornering it's really a trade off that only you can decide. A thin cross tire with tread you might be intrested in is kenda kwicks 30s, a buddy of mine fit those on his old road bike but it was a tight fit.

My favorite are all around tires are ritchey speedmax by far .

Love them, and run them on my cross bike for commuting. Found out the Speedmax Comps are a LOT lighter than the Speedmax Pros when I replaced them. They last about 3k miles for me before the rear is smooth

But to answer the OP's original question, road bike I run 28's, Cross bike 32's for commuting

700x23 and 35. The 23s are harsher but I keep them at 120psi (they are also armadillos). For my next commuter I am going to go for 700x35 Marathon Supremes.

I've got 25s on my commuter and most road bikes. However, if my route included crushed gravel, I would use at least 28s. The roads are all paved on my route with few potholes or bad pavement. I'm getting some new wheels (Velocity Dyads) built for my commuter-tourer that can handle larger tires, so I will probably install 28s on them. Not that I need them for my route, but the Dyad rims are designed for tires 28 mm and larger.

23s on the Raleigh, 27 x 1-1/4s on the Miyata. Pavement all the way, but not necessarily smooth pavement!

love my 25 RiBMo's.

All Condition Armadillo 700x25 on a 2000 Litespeed Vortex frame.

Switched out Reynolds Uzo Pro fork for a Surly Cross fork for those wet, muddy occasions. (no rear brake to worry about getting clogged up.)

Much of my daily commute is on natural paths, and (touch wood) so far no flats as a result--the flats come from debris picked up on pavement (like industrial staples). Daily air-pressure checks keep the snake bites well at bay.

If you have gravel 32's are the way to go and they won't slow you down on smooth pavement if you get a nice tire like Jack Browns or Paselas. I was on a populated bike tour a couple of years ago that hit a 2 mile section of freshly graveled road. It was like someone hit the Slo-Mo button on all the other riders as they slowed down or got off their bikes while I tore past them at my normal speed.

Love them, and run them on my cross bike for commuting. Found out the Speedmax Comps are a LOT lighter than the Speedmax Pros when I replaced them. They last about 3k miles for me before the rear is smooth

But to answer the OP's original question, road bike I run 28's, Cross bike 32's for commuting

Funny I have been running pros until just recently I put a set of comps on they do last a really long time for a cross tire though no flat protection which is normal for a cross tire.

700x23 is all I can get under the fenders, and even that took some serious effort. Speedium 2 on the front, Gatorskin on the back.

was using 700 x 38c hybrid tires = too slow
switched to 700 x 35 smoothish commuting tires but on;y went up to 85 psi
fell in love with 700 x 28 at 120 psi!!!
got studs for the winter at 700 x 35 and been playing with their pressure depending on the day

If you have gravel 32's are the way to go

I agree.

was using 700 x 38c hybrid tires = too slow
switched to 700 x 35 smoothish commuting tires but on;y went up to 85 psi
fell in love with 700 x 28 at 120 psi!!!
got studs for the winter at 700 x 35 and been playing with their pressure depending on the day

Also consider this article. (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/TireDrop.pdf)

23s Conti 4000s, commute 20 miles, each way. Love them.

Also consider this article. (http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com/images/TireDrop.pdf)


The chart only goes up to 70kg. Many of us weigh more than that!

I have a set of Custom made Studded 700 X 23? i think there 23... i have 6" snow and they bite good!

I run 28's in the summer and 35's (cross tyres) in the winter... winter riding is akin to off roading here as the roads can be extremely rough and the 35's are more plush and offer better traction.

When it gets really ugly I ride mtbs with 26 by 2.0 tyres and use studs as well.

23's

I currently use 23s on my Tarmac but I'd like to put a larger tire on my other set of wheels and use those for winter commutes. Anyone have any idea how large a tire I can put on a Specialized Tarmac?

The chart only goes up to 70kg. Many of us weigh more than that!That's per tire. Most of us are probably under 120 - 140 kg.

That's per tire. Most of us are probably under 120 - 140 kg.

As Emily Litella said, "Oh, that's different! Never mind!"

Actually, I'll take a look again in that case.