New Tyres
jame58rown
Posts: 263
I've had my road bike for about a year now, but can't help noticing that the tyres seem really wide, meaning more rolling resistance. To get thinner tyres will I need to get different wheels?
Some advice on what tyres to get would also be good. (the thinner the better)
Cheers.
Some advice on what tyres to get would also be good. (the thinner the better)
Cheers.
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Comments
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No.To get thinner tyres will I need to get different wheels?
Anything by Continental / Michelin and you shouldn't go astray.0 -
Thinner is not necessarily better, rolling resistance can be higher on a thinner tyre on typical imperfect roads, as the larger tyre can run at a lower pressure and ride smoothly over imperfections, whereas the thinner higher pressure tyre will bounce around.
See Schwalbe's tech info pages 16 and 17 for the full explanation:
http://www.schwalbe.co.uk/shopdata/file ... fo2-GB.pdf
A narrower tyre can offer aero advantages but these are unlikely to offset poorer rolling resistance unless you are at 25mph or more.
A very narrow tyre will need to be inflated to a higher pressure and reinflated more often, may be more fragile and puncture prone, and will be less comfortable.
Look on your tyre sidewall for the size, you will see something like 700x25 (700 is the diameter and 25 is 25mm width), This is a reasonable size for speed and comfort. Sizes go down to 19 (commonly 23, 19 but there may be others).
Your rims will fit a range of sizes, it depends on what they are (let us know) but typically a rim might fit a range from 19-28mm, or a wider rim 25-37mm for example.0 -
Thanks for the reply.
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Didn't see your post alfablue.
I just checked my tyre. It's a 700x26. It does appear to be very thick compared to other bikes I've seen. Most of my riding's uphill. Should this make a difference to my tyre choice?0 -
700x26 is an unusual size, what brand is it? What are your wheels?
Going uphill means that aero advantages are irrelevant, though downhill they would come in to play (though I am generally not going flat out downhill anyway). Downhill, greater comfort may give you a more confident ride.
I have used 23's and 25's on my road bike, and I marginally prefer the 25's for a smoother ride.
Your tyres may be fine, but if they are cheap and cheerful you may gain more benefit through weight saving, for instance my Specialized All Condition's Pro's combined with better tubes saved 150g per wheel over the stock setup, and weight saving on wheels is about the only place you can actually perceive a benefit from such small amounts.0 -
My bike is a Dawes Giro 400. Maybe a 23 would be best, i.e. not the thinnest, but not the fattest either?0
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If it has an aluminium fork I would stick to 25 (or what you have) or it will rattle your teeth.
Oh, it's carbon 0 -
I see current spec is Schwalbe Blizzard Sport 700x23c Front Schwalbe Blizzard Sport 700x23c Rear0
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jame58rown wrote:My bike is a Dawes Giro 400. Maybe a 23 would be best, i.e. not the thinnest, but not the fattest either?
james - 23s or 25s won't make much difference to you, but a pair of lightweight folding tyres would be useful for where you live - you will have less rotating weight which you should feel the benefits of going up hill....0 -
Ok, cheers softlad, I'll look in to getting one for my saddle bag 0
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When I say "one" I mean a pair... lol0
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Wait........ Sorry softlad I completely misread your post :roll: .
I thought you meant getting a lightweight folding tyre for my saddle bag because the roads round here are shite. then i re-read your post and saw that you said "pair". after a third reading i realised you actually meant to put ON my bike to decrease rolling resistance.
I should read things more carefully.
Anyway, I've found a folding tyre thats on the cheap side.......
Does anyone have any idea on how to make money on this forum??
Any tips would be greatly appreciated
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reducing the rotating mass will make a noticeable effect, and that's what lighter tyres and tubes can do for you, it won't effect rolling resistance (which as Softlad said, will not really be noticeable between close tyre sizes, and as I said earlier, is not necessarily reduced by narrower tyres).jame58rown wrote:Wait........ Sorry softlad I completely misread your post :roll: .
I thought you meant getting a lightweight folding tyre for my saddle bag because the roads round here are shite. then i re-read your post and saw that you said "pair". after a third reading i realised you actually meant to put ON my bike to decrease rolling resistance.
I should read things more carefully.
Anyway, I've found a folding tyre thats on the cheap side.......
Ooh - not really what its for, I think - though you can sell items on the classifieds section (though presumably not on a commercial basis).Does anyone have any idea on how to make money on this forum??
Any tips would be greatly appreciated0
