Could tire get smaller with age?
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Could tire get smaller with age?
Last season I bought conti gp4000 25mm and the DIY BDOP wheel kit with a 17c clincher. I had the 25mm conti on my R501 wheels (15c) and everything was fine. But when I put my 25mm on the 17C clincher, the tire was too big and touched the rear fork (the upper part where the brakes are screwed in).
So crap... I have to buy 23mm tires (by the way 25mm is the smallest size that is recommended on a 17C). Before removing the 25mm tire from the wheel for replacement I decide to try the wheel again with the 25mm. Everything is now fine but there is not a lot of room. I sold the 23mm conti I just bought and scratched my head wondering what the hell just happened. With a rule I remember reading >25mm width a year ago but now I get exactly 25mm. I am pretty sure their size shrunk some how. Is that possible or am I crazy?
So crap... I have to buy 23mm tires (by the way 25mm is the smallest size that is recommended on a 17C). Before removing the 25mm tire from the wheel for replacement I decide to try the wheel again with the 25mm. Everything is now fine but there is not a lot of room. I sold the 23mm conti I just bought and scratched my head wondering what the hell just happened. With a rule I remember reading >25mm width a year ago but now I get exactly 25mm. I am pretty sure their size shrunk some how. Is that possible or am I crazy?
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was said tire near the pool recently....?

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Not really following all of this but...
the two tubes that extend downward from the seat toward the rear wheel are called seat stays.
I don't think this is right.
Use a caliper to measure, not a ruler and your eyeballs.

I don't think so. Always do the easy and cheap thing first. Check your air pressure.
Maybe you had the rear wheel in crooked when you checked last time.
What kind of bike is this that 25 mm tires on 17mm inside width rims won't fit?
the two tubes that extend downward from the seat toward the rear wheel are called seat stays.
I don't think this is right.

I don't think so. Always do the easy and cheap thing first. Check your air pressure.
Maybe you had the rear wheel in crooked when you checked last time.
What kind of bike is this that 25 mm tires on 17mm inside width rims won't fit?
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OP, thus is why drinking and bicycle work don't belong together.
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Did the tire lose pressure. That would allow it to shrink slightly. Ihad some 25s that I had to keep below 90 psi for them to just fit my old Giant frame. Keep in mind that on over-width rims 25s are more like 28s. That is likely the problem.
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Last time I swapped out my BB I had a nice Blanton's to keep me company.
Spent an easy 45 minutes trying to thread the fixed cup into the left side of the frame; it was my wife who suggested I might be trying the wrong side.
Of course I acted like that wasn't the problem (and installed it after she'd left the room!)...
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Rode only 300 km with the tires. Make fun of me but I swear their size shrunk. My rule has a millimeter graduation so the error is 1 millimeter on the reading (half a millimeter both side).
Also, I use the same pressure.
Also, I use the same pressure.
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Have you changed wheelsets?
19/20mm wide rims used to be common, but now 23mm wide rims are more common. It could affect both the height and width of the tire.
Your tire might not have been fully seated in one spot earlier giving it a periodic rub.
19/20mm wide rims used to be common, but now 23mm wide rims are more common. It could affect both the height and width of the tire.
Your tire might not have been fully seated in one spot earlier giving it a periodic rub.
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Did you wash the tire in hot water and place in the dryer? Careful, only cold water and hang dry.
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I have two bikes, one don't have the clearance problem and I used the wheel with it for a couple of ride. The bike is a bit too small for me so I am selling it, this is why it was such a big deal for me not to be able to use 25mm tire with my 17C clincher. I didn't do anything other than riding with it and leaving the bike untouched for the winter. Anyway, if nobody ever experienced this I guess the cause might be something else... tube? I know how to mount a tire and a wheel. I don't exactly remember but I am sure I mounted it multiple of times wondering why it wasn't fitting.
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I'd like to know what kind of bike has clearance for 23mm tires on the seat stays but does not allow or barely allows 25mm tires. That's pretty tight clearance. Can you share what kind of bike it is?
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I've seen this happen on a friends Trek Madone. Rear tire clearance was ok with 25mm, but front wasn't.
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touched the rear fork (the upper part where the brakes are screwed in).
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There was a run of 2008 Roubaixs that wouldn't clear 25s in the rear. The brake bridges were too low.
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The bike is a Opus Andante 2008. The other bike that was fine is a Jamis Vantura 2008. Anyway, a search on google didn't help... Tire don't shrink in size. I might have changed the tube but I doubt it has anything to do with tire size. It's so weird the tire did not fit and now it does. Maybe it wasn't sitting properly and riding with it fixed it.