Are 28mm tires more comfortable?
 

Hello fellow riders.
I'm currently riding with 25mm tires on my road bike. Would swapping with 28mm tires make it more comfortable? If so, is there a specific brand and model that anyone would recommend?
Lastly, would i actually feel an improvement in comfort with 28s or am I wasting some money?

I used to ride on 23mm and 25mm but my Canyon Endurace came with 28mm. Set at 90 to 95 psi the 28mm ride easier than the narrower tires. I think they are less susceptible to flats. I use Continental Gatorskins because of the road debris in the area. Flats are rare and I get about 7,000 miles on a pair.

Wider tires can make for a smoother ride because they can allow you to get away with lower pressures. But, this will only help if your current discomfort is caused by vibrations from the road surface.

The simplest place to start is to make sure that you're inflating your current tires reasonably. What's your bike+rider weight, and what pressures do you pump your current tires to?

Yes. A 28mm in the same tire model as a 25mm tire when properly inflated and mounted on a road bike ridden on normal paved roads is a softer ride and a faster ride. Period.

Everything being equal, a wider tire can be safely used at lower air pressure and that alone will improve ride comfort. However, some tires are far stiffer than other. Typically, light weight performance tires ride better that commuter or touring tires. A smaller high performance tire will ride better than a wider low-cost commuter tires.

Are 28mm tires more comfortable?
 

Thanks to everyone for all the tips and recommendations you provided. I will definitely try the 28mm Conti Gator skins.
Looking forward to feeling the difference.

Gatorskins are great for protecting against flats, but they are not a fast, supple tire. If you want the latter, there are other options worth considering.

At the other extreme:
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop...-chinook-pass/

I agree that the 28 mm tires will be an improvement for the reasons already stated, But I would not change out from your 25 mm tires until it is time to replace them.

So then, a 30 is better than a 28? And a 32 is better than a 30? What is the point of diminishing return?

Gatorskins ride like frozen garden hoses. Unless you're getting constant flats, you should switch to a supple tire, like a racing tire.

The really important thing here is to make sure that you're not overinflating your tires.

When the tire is wide enough to behave as an effective suspension mechanism for the surfaces being ridden.

The owner of a bicycle repair shop in Seattle told me that Gatorskins flat protection is in their sidewalls which are almost impervious to cutting. He said there is no real advantage in the tread over any other tire. I do use 32m GS on my gravel bike (DB Haanjo Trail) that is my primary bike and I think that the alleged stiffness of the tire--even if true-- isn't really a big disadvantage due to the nature of the roads I ride being mostly short (1,000 feet climbs at the most) and not "switchbacky", but rather straight or gently sweeping on descents. If I was back in the bay area where the descents were longer and more technically challenging (tighter turns), I would agree that a more supple tire would allow to enter turns faster in a safer manner.

I think GS are great tires, I'm 215 lbs. and run them at about 70 psi and I can get about 3K miles on a rear tire without a flat (and could probably get another 1K if I wanted)--I the last decade I almost never get any flats in (I sometimes practice at home with my CO2 cartridges just to make sure I remember how to use them).

I have a Cervelo RS and it doesn't accommodate a 28m tires unfortunately--slight rubbing on the chain stays. I feel I've "sized out" of 25m tires unless I really know in advance the route is predictable enough to use them.

Are 28mm tires more comfortable?
 

Thank you HTupolev for the tip. Which brand & model tire would you recommend?

I ride 38mm ones (Barlow Pass Extra-Expensive). Some say that is the sweet spot. I cram in the widest tire a bike frame will allow.

If you're not getting frequent flats, I'd go for a performance-oriented model, one which isn't marketing as having a strong focus on protection. High-performance racing tires - like a Vittoria Corsa, S-Works Turbo, or Continental GP5000 - tend to satisfy this. A couple people have also mentioned Rene Herse/Compass tires, I ride them on a couple bikes and really like them, although obviously they're pricey. On the more budget end, I'm fond of the Panaracer Pasela (the red-and-yellow label non-PT version).

To HTupelov - I'll look for the Panaracer Pasela on Amazon.
Thanks again for the valuable advise.

Just curious....how true to size do the Panaracer road tires run ? Meaning, is a 28mm Panaracer when fully inflated really 28mm wide, or greater than that ?

My experience with Continentals is they are 'wider' when fully inflated (25mm GP4000's end up being 26-27mm, etc.).

I'm asking, because I also want to move up to 28's, but really don't have the frame space unless it's a 'true' 28mm tire when fully inflated...29mm or 30mm puts me too close to the drop outs.....

I'm really looking for a 'true to size' 28mm road tire.....

Thanks all !!!

True to size on what rims?

GP5ks are supposedly smaller and more true to size than GP4ks (I haven't used them)
The new Schwalbe Pro 1 are supposedly true to size on 19mm internal width rims (I haven't used these, either, but have them waiting in the wings).

Well, on my 2016 Trek Domane 2.3, I have the stock basic Bontrager rims. I think the internal width measurement is 15mm, if I'm doing this correctly.

I have no plans to replace the rims. Just looking for a smoother ride, and thought 28s might help, with lower pressure than the 25's need.

My tire measurements tell me I can go to maybe 29mm in width tire at most, before rubbing occurs. That's why I wanted a 'true to size' 28mm road tire.

As I stated, my 25mm GP4k's are almost 27mm. They are almost ready to be replaced, thus the reason for my research.

Thanks

Thanks

Fiat59, I use Rene Herse Chinook Pass tires on my Domane and they ride great. They are a supple tire and you immediately can tell the difference. Just don't over inflate them.

He must have been selling a different GS tire that used to buy. I have had multiple pinhole flats with them but what destroyed all of them was a side wall cut. That being said I did use them on and off road.

Are 28mm tires more comfortable
 

Noted
Thank you

Are 28mm tires more comfortable
 

I'll have to inquire if my LBS has them in stock.
Thx for recommendation :)

Are 28mm tires more comfortable
 

I'll have to inquire if my LBS has them in stock.
Thx for recommendation :)

After several years riding 23 mm tires, I recently bought a gravel bike with 38 mm tires. There was some increase in comfort but I still feel all the bumps I did on 23's. It hasn't changed the way I ride on the road. Still keeping an eye out for bumps and bunny hopping here and there. I can't imagine the jump from 25's to 28's is as revolutionary as some claim.

It's not. I'd wait until you were going to replace tires anyway, myself. I've run 23s, 25s, 28s and now 30 front / 32 rear all on the same bike. I like the 30/32 combo, but it's not a fat bike. Note that I've worn out all those tires. ;)