kappakall

I just read an article that says 25mm tires are faster? Is this true? What are the other advantages of 25mm tires?

Thanks,

vermilionx

i have 25s

smoother ride. dunno about faster

also using 23 rims though.

dpd3672

I was always under the impression that, generally speaking, larger tires are more comfortable but slower. Under certain conditions, this may not be the case, but there's generally a tradeoff to everything.

In my own experience, as a relative newbie, the speed I give up is negligible, but the comfort is quite apparent.

Wingsprint

Oh great!

A topic that has never been discussed on this forum.

wphamilton

IME, no discernible difference in practice.

rm -rf

25c with about 10 psi lower pressure than 23c is still fast (maybe even faster) and is more comfortable on rough roads.

It's been discussed many times.
Google: site:bikeforums.net 23 25 tires rolling resistance

For example, I linked to this chart in this thread. Rolling resistance is vertical, air pressure is horizontal.

GlennR

And you expected....

rm -rf

The "same old" questions can be tedious for long term members. It's hard for new members to do effective searches of old threads, so the same topics keep recurring. A tricky problem.

xkcd:

Sy Reene

What makes it hard for new members to search (ostensibly it's somehow easier for older members to search)?
eg. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...bikeforums.net

anotherbrian

Thumbs up on the reply. However had they typed into Google exactly what they entered as a message, they'd have got a whole bunch of results ... and ultimately probably more useful than the snarky responses they're still likely to get.

"I just read an article that says 25mm tires are faster? Is this true? What are the other advantages of 25mm tires?" ==
25 vs. 23 | Is Wider Really Faster? | Competitive Cyclist

PaulRivers

23mm vs 25mm - which is faster? is not a question that can be answered with just that info. Your weight is a big factor - a 25mm tire is faster than a 23mm tire for someone who's heavier without a doubt. The line between when 23mm would be faster based on weight - is debatable and is one I don't know about. But if you had a 240lb rider, they would be faster on a 25mm tire, all other things being properly adjusted.

18mm tires exist, but they're not used much, because they're to skinny and slower. Tires that are to fat are also slower. The fastest tire for you is one that's neither to wide nor to skinny.

f4rrest

Why don't we all settle on a nice compromise?

24mm.

Doge

Lower rolling resistance, very slight increase in air drag, heavier. Seem a wee bit more flat prone.

Lazyass

"Faster" because you run them with lower pressure which allows the tire to conform to road irregularities more and bounce less. No you won't see a change in your average mph but they will make the ride a little more smooth. More or less depending on what kind of roads you ride. Us chipseal riders can tell a nice difference.

Doge

No rider has won the Tour de France on 25s

Lazyass

Yeah, I think Maurice Garin was running 22's.

ErichVonCartman

I don't think no one wanted to join in anyways... and don't worry about me, I will be OK. Even if the topic is old to me, it's not old to all, and I am OK with OTHERS discussing new topics (to them).

Lazyass

Giro Tech: Rise of the 25mm tire - VeloNews.com

StanSeven

Don't feel bad. Ten years from now when someone resurrects this thread, you can show you were a part.

ErichVonCartman

There are only 4-5 guys in the entire world that ride the Tour De France to win de Maillot Jean. Of those 4-5 guys, you are probably right, they don't ride 25mm tires, but the rest of the Tour Riders seem to ride 25mm (from everything I have read that seems to be the case).

I myself won't try 25mm tires as long as all of these 23mm tires on clearance are around Very hard to find 25mm race tires marked down as low as 23mm.

Doge

The tires I have made for my son to race on are 25s. The tires he trains on are 23s thicker rubber tougher. I bought some 27s this year but they barely clear the Tarmac. They are heavier. He is using 25mm HED rims for racing so even 24s look too narrow. I think he will do some riding on 24s and also the 25s this year.

allen254

Definitely faster less rolling resistance lower tire pressure equals to a more supple ride, bouncy in a good way,, supposedly more aero.. i ve tried 23mm tire once and i hated it. i have a pair of boyd altamontes which are 24mm wide so 25 mm tires are a good match for them.

Doge

These are 27.5 300g - really light for the size


Going with these - sometimes. Measure 24.5 (they are size 25). They should be very low RR...but not tested.

Fox Farm

It the most recent issue of Cyclist magazine, they did a comprehensive test of tire width and psi. 25mm tires at 85psi roll faster than 23 at 110psi. I am greatly simplifying their results, but if you want to get all of the information, read their article.

Lazyass

Pretty much every single tire I see on sale is the same price for every size it comes in. I don't recall ever seeing a tire that has the 23 size on sale but not the 25.