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23c front 25c on the back????

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23c front 25c on the back????

Old 08-29-10, 02:07 PM
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23c front 25c on the back????

Got a nasty gash on my rear Conti. 4000 today 700 x 23c . I have the same tire's on another wheel set but they are 25c .Can I run a 23 on the front and a 25 on the back? Is this a problem?
Thanks
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Old 08-29-10, 02:14 PM
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I'm not aware of any frames or brakes that can't handle a 25, but you might have one. Other than that, I don't see what problem it could cause unless you're really anal about your exact speed and distance and forget to change the wheel size on any cycle computer you might have.
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Old 08-29-10, 02:18 PM
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no problem, except that if you weigh more than about 150, they're BOTH too small. But mixing sizes won't hurt anything.
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Old 08-29-10, 02:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Dog
no problem, except that if you weigh more than about 150, they're BOTH too small.


... we'll need a verification link, stat, on that claim.
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Old 08-29-10, 03:09 PM
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That statement COULD be valid if we’re talking about touring bikes, however we aren’t. Running a 25 in the rear and 23 in the front will make no difference to anything but your computer if you have one on your bike. Carry on, all will be fine.
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Old 08-29-10, 03:21 PM
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nope, it'll explode. No mixing allowed.
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Old 08-29-10, 03:25 PM
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No problem. That's what my dad did for a long time. He even argued that it was better for rolling resistance since the rear tire (which carries more weight than the front) didn't get misshaped as badly.
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Old 08-29-10, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Dog
no problem, except that if you weigh more than about 150, they're BOTH too small. But mixing sizes won't hurt anything.
?? Can you validate this. I weigh around 186 and am running 700 x 22 on my heavy steel Schwinn right now.
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Old 08-29-10, 03:56 PM
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I weigh 210 and just yesterday I replaced my 700X25 tires with 700x23 (got a better deal on the 23s). I didn't really notice much of a difference and will probably stick with the 23s since I can find better deals on them.

I don't think you will have any problem mixing tire sizes.
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Old 08-29-10, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Dog
no problem, except that if you weigh more than about 150, they're BOTH too small. But mixing sizes won't hurt anything.
Yeah, um... no.
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Old 08-29-10, 04:44 PM
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I've head of 25 and 28 on front and rear, respectively. Give it a go. If it fits, it fits.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:09 PM
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Last year I switched from 23s to 25s on both front and rear. While the ride quality has improved noticeably, there has been no perceived difference in rolling resistance. Don't cheat yourself out of increased flat resistance by staying with a 23 in the front.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:12 PM
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you might throw a trouble code or two from the traction control system.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:18 PM
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Sure, you probably can mix them to no ill effect. But it's like mixing tires on cars...under severe braking or handling conditions, you may have a difference in road friction between the tires which could result in the front or rear sliding out at a greater rate than the other tire, resulting in subsequent unpleasantness.

I've locked 'em up and slid them out enough times that I would not mix tires myself.

Edit: AngryScientist just said this more succinctly.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Terex
...under severe braking or handling conditions, you may have a difference in road friction between the tires which could result in the front or rear sliding out at a greater rate than the other tire, resulting in subsequent unpleasantness.

...
Yes, because it's so pleasant when both tires slide out at the same time.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:41 PM
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The only reason I wouldn't do it permanently is having to buy different size tires. Since you're going to be replacing the rear more frequently than the front, keeping the right size in stock is a PITA. Use up the 25s, then just go with one size, buy a bunch when they're on sale, and call it good.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:50 PM
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I ran a 28 in the back and 23 in the front. It was great. The 28 just seemed slow to me. 25 should be fine.
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Old 08-29-10, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Terex
Sure, you probably can mix them to no ill effect. But it's like mixing tires on cars...under severe braking or handling conditions, you may have a difference in road friction between the tires which could result in the front or rear sliding out at a greater rate than the other tire, resulting in subsequent unpleasantness.

I've locked 'em up and slid them out enough times that I would not mix tires myself.

Edit: AngryScientist just said this more succinctly.
attack force has different tire widths, front & back. i'll just wait 'till you actually back this up somehow, which is possible???
https://www.conti-online.com/generato...kforce_en.html
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Old 08-29-10, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Dog
no problem, except that if you weigh more than about 150, they're BOTH too small. But mixing sizes won't hurt anything.

Holy crap!!! Thanks I have been wondering why I burn through a rear tire every 3000 miles or so!
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Old 08-29-10, 05:54 PM
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Go ahead. If you weight more than say 180 it's probably a good idea....and even if not, it's fine.
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Old 08-29-10, 06:08 PM
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Put the other 25 on the front, just to make my OCD side feel better.Everything must be equal and uniform,I must count now 1,2,3...1,2,3...1,2,3
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Old 08-29-10, 06:14 PM
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Originally Posted by achoo
Yes, because it's so pleasant when both tires slide out at the same time.
Seriously!

But (seriously) I've had that happen on several occasions, and I don't know if I would have been able to stay upright if I'd been sliding at different speeds front/back.

The Attack/Force are probably the same rubber compound, which makes the coefficient of friction likely to be pretty much the same, even with slightly different diameters.

If you're changing 1) diameter, 2) tread pattern AND 3) tire compound, it's more likely that you're going to get differential grab.
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Old 08-29-10, 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Terex
Seriously!

If you're changing 1) diameter, 2) tread pattern AND 3) tire compound, it's more likely that you're going to get differential grab.
And you have way more weight on the back wheel than the front... so should we always run different size tires? I don't...
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Old 08-29-10, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Dog
no problem, except that if you weigh more than about 150, they're BOTH too small. But mixing sizes won't hurt anything.

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Old 08-29-10, 07:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Hunt-man
And you have way more weight on the back wheel than the front... so should we always run different size tires? I don't...
It would be a good physics problem, for someone with more math skills than me. But, whenever I've gone into a skid, I distinctly remember getting balanced on the pedals, with my butt off the saddle, almost immediately, to distribute weight.

I still think that you want to have the same rubber compound in both tires though, which is something that would be difficult to control other than the Attack/Force combo.

But you do make a good point.
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