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700x23 Tire Choice?

Old 08-21-20, 03:58 PM
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kaiserschmarrn
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700x23 Tire Choice?

My new to me, kind of vintage bike, uses 700x23 tires. It is an approximately 1993 Specialized Allez Comp. I was looking at the Continental GP (Grand Prix) 5000. Has anyone used it? Any comments? I thought maybe to choose some Vintage Looking ones with Gumwalls, like the Specialized ones it has now, or what my +- 1978 Peugeot PRN10 had, but I have not found any in this size. Any other standout "go fast, low rolling resistance tires" to consider?

Thanks,

Danny
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Old 08-21-20, 04:07 PM
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go bigger if you can..... 25 at least but better 28 mm. better ride, and no speed difference

I really like the conti GP 5000 high performance and I have had really good not flatting
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Old 08-21-20, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by squirtdad
go bigger if you can..... 25 at least but better 28 mm. better ride, and no speed difference
Disagree that 28 is "better." The cyclist needs to determine this for himself. I prefer 25. Not nearly as fun as 23 on beautiful, perfect, windy roads, but they're my choice for reality. 28mm just doesn't give me the feel of the road like 25 does, and they definitely feel slower while climbing.

ymmv.
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Old 08-21-20, 04:36 PM
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25mm Veloflex Master would be worth considering.
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Old 08-21-20, 04:48 PM
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Vittoria Corsa 25mm. Ride pretty darn good.
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Old 08-21-20, 04:48 PM
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I 3rd on Veloflex tires. Vintage looking with gumwall available and they're smooth riding.

I ride clincher btw
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Old 08-21-20, 05:08 PM
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Before I switched from 23 to 25 years ago, I had lots of flats and broKe some spokes. To me 25 vs 23 makes a lot more difference than 28 vs 25. Nowadays I go for the widest tire that will fit, but I ride 25s on several bikes. I like 32 a lot.
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Old 08-21-20, 06:18 PM
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Oy, width. Bucking the trend and confounding the critics I happily ride 700x23 Michelin Pros at 95 psi on my Mercian which is light, tight and fast. They're supple, and roll and feel great. AND I happily ride Compass 700x35 thinwalls on my Mk I for all-road adventures and Pasela 700x35s on my International which is my commuter/errand rider. There's room for a range of tires to suit the ride and rider. It's cool to experiment. Not sure if Michelin offers a tanwall Pro but I think they're great tires.

Seems like not too long ago tanwalls were quite out of fashion. Now all the cool kids want 'em.
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Old 08-21-20, 06:57 PM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
Disagree that 28 is "better." The cyclist needs to determine this for himself. I prefer 25. Not nearly as fun as 23 on beautiful, perfect, windy roads, but they're my choice for reality. 28mm just doesn't give me the feel of the road like 25 does, and they definitely feel slower while climbing.

ymmv.
agree ymmv..... type fast and over specific so for context

I am a big dude (244) so that makes a difference. so personally for me 28 is really nice...... but I will say the ride on 25 Challenge elite pro tubies pumped up to 130 on my 84 team miyata is totally fanstastic. On the other end I stuffed a set of Vitorria corsa control 30 mm tubies on my 85 ream miyata. (mostly because i could not get the 28s at the time) my initial feel was ok but not fantastic....I lowered from 110 front 115 back to 90 front 100 back and is made a huge difference. the other place where there is a huge positive difference is in gravel non paved

I have found less flats with bigger tires, exception being vittoria corsa g+ clinchers......I had to swap those out for the conti GP 5000 because I couldn't handle the flats any more
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Old 08-21-20, 07:02 PM
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If your frame can handle 700x25, check out Conti GP Classic skinwalls. They're sweet and reasonably priced, between the low end (but great value) Ultra Sport, and the GP5k. Reddish brown true skinwalls - the sidewalls are translucent.

However the 1980s-throwback raised center tread strip makes the tire slightly higher than other 700x25 tires, so it scraped the rear brake bridge on my Ironman with Suntour GPX group until I rode it a few times on the indoor trainer and outdoors. It's still a snug fit but a visible gap, so I hear scraping only after running through puddles and picking up a little debris.

I like the GP Classics so well I'm considering taking a moto tool to the brake bridge just to add a little clearance, rather than changing tires.

BTW, I switched that bike to Silca latex tubes last month. Between the tubes and supple sidewalls this is a sweet riding bike on chipseal and rough roads now. Significantly less vibration and road chatter.
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Old 08-21-20, 07:02 PM
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+1 Michelin Pros 700x23

100 psi + Illinois roads
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Old 08-21-20, 07:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Erzulis Boat
Vittoria Corsa 25mm. Ride pretty darn good.
Which one? There seem to be different versions of Vittoria Corsa?

Danny
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Old 08-21-20, 07:26 PM
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OP Says 23.
I haven't tried the 5000s but I luv the GP 4000s and when I need more clinchers they will be GP 5000s. My vintage road bikes were spec'd with 20 -23mm tires so it seems correct.
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Old 08-21-20, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by thinktubes
+1 Michelin Pros 700x23

100 psi + Illinois roads
Are you talking about Pro 4 Service Course?
Wondering about the actual size. I had a pair of the 25’s and they were more like 27-28mm at 90psi.
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Old 08-21-20, 08:24 PM
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Originally Posted by squirtdad
agree ymmv... I am a big dude (244) so that makes a difference.
Maybe that has a lot to do with it. I'm about 160. Always with my flattest belly this time of year. I'll look and feel 3 months preggers in March.

