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Are you riding 700x23 or 700x25's tires?

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View Poll Results: What size tires are you using for your road bike?
700x23
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700x25
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38.89%
other
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Voters: 216. You may not vote on this poll

Are you riding 700x23 or 700x25's tires?

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Old 01-05-13, 06:23 AM
  #26  
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Would it be a fair comment to state that in general, 25's make for a more stable, less twitchy ride?
Also:
Anyone riding with 25 on the front and 23 on the back wheels respectively?
Do you run your 25's at lower pressure than 23's?
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Old 01-05-13, 06:26 AM
  #27  
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Originally Posted by DOS
The improved rolling resistance more than compensates for weight according to a variety of articles I have read. .


the 25's are larger, hence you would have a larger patch of tire on the road = more rolling resistance, not less. When you pump up your tires, it makes the contact patch smaller. How can a larger tire, with a larger contact patch have better rolling resistance, assuming all else is equal, same bike, same brand and make of tire, etc.?
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Old 01-05-13, 06:26 AM
  #28  
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me and my big old belly ride a full carbon "comfort" bike with 25's....luv it
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Old 01-05-13, 08:01 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by rangerdavid
the 25's are larger, hence you would have a larger patch of tire on the road = more rolling resistance, not less. When you pump up your tires, it makes the contact patch smaller. How can a larger tire, with a larger contact patch have better rolling resistance, assuming all else is equal, same bike, same brand and make of tire, etc.?
More area for traction?
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Old 01-05-13, 08:02 AM
  #30  
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where is the choice for "both"?
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Old 01-05-13, 08:13 AM
  #31  
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- Build my own, but it is a relaxed frame Trek-like ride
- Shimano R500
-QTubes 700 23-25
- 25's give me a better feeling. Hard to explain, but the barely noticeable width gives me a little more confidence. I tend to run at almost max PSI, and while it may be placebo, the 25s are softer than the 23s.
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Old 01-05-13, 08:20 AM
  #32  
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Currently riding 25's (GP 4 Seasons), but I'm going back to 28 when I wear out this and another set. Our roads stink and I think the ride is better with the 28's. I haven't noticed any difference in handling and I'm not a racer.

From a purely anecdotal perspective my son had a bad accident in a crit which he attributes to switch to very narrow, high(er) pressure tires. I suspect the tires were even smaller than 23's.
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Old 01-05-13, 08:37 AM
  #33  
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Originally Posted by WHOOOSSHHH...
More area for traction?


more traction = more rolling resistance
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Old 01-05-13, 08:39 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by bianchi10
I have always gone 700x23 road tires. My tricomps have reached their life limit and served me well, but I was offered a deal that I couldn't pass on with a set of specialized turbo tires. Last set of specialized mondo pro tires I had were 23's but seemed a little wider than previous sets I had. All my buddies at my LBS are trying to convince me to get the 25's because it will be a better/smoother ride, corner better, better rolling resistance....etc. Being that I'm a bit of a weight weenie, Its difficult for me to get past the additional 45g I will be adding by going with the 25's instead of the 23's. Trust me, I know this has been talked about in past and 45g is not a huge deal to a lot of people but when you have spent hundred of dollars to drop weight, its difficult to buy something that will add weight. I wanted to see what the majority of people here are riding.

Would love the following info:

-what bike you ride
-what wheels you have
-what tubes you are using
-Preference between the 2 tire sizeat will be worth s or pros/cons?
45g = <2oz. Weight Weenie (which, unless you are a serious racer, I think is silly) or not, in my experience, the 25s will give you a better ride that will be worth the 45g. BTW, I am currently running 23s but had pretty much used strictly 25s before these. The quality of the tire will be more important than the width alone.
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Old 01-05-13, 08:45 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by rangerdavid
the 25's are larger, hence you would have a larger patch of tire on the road = more rolling resistance, not less. When you pump up your tires, it makes the contact patch smaller. How can a larger tire, with a larger contact patch have better rolling resistance, assuming all else is equal, same bike, same brand and make of tire, etc.?
I'll quote from one of my favorite articles, which got me riding Continental tires in the first place. (I still am today).
Article:

the notion that fat tyres have lower rolling resistance seems counterintuitive to many cyclists. As we've seen above, at racing speeds, narrow tyres need less energy to maintain a speed, so how does this fit with measurements showing higher rolling resistance? ...
Double your speed and your tyres' rolling resistance doubles - but the air resistance goes up eight times! Air resistance dominates at racing speeds and narrow tyres are faster.


