700 x 25mm Tires for Century Rides and Touring
 

Any recommendations on 700 x 25mm tires, that would be comfortable for century rides with somewhat low rolling resistance?

I currently have Michelin Pro2 Race in the 700 x 25mm size, with min/max tire pressures of 73/102 PSI.

The tires you have are the choice of a LOT of roadies. I like Conti Gatorskins myself - longer wearing and fewer flats, IMO, but you really can't go wrong with either.

Your Michelins are a great road tire. Just make sure that you get a good price for them somewhere online. For their suggested retail price, you can almost get a car tire for the price of two road tires.

I use GP-4000's on my single and just changed my tandem over from Gatorskins to GP-4000 X 25's. Ride is much better as well as rollout.

I'm using Michelin Pro2 Race 23mm on the Lemond, I love 'em. They're grippy but still feel fast and they look good too. I have not kept track of the mileage, but they seem to be wearing quite well.

I've begun using Conti GP4000's (25's) on one bike.....not as cushy as my 28's or 32's, but just fine on OK surfaced roads at any distance. Ride is very nice...I sense better than Gatorskins...but not long enough use to judge wear or flat resistance.

One thing that bugs me about advertised widths of tires, is the inaccuracies of actual vs. true width. On my Saluki, you know the true width of the Maxy Fasty 650 tires. On their website, they show the Maxy Fasty's actual measurement at 32.7 mm. On the Maxy Fasty tire, the embossed size reads "32.8 mm (or so)".

The reason this is an issue is the limited amount of space in the Serotta F3 forks. I believe the Michelin tires ... in general ... are actually a smidgen wider than Michelin's advertised width. There is enough breathing room in the F3 forks with the Michelin Pro2 25mm Race tires ... but it would help to know this tire's actual width ... to get an idea if an actual 28mm tire (for touring) could fit in the F3 forks.

Rivendell's lightest 700C tire (Rolly Polly) measures at 27.7mm, so in reality could be close to the actual width of the Michelin Pro2 Race tires. Does anybody know the actual width of the Michelin Pro2 Race 25mm tire?

Actual width of any tire will vary depending on the width of the rim it is mounted on.

I ride Conti Gator Skins on century rides. They are, IMHO, a very good balance of comfort, reliability, and performance. I don't know why, but it bothers me more to flat when doing a century than on shorter rides.

And the weight of the body (relative to tire pressure) pushing down on them.

On this new bike I just bought, it has 23 x 700. Is it possible to go up to 25's? Their is very little space between the forks and bars, but I wouldn't think that 2 cm could take up much space. It is a Scott Speedster S10 road bike.

Which is the issue Motorad raised above. Labels are not always accurate. Some 25's are more 25 than others, some less. Sometimes hard to tell a 23 from a 25. Most short reach brake calipers/forks should be able to take a 25 from my experience. 28's are much more iffy. And damn your bike/fork designer and spec'er [if they don't take 25's] for limiting your cycling choices.

**Hence Grant P.'s argument with race-driven bike design....my Riv Romulus with its flat fork crown and standard (old standard) reach brakes welcome pretty much everything and I range from 25's to 32's depending on season and roads.

I'm also on Michelin Pro race 2's...love'em on long rides...good roll and so far good flat resistence. I ride on pretty ugly roads and they just get it done.
Bill J

Speaking of sizing issues, the Continental Ultra 2000 700Cx28 is a very nice 25mm tire. :)

To decrease rolling resistance, you might want to increase the pressure. I'm still on the original set of 700 x 25 Kendas on my bike. I run them at a higher pressure than is stamped on the sidewall. I think I saw some information on Sheldon Brown's website about stamped pressure versus the actual pressure one can use.

Nah, just get some and go.

All of the below for centuries. The OP's Title included Touring. Suggest another 5-6 mm width for touring.

I've been using 25 front and 28 rear at about 110--both gators (good to 120 psi)--I don't think a bigger rear tire is needed but the gator is fairly petite for a 28 :)

Only use 23 on my wheels and all are now PR2's Longest set I have, have done around 1,000 miles and the mould marks have not even been scrubbed off on the tread of the front tyre. I like the ride of them but according to the cogniscient- PR2's and Conti 4,000's seem to be the two tyres to use. Unless you have "Race" spec bikes- Most will be able to take a 25 tyre- but The only set I have tried- 26's- will not fit the Giant or Boreas with enough clearance for me to be happy.

FWIW, the Conti GratorSkin 28 is really 26mm.