Kertrek

Both the tires are the in between type, not knobby but not slick. Should I see any performance change with the difference width?

RickGr4

When I answer your question, I am assuming your tire pressure levels were either the same for both tires or you had both of them inflated to the max recommended pressure.

All things being equal, the 25 should ride slightly firmer but roll slightly easier. Any difference in performance is up to your opinion and your level of experience and fitness. But tires vary greatly and you cannot make a valid comparison unless you are specific about the tires you are comparing.

Kertrek

The new tires look about identical, but are not as soft as the other tires and better suited for the time I spend on a bike. I did notice the new tires have a slightly bumpier ride, compared to the old ones.

Bandera

Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly has challenged the old notion that a narrow tire at high pressure is faster than a wider tire at a lower pressure, give similar casing suppleness.
The testing is at BQ and demonstrates that the wider tire is faster, more comfortable and handles better on less than perfect surfaces than the narrow tire.

European pro cyclists have moved to 25mm tubulars from 23mm for standard road events.

You decide what you require.

Personally I cram as much tire in my town bike as will clear the mudguards.

-Bandera

Wanderer

Handling will be much crisper on the skinnier tires

JG1967

I did but I went from a MTB tire to a street tire.

Bandera

Welcome to 1980!

2015: "One final reflection from the pro end of the cycling rainbow was that wider tyres also improved overall handling of the bike."

https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/using-...5zYeX1KAjE7.97

-Bandera

yashinon

IMO there is a significant difference. For a lightweight like me, the 700 x 25 Conti's have made riding longer distance much easier.

mozad655

I made the same switch on my cyclocross which I use for commuting and occasional long rides. The difference is clear. The steering becomes more sensitive. The ride considerably more bumpy and harsh. The speed increases and less effort has to be put in. Most of this is fine with me. The only downside is winter when its snowing. I ussually don't switch back and just try to get through and it works 95% of the time, but I've had a few minor crashes where 25c tires just didn't have enough grip and I crashed.

teicher

Maybe. The ride is likely to be more harsh on the narrower tires.

Sixty Fiver

I run tyres that range from 16 by 1.2 on my Moulten to the 26 by 3.7 tyres on my fatbike... the road bikes live in the middle and have tyres that range from 23mm to 35mm.

The 700:23 tyres on my road bike are incredible when it comes to ride quality and speed but they are kevlar folders which remain rather supple at high pressures... my fixed gear has 38mm road tyres at 80 psi and a softer riding frame and rides equally well and is still rather fast as those high quality tyres have very low rolling resistance.

With smaller changes in tyres the sense of speed you get from a narrower tyre may only be just that and the poorer ride quality might mean you avoid obstacles instead of just going through them which shaves off speed.

Below 30kmh the size of the tyre matters less, narrower tyres offer better aerodynamics which become critical at higher speeds.

Tyre weight and the tread compound is probably one of the most important aspects, lighter tyres accelerate faster and better tread compounds roll out faster while retaining traction.

Bill Kapaun

I went from the Specialized "Flak Jacket" Armadillo's in 35mm to a 25mm tire on my Globe and the difference was amazing.
The factory tires were simply PIGS, with high rolling resistance and a lot of weight.
You'll notice much quicker acceleration for one thing.
Depending on your pavement conditions, 25mm might be too skinny. I went back to my old home town on vacation a month ago and the tires were too harsh for that much rougher pavement. Even a 28mm might have been marginal there.

Ride them and you decide if they are better for you.
Listening to others (including myself) tell you what works for them without stating riding conditions, rider weight etc. is a waste of time as is quoting some magazine article.

Wanderer

That hasn't been my experience, and I have ridden a LOT of different sizes. Going from 35 to 25 is significant. Ride will be more harsh, but handling and steering will be MUCH more precise. Even a 10 year old will feel that difference. MHO

seat_boy

Yes, you'll find a harsher ride that may make you think it's faster.

practical

I've switched from 35's to 28's on a couple of different bikes. I also switched my friend's 32's to 28's. In all cases there was significant improvement in ride speed (efficiency, quickness, speed). So experience convinces me that a narrow tire with a higher PSI improves performance on pavement. I don't know what the "sweet spot" is.