Slackerprince

I'll admit to preconceived notions that 23 tires are faster than 25's, but I've researched enough and read enough here to dispel that.
My last 2 sets of tires have been Conti Super Sport Plus and Kenda Kaliente Pros, both in 23.
I ride an alu bike and I'm plenty happy with the overall ride quality, but if I can bump that up a bit with some 25's, I'd like to try.

I'm looking at these:

Michelin Pro Optimum Road Tire

I like the fact that the rear tire is designed more durably than the front, so that they wear more evenly. They only come in 25.
I'd like to hear about others moving from 23 to 25 for daily road riding.
Thanks.

S

dtrain

I don't know that model, but Mich. PR3 in 25 are huge (more like 27-28).

Drew Eckhardt 

Sure. 23mm tires were nice when I weighed 145 pounds and could ride them until they felt squishy without pinch flats; although at 190-200+ 25 is a better choice allowing me to start at 90-95 front and 100-105 rear dropping about 10 psi over the week I go without adding air.

Gatorfreak

I converted. Went from Rubino pro 23mm to Conti GP 4000s 25mm. I can't say it's a big difference one way or another but I think it helps a bit on chip seal. I inflate to 80 or 85 psi.

robbyville

I'm currently back on 23's but will go back to my 25's next go round. I wanted to try new rubber and the ones I had access to (Hutchison fusion 3 tubeless, and continental GP4000s II's) we're only available in 23mm. Noticeable difference on the tubeless wheels and not for the better. I think that with the somewhat narrower inside track on the alloy rim that some of the comfort advantages are mitigated with smaller rubber. I'm told I have to keep them with a somewhat higher pressure as well but I'm going to play with that. The Conti's are on a wider carbon rim and I don't notice much of a difference on those but am inflating them a little more than previously with the 25's.

in both cases I was using Bontrager R3's in 25mm (one TLR version). I really liked the ride quality and will probably go back to them although they don't last as long as what I hear these new ones will (I got about 1500 miles out of the tubed version less out of TLR due to the type of gravel I was on, never flatted but sealant was starting to leak out of some of the cuts )

Overall I felt more comfortable and less bouncy on 25's happy I tried this though and maybe time will change mind!

biciklanto

I converted up when buying a new bike — from 23 to 25C.

The new Continental GP 4000 S II in 28C are supposedly the lowest-rolling-resistance tires Continental has ever made, so those are next on the list; if I can have really low resistance with a cushy ride, it's pluses all around.

One of these years when I'm not a poor college student I'll be able to afford some carbon tubs (something like the Bontrager Aeolus 5 D3 or the Boyd 40mm tubulars), and my game plan when I've done that is to throw something like the Challenge Paris Roubaix in 27C on there — I'm thinking that combo would just be phenomenal. Someday....

Dheorl

I'm on 28's at the moment. I'm not that heavy (around 140 probably) but live in an area with lots of cobble stones and truly terrible roads in general. Even the apparently comfy carbon bikes I've been testing I just can't stand the ride of due to the skinny tyres.

OldsCOOL

I went 2 seasons with clunky Bontager B-Series 25's before going back to folding bead 23mm (Michelin) racers. That just wasnt for me. I can tell the difference between those two tires.

gsa103

Shimano dual-pivot calipers can't open wide enough for a 25mm tire to clear a 18mm rim with the tire fully inflated. If you regularly remove your front wheel that's a major annoyance.

Bah Humbug

Would convert if the S1 could handle 25c. As it is, only the P3 will take it, and I use the same wheels on each.

The S1 actually sorta fits them, but rubs, so it's a LOT slower.

dtrain

Yeah, this was annoying to me too. I had a bad combo going: PR3's in 25 which run wide and narrow Mavic Ksyriums. Looked like a lightbulb and I swear I nearly rolled the front tire off in one extra aggressive turn. PR3's in 23 (especially on wider rims) are plenty wide and nice.

Jiggle

28mm in the back, 25mm in the front, both at 70psi.

big chainring 

I'm riding 33 or 35mm cyclo cross sew -up tires on my road bike. Great ride. And they're pretty fast too. Its nice not having to dodge all the cracks, pavement breaks and potholes this past winter has left us.

m_b_b

I haven't had this problem. Switched from 23mm Hutchinson Intensives to 25mm michelin Pro4s (which don't seem to be that much bigger than 25mm for me). Ride is much much better, and no issues with removing wheels. I do have the older 6600 shimano brakes though.

Carbonfiberboy 

Not a fan of different tires front and back. When a rear wears out, I rotate the front to rear and mount a new front. I'm running PRO4 Endurance on our tandem but they are awfully big for ordinary single riding. The new Schwalbe One comes in 25 and is seeing very good reviews.

caloso

The tires on my training set are 25mm Michelin Lithions. I was looking for Pro4 Endurances but there was super special on the Lithions and I'm pretty frugal so I went with those. Excellent tires for the price. My race set has 25mm Vittoria CX tubulars. Ah, those are like riding on a cloud.

macca33

I tried Conti GP4000s in 25s (was running 23mm beforehand and do so now) on my Team CAAD10 and had issues with them rubbing on the rear brake caliper - ever so slightly, but enough to impede my progress, particularly when back in the saddle on hill efforts. I didn't really notice them to be more comfortable / smooth over the 23mm size, but my bulk and the fact that I run 23mm at 120psi / 25mm at 110psi probably never allowed me to realise the benefits over the 23mm tyre.

After putting 23mm tyres back on that CAAD10, the difference was clearcut, so I'll be staying on 23s for the foreseeable future.

cheers

hueyhoolihan

not a bad idea.

hueyhoolihan

i've switched, at 150lbs and 80PSI, from 23mm Evo's to 25's recently. i might not go back. the Evo's look to run wide in both 23mm and 25mm so beware.

Jackal

I run have always run 25c gatorskins. I inflate to 120 psi. I have GRAY 5.0 CARBON CLINCHERs. Ive thought about going to 23c, but from what ive read it wont make much of a difference.

xjustice09x

On my road bike I use Conti GP4000s 25's. At 175-185 pounds I can run lower pressure for a more comfortable ride.

For commuting I run 35's on my cyclocross bike.

MagicHour

I'm on 23c Vittoria Zaffiro pros atm, but have a set each of 23 and 25 Rubino Pro IIIs on deck to test out, which will be my summer tire. I've always ridden 700x23 tires since I started cycling in early 90s.

johnny99

I switched from 23 to 25, mostly because of deteriorating road quality during the George Bush years. Wider tires will hopefully give me more flat resistance. I don't notice much if any difference in performance.

fietsbob

28 and 32 are fine too ..

Slackerprince

My Synapse will take wider tires and I have Tektro long-reach brakes, so wider tires won't be an issue.
I also started running lower tire pressure after reading a lot about it.
I'm used to running 120 on 23's, so I'm interested in making some changes, even with my old-skool, preconceived notions. I'm currently on Kenda Kaliente Pro 23's at 110 psi.
PBK has a monster deal on Conti GP 4000s tires right now, so I might give those a try.

Continental Grand Prix 4000S Clincher Road Tyre Sports & Leisure | ProBikeKit.com

Thanks for the posts, and I'm always interested in hearing what brands people are using, as well as tire pressure.

S