Too much of a good thing?-Road tire size
03-24-23, 06:56 PM
#51
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I'm running 27 x 1 1/8, 1 1/4, 1 3/8, then 700Cx32 and 35.
The bike that's running 1 1/8 tires is a matter of clearance- 700x32 fit, but 27x1 1/4 do not.
I don't know that I have a real preference between 32 and 35- the 35s fit and they're nice at insanely low pressures.
The bike that's running 1 1/8 tires is a matter of clearance- 700x32 fit, but 27x1 1/4 do not.
I don't know that I have a real preference between 32 and 35- the 35s fit and they're nice at insanely low pressures.
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03-24-23, 11:59 PM
#52
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I'm less concerned with tire size than with ride quality -- that nebulous "supple" factor. With a busted up back and neck, and worsening cervical spine stenosis and arthritis, comfort has become my primary concern now. Some skinny tires, such as the Soma Supple Vitesse SL in 700x23 with latex tubes on my road bike, are more comfy than 700x32 Continental Sport Contact II with thick butyl tubes on my hybrid. Unfortunately the Conti Sport Contact is harsh at full pressure and sluggish at reduced pressure, with no real sweet spot. I need to find better tires for that hybrid.
Two of my road bikes -- the 1989 Centurion Ironman and 1993 Trek 5900 OCLV -- are from an era when 700x 23 considered a wide tire, and the Ironman was originally equipped with 700x18 or 700x19 tires. Both bikes will just barely accommodate *some* 700x25 tires, which I usually prefer -- mostly the discontinued Continental GP Classic skinwalls which were available only in 700x25, combining a supple ride with excellent wear and puncture resistance. The Trek 5900's frame shows wear on the inside of the chainstays where a previous owner apparently tried to squeeze in oversized tires. I'm not sure how he managed to ride it in that condition long enough to wear through the paint without noticing, unless his determination exceeds my patience.
I'm planning to install a set of 700x28 Conti Ultra Sport 3 on my 2010ish (maybe 2014, not sure) Diamondback Podium carbon fiber frame bike, hoping they'll at least equal the 700x23 Soma Supple Vitesse SL or Conti GP Classic 700x25. That's probably the widest tire that bike will handle. I've run Conti Ultra Sport 2 in 700x23 and 700x25 at reduced pressure and they were quite nice for an inexpensive tire. I'm hoping the 700x28 will cooperate.
If it fits and feels okay I might pony up for 700x28 Soma Supple Vitesse, which are quite pricey now. I bought two sets of the 700x23 for only $14 each before the pandemic, but with inflation Soma Supple Vitesse tires now run about $50-$70 each. Excellent tires, but my budget has limits.
Two of my road bikes -- the 1989 Centurion Ironman and 1993 Trek 5900 OCLV -- are from an era when 700x 23 considered a wide tire, and the Ironman was originally equipped with 700x18 or 700x19 tires. Both bikes will just barely accommodate *some* 700x25 tires, which I usually prefer -- mostly the discontinued Continental GP Classic skinwalls which were available only in 700x25, combining a supple ride with excellent wear and puncture resistance. The Trek 5900's frame shows wear on the inside of the chainstays where a previous owner apparently tried to squeeze in oversized tires. I'm not sure how he managed to ride it in that condition long enough to wear through the paint without noticing, unless his determination exceeds my patience.
I'm planning to install a set of 700x28 Conti Ultra Sport 3 on my 2010ish (maybe 2014, not sure) Diamondback Podium carbon fiber frame bike, hoping they'll at least equal the 700x23 Soma Supple Vitesse SL or Conti GP Classic 700x25. That's probably the widest tire that bike will handle. I've run Conti Ultra Sport 2 in 700x23 and 700x25 at reduced pressure and they were quite nice for an inexpensive tire. I'm hoping the 700x28 will cooperate.
If it fits and feels okay I might pony up for 700x28 Soma Supple Vitesse, which are quite pricey now. I bought two sets of the 700x23 for only $14 each before the pandemic, but with inflation Soma Supple Vitesse tires now run about $50-$70 each. Excellent tires, but my budget has limits.
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03-25-23, 06:04 AM
#53
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If you can see the dimples that means you've got plenty of life left in the tire. The way they work is that when the rest of the tread is worn away you can't see the dimples anymore. It's kind of an odd design for a feature that you typically don't notice until you've had the tire for a while, but that's how it is.
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03-25-23, 07:04 AM
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I am primarily on 23-25 mm tubulars for the road…pavement. My campeur which occasionally sees use on unpaved roads ( not goat paths) has 32 mm Grand Bois clinchers. 23-25 gives a great ride with nice supple tubulars, in fact a ride that I believe cannot be duplicate with any volume of clincher. Whatever the tire type you do need something in excess of 30 mm when the road surface is loose and even more when it is soft.
05-11-23, 11:12 AM
#55
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I decided to pull this thread back up and provide an update. After reading all of this, I decided to try a set of 700X28 Gravel King Slicks on my Paramount touring. I have ridden enough now to say that I kinda like it. Honestly, I don't notice a huge difference in the comfort of the 28's that are on there now and the otherwise identical 700x32 Gravel King slicks that they replaced. It does seem to be a bit quicker to respond to inputs but that could just be me wanting it to feel that way. I doubt I would trust them to take a gravel detour the way I do with bigger tires but then, I don't want to take gravel detours on this bike anyway. It is too pretty. 
Besides, I have other bikes if I want to take a gravel detour.
Besides, I have other bikes if I want to take a gravel detour.
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05-11-23, 06:16 PM
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I’m sorta surprised at the number of folks riding 23/25s!
05-11-23, 06:55 PM
#58
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I have found that a whole host of factors, in addition to tire width, play a role in ride quality: how long my ride is, the quality of the roads, the bike itself, my mood that day. Bigger isn’t necessarily better in all cases, nor is skinny necessarily bad. In short, it depends.
I ride an aluminum comfort bike with 50mm tires. I meet an old friend riding his vintage steel Raleigh road bike with 25mm tires. So we swapped bikes for fun. I was expecting a terrible ride, But instead found it to have a better ride on reasonably good paved roads then my comfort bike with 50mm tires.
The wider tires could absorb more punishment I'm sure. But I would probably have no problems with the 32mm tires some new road bikes like Giants Contend AR2 are shipped with.
Last edited by xroadcharlie; 05-12-23 at 07:54 AM.
