Switch from 23 to 25?

richard36

I'm planning on cycling 200 miles in 2 days from Dumfries & Galloway to Manchester. I'll be using the main roads and if they are anything like the ones where I live they will be a little bumpy at times. I have Continental Gatorskins 23 on my bike and was wondering whether there was any benefit from a comfort point of view of changing to the same tyre but size 25. I have been reading some posts that suggest the rolling resistance may be the same but that the 25's will give a slightly better ride.

After the ride I would continue using the 23's and is there any benefit in getting them just for this one ride?

Would appreciate some advice, and thanks

Cheers

night_porter

Nope!

You won't notice any difference just let 5-10psi out of your current tyres and that will make more difference.

During the tour riders were reducing their pressures (reputedly to 80psi) to give more grip when it rained so the tyre pressure police will probably allow you to let a little out of yours.

Just remember to steer clear of potholes or you "might" get pinch flats.

thel33ter

Do you find the bike uncomfortable now? if yes, then you may as well, if not, I wouldn't bother. TBH. I doubt it will make that much of a difference, running the tires a bit softer will be more noticeable.

From my experience, I went from a rather fat set of 23s, to a skinnier set, and the latter rode much better, and were a bit more comfortable...

daviesee

night_porter wrote:

Nope!

You won't notice any difference just let 5-10psi out of your current tyres and that will make more difference.

During the tour riders were reducing their pressures (reputedly to 80psi) to give more grip when it rained so the tyre pressure police will probably allow you to let a little out of yours.

Just remember to steer clear of potholes or you "might" get pinch flats.

Something to consider.........

What is the weight of the average Tour rider?

I am @ 14 stone and when I drop below 100 psi, I get flats.
Generalisations are always wrong

night_porter

So your generalisation about getting flats must be wrong then?

Barteos

Richard36 wrote:

I'm planning on cycling 200 miles in 2 days from Dumfries & Galloway to Manchester. I'll be using the main roads and if they are anything like the ones where I live they will be a little bumpy at times. I have Continental Gatorskins 23 on my bike and was wondering whether there was any benefit from a comfort point of view of changing to the same tyre but size 25. I have been reading some posts that suggest the rolling resistance may be the same but that the 25's will give a slightly better ride.

After the ride I would continue using the 23's and is there any benefit in getting them just for this one ride?

Would appreciate some advice, and thanks

Cheers

25mm or 28mm will be better in every way, not just for the trip.
More grip and comfort (run at slightly lower pressure), less chance of pinch flats and at least as fast.

unixnerd

I bought some used wheels for my tourer and they came with 23s. They were bone jarring even at lower pressures, couldn't wait to fit my 28s. But I think the brand of tyre may make a difference. I have 23 front and 25 rear Continental Ultra Sports on my road bike and they're fine even at high pressure. I run 85 psi for long runs and 105+ psi for short, fast workouts.

I think the uncomfortable Vittoria 23s may have been quite old had possibly hardened with age (there was a small amount of sidewall cracking).

thel33ter

unixnerd wrote:

I bought some used wheels for my tourer and they came with 23s. They were bone jarring even at lower pressures, couldn't wait to fit my 28s. But I think the brand of tyre may make a difference. I have 23 front and 25 rear Continental Ultra Sports on my road bike and they're fine even at high pressure. I run 85 psi for long runs and 105+ psi for short, fast workouts.

I think the uncomfortable Vittoria 23s may have been quite old had possibly hardened with age (there was a small amount of sidewall cracking).

Wierd. I my original tyres were Vittoria's, and they were replaced with Conti Ultrasports too.

"Barteos wrote:

less chance of pinch flats

If swapping from 23 to 25, the difference between the likelihood of a pinch is tiny, and the chances of a pinch flat are much more down to the width of the rim.

Monty Dog

FWIW the difference in volume between a 23 and a 25 mm tyre is nearly 20% and makes a significant difference to both handling, pinch puncture resistance and comfort IME. The only 23mm tyres I own are racing tubs which handle and fell to the hosepipes that people call road tyres.The only reason people ride 23 tyres is fashion, before that they rode 18 and 20 mm tyres because they thought they were faster. Plenty of research on the subject as well - good Wiki article on rolling resistance too if you want facts not fiction.

rolf_f

Monty Dog wrote:

The only reason people ride 23 tyres is fashion, before that they rode 18 and 20 mm tyres because they thought they were faster.

I ride 23mm tyres because they fit under my Crud Racers!

FransJacques

25s are more comfortable due to the multiple factors of greater volume and the lower pressure you can run them at due to their taller profile - fewer chances of a pinch flat.

My belief is that with "tough" carcassed tyres like gatorskins or hardcase your sidewalls are basically made of plywood, so you need to introduce some comfort back into the equation by going wider and softer. There's a good reason Schwable Marathons aren't made in a 20 or 23c width...

daviesee

daviesee wrote:

I am @ 14 stone and when I drop below 100 psi, I get flats.
Generalisations are always wrong

night_porter wrote:

So your generalisation about getting flats must be wrong then?

Nope. I was talking specifically about me therefore it is not a generalisation.

The generalisation comment was a vague attempt at humour.

All, part, or none of the above may be true. This holds for all posts

See what I did there?

richard36

Many thanks for your replies. Much appreciated.