Tire Recommendation
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tire Recommendation
My wife and I have Masi road bikes about 10 years old. We are in our early 70s and ride 100 miles/week at most (usually less). The original tires look brittle so I'm planning to replace them. The tires that came with the bikes had no tread but I was thinking about getting new tires with some tread for better road traction. Also would these allow for some use on dirt or sand? I'm looking for recommendations for new tires (size 700x23). Should I replace the tubes also?
Thanks
Thanks
#2
Semper Fi
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,942
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 358 Times
in
241 Posts
Welcome to Bike Forums and the 50+ loony bin. You should replace the tubes at the same time as the tires. You should try an LBS (local bicycle shop) to see what they have in stock in the tires. Prices are all over the map on them depending on the manufacturer. If you have room for a 700x25C it will give you a bit smoother ride. Puncture resistance, tread compound all will depend on your needs. I just ordered a 70x23C Schwalbe Lugano from Amazon.com yesterday. Look at their offerings and several other on line sites if the shop does not have what you want. Some more info about your riding style and needs would help here too.
Bill
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#3
just keep riding
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Milledgeville, Georgia
Posts: 13,560
Bikes: 2018 Black Mountain Cycles MCD,2017 Advocate Cycles Seldom Seen Drop Bar, 2017 Niner Jet 9 Alloy, 2015 Zukas custom road, 2003 KHS Milano Tandem, 1986 Nishiki Cadence rigid MTB, 1980ish Fuji S-12S
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 173 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times
in
22 Posts
Welcome. Glad you and your wife are enjoying riding regularly. Since you are planning to do some riding on dirt, a little tread might be helpful. For pavement tread is unnecessary. Also I would go for wider rubber on dirt to help absorb some of the bumps. 25s should fit your bike, maybe even 28s. The extra tire volume won't slow you much if any and it will allow lower pressure which will smooth out the pebbles and ruts on dirt roads.
#4
Dharma Dog
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 2,073
Bikes: Rodriguez Shiftless street fixie with S&S couplers, Kuwahara tandem, Trek carbon, Dolan track
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
700x23 is more for racers. If you have the brake clearance, 25 or 28 is the way to go for the kind of riding you appear to be doing. I use 23's, but I put in 20,000 km per year (12,000 miles) or more and I have a racing background and I like the feel of the bike vibrating over tires pumped to 120 lbs. When driving a car, I prefer a very tight suspension where I can feel every bump in the road. YMMV, as they say.
That said, after 40 years of riding on all sorts of tires, the best tires I have ever used in terms of performance, durability, weight (230 grams), sidewall strength, and manufacturing consistency are Vredestein Forzetta TriComps. But I've only seen them available in 700x23 (BikeTiresDirect and PBK).
Luis
That said, after 40 years of riding on all sorts of tires, the best tires I have ever used in terms of performance, durability, weight (230 grams), sidewall strength, and manufacturing consistency are Vredestein Forzetta TriComps. But I've only seen them available in 700x23 (BikeTiresDirect and PBK).
Luis
#5
Si Senior
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Posts: 2,669
Bikes: Too Numerous (not)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 23 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
8 Posts
+1 on the bump to 25's. I'd been riding 25's for years until last year when I tried 23's on a high end CF (04 Trek 5900 Superlight). Loved the bike feel (got lucky on a really nice fit), but HATED the 23's. I was so turned off by that experience --riding for hours on roads with aging expansion joints and slamming into EVERY ONE, that I'm going the opposite direction this year. I'm checking out various randonneuring tires of much larger size (Grand Bois at 650Bx32, or 700x32 on a new frame). I'm done with super hard skinny tires.
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Slower Lower Delaware
Posts: 116
Bikes: 1995 Torelli Corsa Strada 2021 State 4130
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I've ridden 700x23 Continental Gatorkins for the last 4 or 5 years. Just put on a set of Continental GP4000s 700x25 and there is quite bit of difference. I fell like I'm riding on an air cusion now. Very comfortable.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 352
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Will second Torelli4 on the Conti GP4000 25mm for a sweet "narrower" tire. For chip/seal and poorly maintained local county roads, Pasela TG28's do just fine for me.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Tampa, Florida
Posts: 5,585
Bikes: 2017 Colnago C-RS, 2012 Colnago Ace, 2010 Giant Cypress hybrid
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 408 Post(s)
Liked 122 Times
in
85 Posts
Another vote for 700x25's. I replaced the 700x23 tires that came on my new road bike to the 700x25 Ultra Gatorskins that I bought three weeks ago for my other road bike. The ride difference is definitely noticeable.