I have found less flats with bigger tires.
Not a single flat this season for me (knock wood).
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Old 08-21-20, 08:57 PM
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.
I was always a big fan of 20 - 23mm Michelin Hi-lite SuperComps but I have no experience with later models. The Conti GP series has always served me well. Even gatorskins in the city. I'm 230 lbs using no less than 100 psi for 23s on Mavic MA2s

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Old 08-21-20, 08:57 PM
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Another happy Michelin Pro rider here. I have Pro 4 Endurance in 23 on my Ironman. Very nice riding tire. I'd buy again.
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Old 08-21-20, 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by due ruote
Are you talking about Pro 4 Service Course?
Wondering about the actual size. I had a pair of the 25’s and they were more like 27-28mm at 90psi.
Yep - 700x23 Pro 4 Service Course @100 psi.

Measures at 0.932 = 23.5mm

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Old 08-21-20, 09:21 PM
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Skinny go-fast tires...

Continental GP 4/5000 are my desert island tire. Just awesome. The one I’d own if I could only own one.

Specialized S-Works Turbo equally good and offers a nice 700x24 sizing but it is a racing tire that wears pretty quick.

Changed it up lately and am running Schwalbe One V Guard on two bikes. Very impressed so far and found deeper discounts than Continental GP 5000.
I rotate between 5 bikes regularly. All 23 or 25 (just sold off the bike with the Turbos) and I don’t see the difference in the sizes making me go 100% one over the other.
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Old 08-21-20, 09:27 PM
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Everyone giving lots of alternatives but the gp5000 is arguably the best all around tire available.
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Old 08-21-20, 11:34 PM
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With tubulars, you do not have to go that wide to get the plush ride. Half my bikes ride on 23mm Vittoria Corsa G tubs. They are super smooth riding and fast (Very low rolling resistance). Feels almost too good to be real!
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Old 08-22-20, 04:28 AM
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Originally Posted by ascherer
Oy, width. Bucking the trend and confounding the critics I happily ride 700x23 Michelin Pros at 95 psi on my Mercian which is light, tight and fast. They're supple, and roll and feel great. AND I happily ride Compass 700x35 thinwalls on my Mk I for all-road adventures and Pasela 700x35s on my International which is my commuter/errand rider. There's room for a range of tires to suit the ride and rider. It's cool to experiment. Not sure if Michelin offers a tanwall Pro but I think they're great tires.

Seems like not too long ago tanwalls were quite out of fashion. Now all the cool kids want 'em.
Right up my alley! I have 700x 23 on my Raleigh Competition GS, and my newest bike , a 1982 Medici Pro Strada, sports 700 x 25 and various tire widths on my other steeds. I do favor wider tires these days as our roads around here do not make easy friends of my Raleigh. My Mondia has 27" rims and sports the widest tires of any of my bikes. Michelin Pro Tek 27 x 1 1/4" that are actually about 1 3/8" when inflated. All have a different feel and like them all for different reasons. I guess that's why it would be really tough to have just one bike!

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Old 08-22-20, 04:38 AM
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Originally Posted by SurferRosa
Maybe that has a lot to do with it. I'm about 160. Always with my flattest belly this time of year. I'll look and feel 3 months preggers in March.



Not a single flat this season for me (knock wood).
Knock really hard!! I was telling a friend of mine how I always check tire pressure prior to leaving for a ride and have found the perfect pressure for my various bikes/ tires in my stable.I have gone all year with no flats. A few weeks ago I inflated my Pasela's on my ItalVega to 90lbs on the rear and 85lbs on the front and took off on my Sunday ride. Ten miles in, my first goat head of the year!! My lesson in humility, 85 humid degrees and sweating , fixing a flat on the side of a beautiful stretch of farm land that I normally fly through, wind in my face, type riding!
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Old 08-22-20, 07:10 AM
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There have been some valid points about going up larger than a 23 tire, but right now, I don't want to do that. I started back into biking recently by trying to get my +-'78 Peugeot PRN10 on the road again. I put 27x1-1/8 tires on it where it originally had 27x1-1/4, noting some reviews saying that they found the newer tires running larger, causing issues. Sure enough, even though I went smaller, I had issues with tire rub on the old replacement front derailleur. I got frustrated and bought a new Trek Emonda ALR 5 Disc, putting the Peugeot on the back burner for a while. I will need to find a replacement original derailleur. I think I want to play it safe right now and stick with the size on it.

Right now, out of what I found myself, or what was recommended here, so far, I am considering these, in no particular order:

a) Vittoria Corsa G+. I found a review stating that the ride is superb, though (on the 25), it was oversized and the widest of the ones tested. I also found reviews stating puncture issues.

b) Continental GP (Grand Prix) 5000. I noted in the review above that of the tires they tested, it was by far the roughest ride. I normally place less value on comfort.

c) Pirelli P Zero Velo. Better puncture resistance than the Vittoria, but with a ride as good.

Right now I think I slightly prefer the Pirelli or Vittoria, more so the Pirelli, then the Continental.

Danny

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Old 08-22-20, 07:25 AM
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I've had good experiences with Vittoria tires. Had a pair of Rubinos that lasted forever. Ride was pretty nice as well.
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