Tyres 23 v 25mm Pros & Cons

bianchibob

Currently running 23mm Continental GP 4000 on my road bikes. Several are starting to look worn out so need changing.
Choice is 23 mm or 25 mm wide, both will fit but what are the advantages of running a 25mm width tyre if any.
My initial thought would be that I could drop the pressure a bit in the 25mm and perhaps have a slightly more comfortable ride ?
Is this correct and if so are there any other positives or negatives to this change.

Thanks

bernithebiker

bianchibob wrote:

Currently running 23mm Continental GP 4000 on my road bikes. Several are starting to look worn out so need changing.
Choice is 23 mm or 25 mm wide, both will fit but what are the advantages of running a 25mm width tyre if any.
My initial thought would be that I could drop the pressure a bit in the 25mm and perhaps have a slightly more comfortable ride ?
Is this correct and if so are there any other positives or negatives to this change.

Thanks

I'm sticking with 23's, but I predict this thread will run to at least 3 pages....!

markhewitt1978

You can also search on the topic as it's been done to death. The conclusion generally is that 25s offer a lot of advantages and very few disadvantages over running 23.

In fact the only reason anyone really has for running 23 is if 25 physically don't fit on their bike.

Personally I went from 23mm GP4000S to 25mm GP4000S. Hard to compare as there was a winter of riding on GP4Seasons in between that but they feel just as fast and comfortable.

noodleman

I recently changed to 25's and after initially feeling like i had a puncture, i realised this was actually the level of comfort over the 23's. Changed the feel of my oltre completely. Much less skittish, more comfortable and seems like more grip, although this may be my imagination. Vittoria corsa cx.

bianchibob

markhewitt1978 wrote:

You can also search on the topic as it's been done to death. The conclusion generally is that 25s offer a lot of advantages and very few disadvantages over running 23.

In fact the only reason anyone really has for running 23 is if 25 physically don't fit on their bike.

Personally I went from 23mm GP4000S to 25mm GP4000S. Hard to compare as there was a winter of riding on GP4Seasons in between that but they feel just as fast and comfortable.

I did do a search, but only seemed to get questions and answers regarding whether or not 25mm would fit certain frames !!
Not quite the answer I was looking for.

alex222

I will defer to Inner Ring
http://inrng.com/2013/04/reinventing-the-wheel-25mm/

apreading

wider tyres at the same pressure offer the same grip but less rolling resistance due to the tyre not deflecting as much.

Or you can drop the pressure a but and have more grip for the same rolling resistance and a much smoother ride - this is generally the best way to go because on our rough roads the smoother ride makes you much faster because the bike is more stable and you suffer less fatigue.

The only advantage to narrower is aero and weight. Nowadays with advancement in tyre technologies the weight issue is no longer that significant, wheras in years gone by it was. The aero difference is not huge for most of us either, unless you go very fast and everything else on the bike is aero already (in particular the rider!).

bernithebiker

At the risk of making this go to 6 pages instead of 3, are we going to consider the difference between a 23 tub, versus a 25mm clincher here?...!!

alex222

bernithebiker wrote:

At the risk of making this go to 6 pages instead of 3, are we going to consider the difference between a 23 tub, versus a 25mm clincher here?...!!

Please continue

meanredspider

I've measured a difference between long-term avg speeds on 23c vs 25c (the 25c being 0.5mph quicker) on the same tyre type. Not totally scientific but enough to convince me. Also, when trying to find out why some people find Vittoria Rubino Pro tyres slippery in the wet and some people don't, there seemed to be a dirty correlation between 23c (slippery) and 25c (not). Of course, correlation is not causation and this was very far from scientific. Broadly, where there is any evidence, it seems to point towards 25c being the better tyre or at least as good from a performance perspective. What doesn't seem to be in much doubt is that 25c is more comfortable. My choice is made. YMMV and I wouldn't argue that using 23c is a mistake.

apreading

The negatives of running 23c are compounded if you are on the large side too, because you have to run much higher pressure and the ride is unforgiving. My teenage son has less of an issue with them than me as he is much lighter and can run them at similar (albeit fractionally higher) pressures to those which I use on 25c. If 25c would fit on his bike (they dont) then he would be able to cycle over the worst of our roads in comfort at the pressures he could then use!

lochindaal

Or use the Specialized tyre amnesty and get 24's and sit in the middle

sloppyschleckonds

You'll be slower on 25's.

