Originally Posted by qcpmsame

I switched to a 700X25 in the Gatorskins in September because of the road conditions in some stretches I ride being really rough, like riding on cobbles. The 700X23 Schwalbe Lugano that were stock weren't really that tough, the rock aggregate in our roads cut them quickly and I had a blow out on a down hill form this. I cannot that there is anymore rolling resistance with the 25's than the 23's, it is only about a millimeter more in contact area between the two, it is the carcass and sidewall toughness I was looking for and the fact I am in at 238 lbs made me want the extra air volume to soften the blows form the aggregate's edges I cause, as others have said. The 25 gives me these factors very well.


I still have the 23's handy so I could go back if it seemed necessary. To get any aerodynamic advantage the rim would have to be a few mm wider so the side wall was straighter at the junction instead of having the pinched in profile with a 25, the aerodynamic losses from the 2mm extra width can barely be measured much less felt by a duffer like me.

If money was no object I would go to tubular tyres, I ran them from the mid 70's to the mid 80's and the ride was exceptional, I had very few flats with them. Maybe I will get a wheelset for tubulars in the future when I need wheels.

Bill