25mm tubulars

displacedaussie

Does anybody ride 25mm tubulars? What are your thoughts compared to 23mm (or smaller) ones?

All of the older guys at my club are horrified at the idea of wider tyres but I've been happily racing on 25mm GP4000S clinchers for the last year and a half. I finally have a nice pair of tubular wheels (Dura Ace WH-7850 C50) but I'm not sure whether to stick with 23mm Vittoria Corsa Evo CX tubs or go for the 25s, or perhaps the 25mm version of the Continental Competition.

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/05/news/giro-tech-rise-of-the-25c-tire_218011

The rims on these older DA wheels aren't as wide as the current crop of carbon wheels so perhaps it's better to stick with 23s? Any thoughts from people who have ridden both?

Wooliferkins

Back in the the day thinner was thought faster. Whizzy boffiny types have shown that a 25mm tyre has a lower rolling resistance than a 23. A good chunk of the pro peleton are racing on 24/25mm tubs

francis666

Really good article on tyre sizes, will change your mind about super skinny.
Gone from 23c to 25c
I'm still on clinchers but really cant beet Ultremo ZX and GP 4000 very close second.
Must read: (or google Schwalbe Ultremo review and choose dave mccraw, not just about schwalbe, but compares to GP 400 and most of all tyre sizes -revolutionary!)
http://mccraw.co.uk/schwalbe-ultremo-zx ... 72%2Cd.d2k

thegreatdivide

Newer wider rims like the Zipp FC are meant to work better with 23mm tubs to get the 'teardrop' shape. 25mm means the tyre starts to bulge out the sides causing drag.

bernithebiker

If 25's roll better than 23's which roll better than 21's, then why aren't we all on 28's?

tomisitt

Because beyond 25mm the weight and aero disadvantages of 28s outweigh the rolling resistance benefits

ugo.santalucia

bernithebiker wrote:

If 25's roll better than 23's which roll better than 21's, then why aren't we all on 28's?

I am so far ahead of anybody else... I am already on 32 with the clinchers and 27 with the tubulars...

francis666

How about they don't always fit under the brakes! think the areo resistance is a big issue and look pig ugly!!!!

cougie

Close clearances might just be fashion. Did you see the British Olympic road race bikes ? Masses of clearance at the forks. Maybe that's what we should be doing.

dennisn

For me the whole issue here is about manufacturers selling you something new. i.e wider rims and different sized tires. Pretty soon everyone will believe that they must have different sized tires and wheels for different occasions. If this stratagey succeeds in selling bunches of new items I'm pretty sure it will spawn another round of new things that are "must have". Reminds me of the time, not too long ago, when you "must have" oversized bars and stems. Everyone believed the ad men and what they said.

It's always been said that we learn from our mistakes but I have my doubts that people are that smart. :roll:

francis666

Kind of feel this way about the new 29er MTB's.

back to road...
But reading the link http://mccraw.co.uk/schwalbe-ultremo
did make me think about new sizes (25 over 23). Worth a read