Tire Size

[violette]

I bought specialized pro tires size 700x23. They are narrow but I could go smaller. My LBS told me not to go any smaller 700x20 because it is dangerous. He said if you hit sand or gravel, you're toast! Does anyone here have narrower tires. I think the smaller the less rolling resistance???

[SadieKate]

Read this thread.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=205729&highlight=tire+width+resistance#post205729

Why do you want to decrease the size of your contact patch? Are you racing? Remember also, that the narrower the tire, the harsher the ride. If you're not racing on these tires, why?

[aicabsolut]

I don't even know many racers who go skinnier than 23s. The Specialized tires do seem to get a bit wide after very little wear (they LOOK more like 25s). There are much better tires for tight and/or wet cornering and racing, but the Spec'd tires are really really durable, and, again, if you don't race, there isn't much need to go with a pricier tire with a shorter life.

I've been told by friends that the best of both worlds for durability and performance are the Conti 4000 series tires. I've been happy with my Michelin Race tires (so much better for racing than Spec'd, except for maybe the open tubulars), but they don't last as long.

I would not go skinnier. The skinnier the tire, the more you are prone to wiping out for bumps, and you have less cornering surface. They are the most useful on the track, but not really worth it on the road, particularly if you're not racing, and I think even road racers tend to stick with 20s at a minimum.

[SadieKate]

Even racers pick wider tires based on the conditions. Remember Tyler Hamilton's TdF team trial in the rain? The team went with stupidly narrow tires and had lots of flats.

Read that thread.

[Grog]

Yes, the less rolling resistance, i.e. less surface of your tire touching the pavement, i.e. less surface of your tire keeping the bike upright.

Frankly, I'm not even sure I'd do 700X20, but I'd certainly not go any smaller than that... Even if there were millions of $ on the line (which obviously there aren't), I don't think I'd risk my collarbone or brain for a few tenths of a kilometer faster on my average speed.

But of course, if you try it, please report to us with the results! :D

[violette]

Thanks for the info. I don't race, just ride. I was just curious, because I tried a Spe'd Tarmac once with smaller tires and they were FAST. But then again, the Tarmas is more of a racing bike.

[TxDoc]

I bought specialized pro tires size 700x23. They are narrow but I could go smaller. My LBS told me not to go any smaller 700x20 because it is dangerous. He said if you hit sand or gravel, you're toast! Does anyone here have narrower tires. I think the smaller the less rolling resistance???

Here's my experience with different size of tires, hope it helps.
I used 700x21 tubulars on a bike for about 2 years, but then when I changed from that particular bike I decided to go back to clinchers and to a size 700x23. Don't get me wrong, I did love the feel of the tubulars!!! They give you a more sharp ride, and the narrower tires definitely are a bit faster - but not enough that you would really notice the difference unless you race or do speed work.
Frankly, weighing the pros and cons, 700x23 offer more stability and higher resistance to puncture, and have a longer life compared to the 700x21.
I did try 700x25 once, but removed them right away after the first day. Those were definitely too wide for me - I noticed a lot more rolling resistance and no advantages.

All in all I think it's mostly personal preference, so my suggestion would be to try 700x23, then 700x21, and see what you like more. However, if you do not race, I would stay with clinchers either way because taking care of a flat on a tubular is really not a nice experience if you do not have a mechanic following in the car with an extra wheel... ;)

[aicabsolut]

Thanks for the info. I don't race, just ride. I was just curious, because I tried a Spe'd Tarmac once with smaller tires and they were FAST. But then again, the Tarmas is more of a racing bike.

Yeah, it may have been more the bike than the tires. The Tarmac has a "snappier" more responsive ride, and it could have been lighter, stiffer, etc. from what you're used to. There's more to the ride than the tires, but you may notice a difference in ride quality and responsiveness between different tires (treaded/all-condition, slicks, different brands, different types of rubber, etc.) as well as with different widths of the same tire.

[ttaylor508]

So this thread is very timely for me as I was considering going with a skinnier tire. I currently have Specialized Roubaix 700 x 23/25c tires. DH has 700 x 23/23c and his tires are noticeably skinnier than mine. Does anyone know what the third number measurement means (/25c or /23c)?

[boy in a kilt]

In theory, those numbers say something about the width of the tire. However, a 700x25C Specialized tire may be wider or narrower than a Vittoria 700x25C.

Tire size is one of those things you have to figure out on your own. For general riding around, I like 700x28 or 700x32. Once in a while I get a wild hair and go up to 700x35 or 700x37. Not fast in any sense of the word, but very comfortable and I never got flats with the 700x37's.

[aicabsolut]

So this thread is very timely for me as I was considering going with a skinnier tire. I currently have Specialized Roubaix 700 x 23/25c tires. DH has 700 x 23/23c and his tires are noticeably skinnier than mine. Does anyone know what the third number measurement means (/25c or /23c)?

I don't know why there are 3 numbers (usually there are just 2), but I do know that Specialized 23s tend to look a lot more like 25s. Depending on shape and tread, I've seen some 23s of other brands that look more like 20s.

[ttaylor508]

Both are Specialized tires, DH's tarmac has Specialized Mondo and my Ruby has Specialized Roubaix. I did check the Specialized site and it says that 23 is the radius and the 25 is the casing. Still not exactly sure what that means, but the Mondo's are noticeably narrower. Don't know if I will go with another Specialized tire anyway, I am leaning towards the Vittoria Rubino Pros.

[aicabsolut]

Hm.. weird. I guess then I'd treat those like 25s. The Mondos are more of a racing tire, so they may be closer to a true 23.

Try Michelin Pro Race tires. Even if you don't race, they are nice performing tires. I train and race on mine. They maybe don't have the longest life, but mine are doing fine after a few thousand miles. The back one is looking kind of iffy lately, but I think that's from all the trainer warmups during race season. I run Pro2s still, but the Pro3s are supposed to be more durable. They corner sooo much better than Specialized tires IMO and are pretty good in the wet.

I've also heard good things about Continental 4000 series tires. They are supposed to be pretty bombproof but offer race worthy performance.

[spokewench]

When I raced, I used to ride 700 x 19s. They are very narrow, give a harsher ride to your bike and you have to be careful cornering in rain; but I truthfully never had a problem with them. It probably also helps if you are lightweight to run a small tire.

I don't race anymore, so I run a 700 x 23. It is a more comfortable ride and more forgiving.

spoke

[tzvia]

I ran a Vittoria Competition 20c in the back, and a Continental Grand Prix 23c front for a while a few years ago, and found the combination very precise but the low volume 20c just pounded my fillings out. So when I bought a new bike a few months ago, I tossed those aside and bought Vredestein Fortezza TriComps in 23c. What a difference. They roll light and are light weight, have just enough 'give' to take the sting out of the road and they corner well. I hear that they don't wear well, guess for my $110 bucks I'm gonna find out! They feel more like tubulars (which I used to use) than any other clincher I have tried. My Ruby came with Specialized tires (of course) but I found them heavy and unresponsive. They also looked larger than 23c and are taller/wider than the Vredesteins. The bike livened up with the Vredesteins and I did not have to sacrifice my dental work!

[OakLeaf]

tz, why a wider tire in front? Typically on motorcycles (and open wheel cars FWIW), the rear tire is wider for a larger and more rounded contact patch on the drive wheel, and lighter more precise steering in front.