Hi folks, I have a road bike with 700x23c tyres on it...the rims are 15s. I am about 90kg/14 stone. The ride feels very harsh indeed as I have to keep high pressure in the 23c tyres in order to avoid pinch flats. Anyway the plan is to go to larger tyres..would this help ? Would it be enough to go to 28 or 32 or should I consider different rims too ? I would love to know the opinions...esp if anyone has experience with 28 or 32 in road tyres...would the 32c look too much on a road bike ??
Thanks for any advice folks..

What frame is this going on? 32c may not fit some frames.

25c is too big for my road bike.

90kg is about 198 lbs. I've been there (and above as well as below) while a "bike rider".

Larger tires is the quickest, most inexpensive solution. To give you an idea - on our single/regular bikes we run 23c tires (I ran them while at up to 100 kg). On our tandem, with a combined weight of about 380 lbs, and with no real good way of unweighting the back wheel, we run the stock 32c tires. We have yet to pinch flat and we have hit some very hard bumps.

In the old days the lightest mountain bike wheels were cut down road rims. I ran 20mm wide rims with either 2.1" or 2.35" tires pumped to about 20-25 psi (30 psi if I was riding in unknown territory). Yes I pinch flatted but usually only when racing and under duress. Point is that you can run virtually any tire on a normal rim.

A wide rim may help but do the tire first. I run wide rims now, 23mm, and put a little bit less pressure in the tires. Comfort-wise, though, the tire width makes more of a difference, and you can try it as soon as you get a new tire.

If you go beyond 25c make sure the tire will fit your frame. Also, at 28-32c, I'd buy wider tubes. "Stretching" a 20-23c tube in a 28c tire will lead to many, many, many, many more flats. Don't ask me how I know.

Hope this helps
cdr

*edit please substitute "tyre" for wherever I put "tire"

Its a bianchi via nirone 7 road bike ...57cm frame...the rims are 622 x 15c and the tyres at present are 700 x 23c. I would likt to keep the same rims if possible to save money but I really feel i would benefit from larger tyres...just how large though ??
Thanks for the help so far...

I have a bike that I run 32mm tires on a rim with 13.2mm ID with no problems. Bit of a lightbulb effect with the tire profile but I can't see a problem in riding on them.

As carpediem pointed out above, your frame is the limiter on how large a tire will fit. I am guessing that 25 mm might be as big as your frame will take. Pump them to 90psil they should be plush enough and avoid most pinch flats unless you are a rough rider in which case you could add 5-10 psi.

Yes, wide tires are a great answer. Even the pro road racers are trending toward wider tires these days. There seems to be almost no downside. In your shoes (and I have been) I would install the widest high quality tires you can find to fit.

OP is about 198 lbs.

215 lbs here ridng on 700 X 20 tires with front psi 110, rear psi 120.

No problems.

I was going to say.... He's really not that heavy.

clivan78 , just how much air are you putting in those tires? For comparison, right now I'm around 230 and ride with 95 front & 110 rear on 23mm tires (They're Conti's, it actually measures a little less than 23mm) with no pinch flats and a reasonably supple ride. Even with 25mm tires, I probably wouldn't go any lower than 90 or so PSI. All this to say: You shouldn't be having any problems at your weight with 23s.

Depends on perception. I raced tires like that for many years and was perfectly content. When I came back the sport as a recreational rider, I started with the same tires and again wasn't really bothered by them. Then I put on an old pair of hand-made 27mm tubulars and was shocked at how much smoother and more pleasant the ride was. So I put wide, high-quality clinchers on most of my other bikes and never looked back.

That all was, BTW, at 210-220 pounds. Now I'm down to 165 and still don't like the feel of narrow high-pressure tires as compared to wider, lower pressure ones. The only thing that ever bothered me about the wider tires was that they didn't feel as fast. But testing showed no significant speed differences. I think it's the lack of high-frequency vibration that makes the wider tires feel slower, but after testing, I don't worry about it.

We also don't know (well, I don't know) what the OP's roads are like. If the guy's riding around on cobblestones then it's no wonder he doesn't like his current tires.

90 kg is not heavy (by US standards ). 25c would be wide enough for support and cushy ride.

Quite correct. But the limiting factor here is the frame. Those Nirones don't look like they can go much wider than 25mm. I'm sure it's well worth going with 25mm tires, if they fit, after the current tires are worn out. I wouldn't throw away good rubber for the 'upgrade'.

Hi again, thanks for all the info....OK to answer a few questions. I have the tyres pumped hard, 100 to 110 psi in both front and rear - I was always of the opinion that heavier riders ie heavier than the skinny tour riders are better with the tyres harder to support their weight. If mu 23c tyres were with much less air I think I may be prone to flats. Plus yes yee are right about the roads....a lot of the roads are well paved but there are roads here in northern sweden that are unpaved, we call them gravel roads but they are hard compacted over the years but still rough and bumpy in places.
I had a look at the bike frams again and it looks like it would have no problem taking larger tyres..a lot larger...the room around the brakes is great and the rear stays are indented close to the tyres presumably to allow larger tyres. I think I will try a 28c tyre...possibly something like Schwalbe marathon.

Agree with wider but I don't think you have to go to 28 or 32...get a set of 25's.

You probably will want them inflated to 90-95F and 95-100R.

90kg is not "heavy", in my opinion. I'd consider it to be "average", personally.

An alternative to the standard Schwalbe Marathon is the Marathon Supreme, which offers a better ride quality with excellent puncture protection. Another option is the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season, in a 25 or 28mm. I have a set of 25mm GP 4 Season (and I am a similar weight as you) that I quite like. I run these at 90psi and feel they offer a very nice ride - plush enough to keep me comfy, while giving a nice road feel and reasonably low rolling resistance.

I start at 95 psi front and 100 psi rear in my 700x25 tires and inflate them once a week, with ending pressures as low as 85 psi front and 90 psi rear.

I haven't had any pinch flats since upsizing to 25mm wide tires at weights from 180 to 215 pounds plus fifteen pounds of luggage.

as others wrote - lower pressure 25mm will be perfect. 4000S have recommended 110 psi. 4-Seasons - 95 psi, much better considering your purpose. I might also suggest Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 700x27c. This tire runs a bit narrower so it will be 25 to 26mm and has psi ratings: 85-115 psi. Excellent tire of the 4000S class. Ping me if you're interested in getting them at low cost.

As a ~90kg person, I have to say...

wut.

Another option might be the new Conti Grand Prix GT which comes only in 25mm. They are also 110-120 psi but they might be a nice cross of 4000S and 4-season. Has anyone tried them?

90kg here, too. There are alot of us out there. My "optimal" (top fitness) weight is 185 lbs, so 185-195 seems to be where I range.

Haven't you posted that you've had many flats?

OP I'd suggest 25mm tires at 95 psi.

Take it to the lbs and ask them to fit the fattest tires that will go on your bike - they'll probably put 28s or 32s but you can't tell since these the manufacturer measurements aren't consistent (which is why the lbs should do it - they can always switch tires if they rub). I've started to ride on 28s and they work just as well as 23s, a tad more comfortable with a little less pressure.

Rather than making modifications to the good wheel set you have now I would simply invest in another set of wheels on the cheaper side - A fair set of 700 32c can be less than $175.00 US in including the Freewheel or Cassette - I have found that having two sets of wheels is almost like having two bikes - Certainly a worth while investment...