And the way they have lower rolling resistance is described on this page as having less deflection. Very worth reading.

Link:
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...conti-inflated https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...conti-inflated

I would also point out that Conti 4000S tires, which I use, run big: while labeled as "23" they actually measure out to 24-ish. I haven't measured 25s yet.
I am in transition now and once I use up more of my stock of 23s, I may end up stabilizing on a 23 in front and 25 in rear, or just on 25s across the board. But that's partly due to my being a borderline clyde and I can put less air pressure in the larger tire.

Another note: I have also used Conti Gatorskins, which run a little small. So the Gatorskin labeled "23" is a little less than that. I'm not sure but a 4000S labeled "23" might be comparable to a Gatorskin labeled "25".
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Old 01-05-13, 09:00 AM
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Originally Posted by libero
I'll quote from one of my favorite articles, which got me riding Continental tires in the first place. (I still am today).
Article:



And the way they have lower rolling resistance is described on this page as having less deflection. Very worth reading.

Link:
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...conti-inflated https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/...conti-inflated

I would also point out that Conti 4000S tires, which I use, run big: while labeled as "23" they actually measure out to 24-ish. I haven't measured 25s yet.
I am in transition now and once I use up more of my stock of 23s, I may end up stabilizing on a 23 in front and 25 in rear, or just on 25s across the board. But that's partly due to my being a borderline clyde and I can put less air pressure in the larger tire.

Another note: I have also used Conti Gatorskins, which run a little small. So the Gatorskin labeled "23" is a little less than that. I'm not sure but a 4000S labeled "23" might be comparable to a Gatorskin labeled "25".
So you get less rolling resistance with fatter tires, but skinny tires are still faster due to less wind resistance? Is that right? If so, and you're wanting to go faster, skinny is still the choice?

These studies seem to be done at racing speeds. Does it it make any difference for the relational rider? Fascinating stuff.
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Old 01-05-13, 09:20 AM
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I am a big boy, wighting more than I should by a long shot. I ride 23s. No problems, but mostly because my bike doesn't willingly digest larger tires. I could run 25's, maybe, but am going to wear out these 23's first.
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Old 01-05-13, 09:41 AM
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Originally Posted by dtrain
I think this is key. I'm on 25's because I'm a clyde and need to run 23's at a really high pressure.

Thanks for taking the WW comment in stride.

I am 225 and ride conti 4000s in a 23 and run 110 rear and 100 front...easily have 1000 miles on my newest set and havent had a single flat. I was on the same tire in a 25 before and had more flat than I can count...I did however switch wheels when I switched tires so I cant really say it was the tires.
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Old 01-05-13, 09:45 AM
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My favorite tire is now the Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX in a 25. Previously I was running GP4000s in 23. I switched to the Vittoria to get better cornering feel from my tires and they have delivered in spades at the (expected) expenses of shorter tread life and higher cost.

Primary bikes are Roubaix SL2, and Secteur. I've got HED Belgium C2's on the Secteur and some 23mm wide 50mm deep China carbons on the Roubaix. I've tried latex and butyl tubes in the Vittorias. The only difference I can tell is the latex tubes lose air very quickly.

BTW I am 6'3" and usually weigh around 190 in season. Roads are pretty good around here. I run 90psi front, 100 psi rear. Number of puncture flats/pinch flats the past three years (15,000 miles): 0.

