iamLefty

Hey guys. Will a 28c fit my CAAD8? I still got the stock RS3 wheelset. Will be replacing my 25c tires soon and looking to try either an Ultrasport or Gatorskin 28c if it won't cause tire clearance issues.

Also, will my current 18-25c tubes be ok on 28c tires? Or do i need to buy new tubes as well.

Mulberry20

28s likely wont fit. I had a blue CAAD 7. In that time period the standard was 23 and the bikes could take 25s but that’s about it. You really want to put Gatorskins on a bike that stiff? There are so many nice tires that are puncture resistant but much faster and more supple. Plus Gatorskins are a nightmare to mount.

iamLefty

What tires would you recommend?

jrg1244

My CAAD5 fits Conti GP5000 28c tires just fine. FYI.

Mulberry20

Vittoria Corsas or Corsa Control
Pirelli P Zero Velo or 4S
GP 5000's

iamLefty

Will check those out. Not looking for race tires btw, just some durable tires for long rides.

Mulberry20

I get it but race tires are not the delicate unreliable creatures they use to be. If you have to fix a flat roadside I would rather have to remove and remount the Vittorias or Pirellis roadside any day of the week.

msu2001la

How much room do you have around the current tires, and what kind are they?
Not all tires are true to the labeled size, so it depends. Knowing your current tire clearance with 25mm installed will tell you if you can fit 28mm tires or not. You generally want at least 3mm of clearance on each side of the tire. Your brake caliper may be a limiting factor as well.

You don't really need to worry about the tube size. I've run 18-25c tubes in 28c tires for years and never had a problem.

I'm not a fan of Gatorskins. They have great puncture resistance, but they're heavy, slow and stiff. IMO the Conti GP5000 is one of the best road tires available and is far superior. I've never had a problem with flats on them, and have used both the tubed version (in 28mm size) and the tubeless version (in 32mm size) and ride in the city all the time.

Charliekeet

Try Schwalbe Durano Plus. Pretty light, but durable in my experience, and the 28mm is not too puffy- they fit on my 80s Cannondale SR900. (Definitely not designed for big tire clearance)

canklecat

I really like Conti GP Classic skinwalls on a couple of my road bikes, but I'm a sucker for skinwalls/gumwalls. These have a reddish brown translucent sidewall. Remarkably durable, grippy and puncture resistant for more than a year on chipseal and bad roads. And a nice ride, not a bit harsh. Price is usually somewhere between Conti's least expensive (Ultra Sport, very good cheap tires) and the GP5k and Gatorskins, usually around $30-$35 each. These are 700x25 only and may be a tight fit under some rear brake bridges.

iamLefty

Not sure about the exact tire clearance on the Luganos i have, but if it's just 3mm clearance needed on each side, 28c would probably fit. I'll check on that to be precise.

iamLefty

Will check that out. Thanks.

iamLefty

Will check out that Conti GP Classic. GP5k is too pricey for me. I've tried the Ultra Sport on my brother's bike, i like them.

Mulberry20

Excel Sports in Boulder sells tire sets for more than 50% of retail. A set of GP 5000s goes for $75. There are other sets too.

canklecat

I forgot to mention why the Conti GP Classic is an odd fit, despite being a 700x25 like the Conti Ultra Sport II that clears easily.

The Ultra Sport II is a slick and easily clears the rear brake bridge on my '89 Ironman, which was originally fitted with tires in the 700x18 to 700x20 range. Only problem with the Ultra Sport II is I need a Kool Stop bead jack for installation. US2 tires are incredibly tight fitting.

But the GP Classic has a raised center rib, so it stands a bit taller. It just barely rubs the rear brake bridge on my Suntour GPX brake. I haven't tried that bike with another brakeset so I'm not sure whether that would be a problem. I don't want to modify the brake so I'll wear down the tire a bit on the indoor trainer, or just live with the slight rub until it naturally wears down. It's only a problem when I ride through a puddle and pick up a bit of debris.

Now that I've ridden a set of GP Classics for a year, I'm going to move the front tire to the rear, and put on a new GP Classic up front. Problem solved as long as I stick with that routine.

And I can install the GP Classics with my hands, much easier on the road.

iamLefty

Anyone tried the Maxxis High Road? Is it good? Read some nice reviews about it.

Mulberry20

Here you go,
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...jor=1&minor=27
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...jor=1&minor=27
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...jor=1&minor=27
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...jor=1&minor=27
https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp...jor=1&minor=27

The Rubinos are a steal at $26 each.

iamLefty

Mulberry20 Thanks!

vlad1xxi

Try Vittoria Rubino Pro G2.0. It’s durable enough racing/training tire.