Tyre size for wider rims

moscowflyer

So I've been running 25mm GP4000s on my 19mm rims for a while and loved everything about them over 23mm tyres. I now have some 23mm Archetype rims and despite only having had one 10 mile ride on them so far, I'm wondering whether I should go back to 23mm.

Do the wider rims negate the benefits of wider tyres? Does anyone else run 23mm rims and has tried both 23 and 25mm tyres? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Cheers

vala

Can't comment regarding 25mm tyres, but I've got a set of Pacenti SL23's which are fitted with 23mm Conti GP4000s and so far can't fault them.

FatTed

I run wider rims with 25 tyres. you need to have less pressure in them than you would with the 19 rims.

moscowflyer

FatTed wrote:

I run wider rims with 25 tyres. you need to have less pressure in them than you would with the 19 rims.

I read somewhere (I'll try and find it) that you need to go with slightly more pressure. I usually go with 110F and 100R.

Monty Dog

The benefit of the wider tyre is that you can run reduced pressure without detriment to rolling resistance but improved comfort and grip.

tomisitt

There's a very interesting piece in this month's Cyclist magazine about rolling resistance, tyre widths and pressures. Definitely worth a read.

ugo.santalucia

Hi,

23 mm tyres are more than OK for comfort on 23 mm tyres and will give you a smooth ride even at 90 PSI front 100 rear in your case.
25 will protect the rim better against accidental damage. As you increase rim width, there is "less tyre" to protect the rim... the tyre sits at a rounder angle, rather than like a light bulb, but by doing so it offers less protection.
My take is 23 mm for summer and generally good visibility and something wider for winter and/or poor visibility.

Bigger tyres are not necessarily slower, only a tad heavier.
For reference, yesterday's commute on 25 mm Continental Gatorskin tyres at 95 PSI was 47 minutes, today's commute on a set of Vittoria Randonneur 32 mm at 60 PSI on the same bike 47 minutes... wind condition was more favourable yesterday actually