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Old 01-05-13, 09:48 AM
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I fill my 21mm tubulars with pure hydrogen ... it's lighter and thus faster.
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Old 01-05-13, 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by AdelaaR
I fill my 21mm tubulars with pure hydrogen ... it's lighter and thus faster.
pray you dont get a spark somehow....remember the hindenburg?

talk about burning out!
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Old 01-05-13, 10:01 AM
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Ride Conti 4000s 23's and have over 3000 miles on them versus the 25's that came on my Synapse that wore out at 1200 miles.
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Old 01-05-13, 10:11 AM
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I run 700x23c Vittoria Open EVO Corsa tires. They are fragile (especially near the end of their life) and wear fast, but they are super comfortable and fast. Tire pressures are 105r and 95f (160 lb rider).

I ride 700x25c Conti GP4000s on long (ie, century) rides where I need flat protection. I honestly don't think they are as comfortable as the 23c Vittoria and they seem really sluggish in comparison. At 95r and 85f, they felt slow compared to the Corsas, but they are comfy and I don't worry too much about flats.

Bob
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Old 01-05-13, 10:18 AM
  #44  
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I smell more BF hair splitting. I ride 23's simply because I like having a choice of colors. No doubt lowering the pressure in 23's a bit gives much of whatever fans of 25's think they're getting - it's called physics.
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Old 01-05-13, 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by bianchi10


I'm NOTHING compared to some of the guys over at weightweenies.com! Those guys shave the clear coat on their frames, saddle, bars...etc. Drill holes in the seatpost, levers, cages, crank arms... Its Crazy to see what some REAL weight weenies will do!

My buddy at my LBS just told me to TRY them and if I hate them, he will swap them out for the 23's. I guess I have nothing to lose.
You should tell them that they're probably carrying more than 45 grams of **** in their colons. Fleet could use the extra sales.
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Old 01-05-13, 10:40 AM
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I think the quality of the tire has more to do with ride quality than the actual size, at least with these two in question. I have rode both and can not tell much difference. I ride Vittoria Corsa Evo's and they only come as 700x23 and they are a great tire. Right now for winter I am giving some Conti GP4000S in 25 a try and I really Like the Vittoria's better. Not that the Conti's are bad, they are a great ride as well. I have a set of Conti Attack/Force I will try this summer and they are 22 in front and 24 in back. I suspect they will be quite close in ride comfort as well.
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Old 01-05-13, 10:41 AM
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Originally Posted by bobonker
I run 700x23c Vittoria Open EVO Corsa tires. They are fragile (especially near the end of their life) and wear fast, but they are super comfortable and fast. Tire pressures are 105r and 95f (160 lb rider).

I ride 700x25c Conti GP4000s on long (ie, century) rides where I need flat protection. I honestly don't think they are as comfortable as the 23c Vittoria and they seem really sluggish in comparison. At 95r and 85f, they felt slow compared to the Corsas, but they are comfy and I don't worry too much about flats.

Bob
if they felt slugish at 95r and 85f why not pump them to 105r and 95f?
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Old 01-05-13, 10:41 AM
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FWIW: I run 23mm tires on HED C2 23mm wide rims and the tires measure 25mm wide. I run the same pressure as I would with 25mm tires on traditional 19mm rims. Similarly, 25mm tires on 23mm wide rims measure about ~27mm wide...
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Old 01-05-13, 11:02 AM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by datlas
The decision is personal and depends on many factors.

I would say if you are heavy (>180ish) and/or riding on rough roads, you should certainly go for 25.

Personally, I am light (135-140) and roads are reasonable, so I ride 23's.

I agree you have nothing to lose so try them...
Hahahaha

I've been up to 260lbs... and still ride only 23's.

At a scrawny 135, I'd think you would find some 19's or just roll on the rims. ;P
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Old 01-05-13, 11:12 AM
  #50  
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Rhygin Stainless
Ksyrium SL
23 Fusion3 Tubeless
175 lbs
I've run 20's but never felt the need for 25's.
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