tyres

duncanjohnston66

what is the best width of tyre to use?

lc1981

What for? Riding in the wet, the dry, racing, commuting...? The reason that different widths exist is because they suit different applications, so there's no way anyone can answer your question without any information on how you plan to use them.

simon_masterson

What's the best kind of bike to use? There isn't a single best: it depends on the bike (and its wheels), what it is being used for and who is riding it. What cycling do you do and on what?

danlikesbikes

As others have said we are all (well most of use) here to help, but you need to clarify what you want;
racing
commuting
all weather
puncture resistance
economy

Give us an idea of what you want/expect & am sure that between the BR knowledge you will get honest reviews covering your needs.

smoggysteve

As an everyday use, 25 is probably best. I prefer 23 front and back on my main bike but in winter will go 25 rear in bad weather just for the sure footed feel.

duncanjohnston66

bike came with unbranded 23 gonna buy some new ones just general road training in all weathers

Strith

I use 23s for all my training and racing in all weather conditions. Some like 25s for a bit more comfort. I'd wait till your current tyres wear out first unless they're horrificly bad.

Sprool

23 is best - lower rolling friction and more importantly its a prime number which is cool.

phil_smeeth

duncanjohnston66 wrote:

bike came with unbranded 23 gonna buy some new ones just general road training in all weathers

My bike came with some horrible tyres. I stayed with 23 but went for a brand I'd heard of and the difference was amazing.

markos1963

Sprool wrote:

23 is best - lower rolling friction and more importantly its a prime number which is cool.

Not correct, plenty of data out there showing that wider tyres roll more efficiently. I use 25mm for most occasions, narrower for my TT bike as I need better aero and a 25f 28r combo on my winter bike for better grip and comfort(this bike fly down hills, out rolling my club mates on their 23s)

team47b

Sprool wrote:

23 is best - lower rolling friction and more importantly its a prime number which is cool.

I use 23 on my road bike and 37 on my hybrid, two prime numbers

cyclingfury

I've got 7 bikes, yet another prime number.

nawty

How much do you want to spend?

I just got a set of these Vittoria Paves for general use, they're 24mm:

http://www.cyclingbargains.com/product_ ... bes-p-1845

ednino

General road use, can't really go wrong with Continental gatorskins

Mine are 70% worn now and i'll be replacing with the same

simon_masterson

ednino wrote:

General road use, can't really go wrong with Continental gatorskins

Mine are 70% worn now and i'll be replacing with the same

I concur in part. I use Gatorskins myself; I consider them the most suitable of the limited selection available for 27" wheels, but I do like them. If I could choose (including looser financial constraint!), or rather, if I had 700c wheels, I'm not sure I would opt for them, but that is simply because I would rather have something grippier and am not convinced that I need the level of protection that they provide. For a tough tyre for fast road riding, you can definitely do worse.

According to a feature in Cycling Weekly a few months back, Elinor Barker uses them on her training bike as well. There's an endorsement.