*I reckon 7 pages

Anonymous

The only thing I am unsure on is hard, out the saddle sprints. Would the softer, 25mm not deform more?

apreading

coriordan wrote:

The only thing I am unsure on is hard, out the saddle sprints. Would the softer, 25mm not deform more?

If that were the case, then the answer would be to run it at the same pressure as the 23mm and it will actually deform less and with less rolling resistance but just as much grip.

Anonymous

Cheers, that's what I do anyway, and let a bit of air out if it's looking greasy.

cycleclinic

the only con is if your frame cant take a 25mm tyre, otherwise just advantages.

Threads like this are a bit hand holding sometimes you just need to try stuff out, if you dont like it then you will know, it is the only way but you will like them that is almost certain.

noodleman

25mm tubs do feel different to 25mm clinchers. Cant actually describe in what way but they do. Sound better when you go through puddles.

Tjgoodhew

I went from 23mm Mavic Yksion tyres to 25mm Michelin SC4.

I run them at the same pressure and the only real difference I notice is more confidence in fast corners in the 25mm.

However i couldn't of imagined riding the cobbles of flanders on the 23mm

apreading

If you run at the same pressure then the 25mm wont be any better on the cobbles...

thegreatdivide

25mm tyres will make an amazing cyclist. They basically ride the bike for you, get you all the KOM's and women will swoon at your ripped legs.

stueys

thegreatdivide wrote:

25mm tyres will make an amazing cyclist. They basically ride the bike for you, get you all the KOM's and women will swoon at your ripped legs.

I found this, especially the women part. I'm scared to try 28, all hell might break loose...

flasher

Conti GP4000s 23mm once fitted and inflated measure up to very nearly 25mm, likewise 25's measure nearly 27mm.

bernithebiker

Alex222 wrote:

bernithebiker wrote:

At the risk of making this go to 6 pages instead of 3, are we going to consider the difference between a 23 tub, versus a 25mm clincher here?...!!

Please continue

If you're looking for a smoother ride and a nicer feel, (possibly better handling?) then maybe try a 23 tubular, rather than going for the 25mm clincher.

Obviously this will involve you having to buy some tubular wheels.......

86inch

You can have "both"... I have a set of HED Belgium+ rims with 23mm tyres. The tyres come up the same width as the rim. I'm a convert to this spec now.

ai_1

It's all dependent anyway.
A light rider with 23mm tyres is going to be similar to a heavier rider with 25mm tyres.
A very heavy rider on very thin tyres is a bad idea. Anything else will work and it comes down to preference as much as anything else.

lakinlakin

I recently tried a 25mm on the front. Found it much more comfortable. So much so I have swapped from 23mm tyres to 25mm on the rear and 28mm at the front. Did a 50 mile run today, felt much smoother and less draining on the arms.

My advice is try it. Marginal gains real or percieved are worth it.

sloppyschleckonds

lakinlakin wrote:

Marginal gains percieved are worth it.

Jesus wept.

apreading

I would put the bigger tyre on the rear if they are not the same as that is where most weight is. Allows you to run them both at similar pressure then.

lakinlakin

apreading wrote:

I would put the bigger tyre on the rear if they are not the same as that is where most weight is. Allows you to run them both at similar pressure then.

Your right. All things being equal that is what I would do. However, I feel most vibration through my arms. So I have put the larger tyre on the front. I will swap them round next week to see how it feels.

cycleclinic

I have 30mm tyres on bike and they are not slowing me down. On pr cobbles quitw the reverse thwy helped me sustain some good speeds over those tracks.