__________________
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
HCFR Cycling Team
Ride Safe ... Ride Hard ... Ride Daily
2017 Colnago C-RS
2012 Colnago Ace
2010 Giant Cypress
#9
Banned
The tires that came with the bikes had no tread but I was thinking about getting new tires with some tread for better road traction.
The Grand Tours were run on unpaved roads for the early part of the last century. Cotton casings..
Sew up tires are still the traditional choice..
Gatorskin is a sidewall reinforcement mesh continental adds to several models..
it does it's job..
sand ? you will sink down to what ever the solid base is, probably time to walk..
>[ insert additional opinion here ]<
Last edited by fietsbob; 01-31-12 at 07:47 PM.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Middle, TN
Posts: 118
Bikes: Trek Domane, Specialized Secteur, Giant Roam 1, Trek 2.1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
What pressure do you run your 25s?
Thanks,
Roger
Thanks,
Roger
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: SF Bay Area, East bay
Posts: 7,660
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1609 Post(s)
Liked 2,590 Times
in
1,224 Posts
Post some pictures of your bikes with some close-ups of your brakes. Cyclecross or touring bikes would handle treaded tires best. Performance road bikes usually have less clearance at the frame and brakes.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 352
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 679
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I do realize you didn't ask for a size recommendation, but I'll go along with the larger tires suggestion. I like 700 32, but don't know if they'd fit your bike. You get just a little more suspension for bumps and riding across lawns, etc. A bit more work to pedal maybe but I don't mind.
I used 27 x 1 1/4 tires for as long as I could. They are about the same size as the 700 - 32s. The cheap ones at the department stores had tread and worked well winter and summer. With a larger tire you need less air pressure, and get less problems with leaks and flats. (My experience, but I've heard otherwise about some of the top brands.)
best wishes with that
I used 27 x 1 1/4 tires for as long as I could. They are about the same size as the 700 - 32s. The cheap ones at the department stores had tread and worked well winter and summer. With a larger tire you need less air pressure, and get less problems with leaks and flats. (My experience, but I've heard otherwise about some of the top brands.)
best wishes with that
#16
Semper Fi
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12,942
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1172 Post(s)
Liked 358 Times
in
241 Posts
The difference in width for most brands between a 23 and a 25 is ~ "-" Not very much at all. Still a 25 seems to make people happy with a Sweet Spot in its width/sidewall ratio and some lower pressures.
Bill
Bill
__________________
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
Semper Fi, USMC, 1975-1977
I Can Do All Things Through Him, Who Gives Me Strength. Philippians 4:13
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,473
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1743 Post(s)
Liked 1,281 Times
in
740 Posts
Someone posted this in another thread and I found it very interesting...especially the 23 vs 25 "speed" info.
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/articl...e-myths-29245/
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/articl...e-myths-29245/
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 572
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
25's here too but forget riding in sand. Had a Schwinn hybrid once with about 1-3/8" tires (I think), and they were OK in packed sand.
Tom (in Florida with 600 foot long sand driveway)
Tom (in Florida with 600 foot long sand driveway)
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Nederland, Texas
Posts: 1,441
Bikes: 2011 Specialized Sectuer, 1988 Bianchi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I ride on Bontrager Racelite Hard-case 25's. They provide a smooth ride, and are very puncture resistant.
#22
Council of the Elders
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 3,759
Bikes: 1990 Schwinn Crosscut, 5 Lemonds
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Schwalbe Ultremo DD or Continental 4 Seasons if you feel you must have tread. 700X25. Replace the tubes... very important to do that I think. You can save the old tubes for backup if you want, but they are pretty old. I would make them into exercise devices.
#23
Time for a change.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913
Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times
in
4 Posts
Tyres and it is down to you on size and type. I only ride road and slicks work well on wet roads. In fact the only tyres I have used on asphalt with a tread gave me a feeling of instability so I chopped them very quick. I do occasionally use the bike on smooth offroad trails in the dry and the slicks work well enough.
BUT one thing I will strongly recommend- Get your 10 year old wheels into a wheelbuilder for detentioning the spokes and retrueing. The spokes will have lost tension over that period of time and could cause a spoke failure.
BUT one thing I will strongly recommend- Get your 10 year old wheels into a wheelbuilder for detentioning the spokes and retrueing. The spokes will have lost tension over that period of time and could cause a spoke failure.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.
Spike Milligan
#24
Senior Member
Agree with Gatorskins 25's or even better 28's for your use.