ajst2duk

Do many use 700X20C tyres on the road, are there any advantages/disadvantages?. Just asking as there was a special on these sized tyres but none of the people I ride with use them. I know that Conti attack/force use a smaller tyre up front, but wouldn't 20's front & rear be a bit extreme on the road?. If you did run them, presumably they would have to run at a higher PSI?

Zouf

I've had both on my bike, recently switched from 20 (Specialized) to 23 (Contis); the 23s appeared to be smoother (not as harsh) as the 20s, without any perceivable difference in rolling resistance, and at least as much cornering grip if not more. I weight 75 kg, so I don't know what the experience of heavier riders would be. Don't expect huge differences, there may be as much difference between different brands of the same size as between the 2 sizes.

***Edit: I actually run the 23s at higher pressure, I tend to run the tires at their max pressure, which was 8.0 bars on the 20s, and is 8.5 on the 23s.

ruirui

how about you buy me a set of 20c and a set of 23c.. and i'll tell you afterward?

i'm on 28c right now.. and it's a comfy ride.. but i hate it. too much rolling resistance. i test rode my friend's tarmac with 23c.. and it felt nice.. but u will feel the road more that's for sure. he's gonna get 25c later on.. for me... i like the 23c.

rui

Hitchy

G'day,

the 23's will provide a bit more comfort than the 20's....plus they are a damn sight easier to get off the rim (i'm assuming clinchers, here) than the 20's if you have a puncture. The conti attack/force run 22's on the front & 23's on the back with different tread patterns as well

Hitchy

rockmuncher

I used to ride on 18's. I got a nasty pinch-flat one day and the LBS guy recommended I go up to 20's because of my weight. I got even heavier, so I went up to 23's. Their a bit squishy though, and the max psi is down a bit on the littluns.

catatonic

I ride 20s, very harsh ride, but compared to my 25s, a lot faster feeling.

Actually I like how my 20s feel overall...cornering grip is great, grip on the straights is great, I just dont like how hard it reacts to potholes, pavement separations, etc. There is one road here that is nothing but concrete plates, and man does that bike make tons of noise on it.

Oh...that's the other thing, they are noisy when i ride them...I think it's the vibration transferring to the wheelset, and I'm possibly hearing the spokes vibrate. i am a heavy rider though, so for me 23s might be a better answer, but I like how nice htese things roll


BTW, for what it's worth, I use the 700x20c michelin hi-lite comp @ 100psi.

ajst2duk

Thanks guys, I also saw some older threads on this subject - been thrashed around before so apologies for dragging it up again. I am about to put some 23c Gt3000 conti's on mine, but was interested in a friend who is putting 20's on his tri bike. I am doing my first 100 miler in four weeks now, and I am thinking my ass will thank me for not going slim on the rubbers.

dereknc

I just switched from 19's to 23's a few months ago. The 23's are more comfortable, seem just as fast, and also protect the rims better from gravel.

alanbikehouston

Unless your Pro contract is paying you big money to "suffer" on a bike, you should be comparing the pros and cons of size 25 versus size 28. Those sizes soak up road shock, allowing you to continuing pedaling, while the guys on a size 20 are standing on their pedals to avoid a loss of reproductive capacity. And, while those guys are fixing flats, you are going down the road. Then, factor in better cornering, and better stability over bumps and craters.

Last, YOUR weight is a factor. A guy who weighs 120 pounds might be able to get some useful service out of a size 20 tire. A guy who weighs 200 pounds needs to be on a tire that can handle his weight...size 28 is about right.

Steelrider

I don't think you mentioned how much you weigh, which is critical to how much over 23 you might go. But if you're doing 100 - and it's not a race - you'd be nuts to ride on less than 23's (and your nuts will thank you.... ) This would be even more true if you were riding aluminum vs. cf or steel. If you're near/over 200lbs, 25's would be much more comfy for you.

khuon

I'm riding 700x23 Conti GP3000s and have been for quite a few years. I have every once in a while considered switching to a slimmer version of the same tyre but I've been so happy with what I have that I decided to stick with it. I run mine at 130PSI (10PSI above max rating) and I weigh a little over 140 lbs. I get around 3500 miles out of them. And I do ride over some nasty road conditions as well as some glass without punctures.

531Aussie

I LOVE 20s. I don't give a stuff what anyone says, I love the feel of them,
and I pump 'em up to about 150psi......ZINGAROONY!! . I don't care, I've read all the
science, and I'm gunna keep using 20s or 21mm Vredesteins.

Try them and decide for yourself. I should say tham I'm about 195lbs (at the moment ),and I can
almost slam the rims to the road with big squishy 23s. Maybe if I was 130lbs I wouldn't flatten
a 23, and would get some of the benefits.

The roads are also pretty good where I am.

BUT.....having said all that, I agree with those that say 20s are dangerous for fast cornering, so
if I was doing a criterium, I would put at least a 21 or 22 on the front for safety.

rockmuncher

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the sad tale abaout some guy who got himself stuck in the boonies when he blew out a foldable tyre. They're for racing and temp replacement only, so don't play with fire. Use proper tyres if you are doing serious miles.

wildjim

Research Data. . .

I am currently riding Michelin Pro Race 700x23 120psi and Hutchinson Carbon Comp 700x23 120psi

https://www.terrymorse.com/bike/rolres.html

rockmuncher

Are you sure your post is valid?

"Unfortunately, I cannot locate the tire test with that included the
Vittoria CX and Clement Criterium tires. These must be in the Avocet
archives. As you see these tests were done 12 years ago and the
following is only one of the series of tests that were performed."

531Aussie

Like I said: batten down the hatches...... . You've no doubt fired up a few Septics with
this comment. There's a gazillion, very expensive race tyres that are foldable...LOOK OUT

ajst2duk

I thought the whole idea was that you could pack a spare "foldy" for just this reason. I also thought that the new foldables are just as durable as the hooped ones. I'm on the defensive because we have been using vittoria rubino pros at home and they seem great for the money. The only "proper" tyres we have in the house are some crappy kendas on my wifes stock wheelset (which are now only used on the trainer) and my conti ultra 3000's which came stock on my cannondale and flat too much so are going to be used with the kendas.

Phatman

yea, you're flat out wrong on that one...any tire can **** up...In fact, the only tire that has EVER blown out (not flat...blow out, like sidewall tearing) on me has been a wire bead. how about that, eh?

Avalanche325

The key word there is feel. A harsher ride can feel faster than the exact same speed on something smoother.

That is why driving around at 25 mph in a go kart at an amusement park can feel fast and fun.

jcthomasjr

I have used both Conti 20s and 23s and for what it is worth the main difference I noticed was the 20s were harder to change when I flatted. I always used 20s and like a previous poster said, I inflated them more than I do the 23s. Would have stuck with the 20s but wanted a different look and the tires I wanted were only offered in 23s so I gave them a try and that is what I still have on that bike. One thing, right after switching to the 23s, I posted a personal best average speed on a 30 mile ride I used to do. I can not remember where or when, but I read a technical article once that claimed 23mm tires were the ideal size in terms of speed. The author talked about friction, pressure, different tread types, tire profile, contact area, everything you could debate over, and came to the conclusion that 23mm tires would be the fastest. Read this years and years ago. Go figure.

531Aussie

You're not kiddin'!! The non-foldables are ok, but I had some 20mm GP 3000s that were
ABSOLUTEY IMPOSSIBLE to get on and off. That's the main reason I'll probably never get another one.