Impact of Tire Quality on Ride Comfort
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Impact of Tire Quality on Ride Comfort
My wife has terrible hands, truly. She's already had carpal tunnel surgery on both. I'm attempting a whole suite of interventions in order to make her comfortable on the road bike that she loves. To that end, I would like to replace her 25c tires with 28c tires, the maximum that I believe will fit her frame. I would exploit the larger tires from a comfort perspective by running them at a lower air pressure of course.
My question is this: what effect does tire quality have on ride comfort? Are there certain tires that should be avoided or sought when one wishes to optimize comfort?
Please keep in mind that comfort is the only parameter that matters with respect to my tire choice in this situation. My wife is very much a recreational rider so things like high speed handling, wet weather performance, and rolling resistance are of little importance. Even puncture resistance isn't a big deal.
The bike in question currently has the Schwalbe Lugano 25C that came stock with the bike. Presently, I could purchase a pair of Schwalbe Lugano 28C for $16 each plus shipping. That would make for a pretty cost effective "larger tire" experiment. That said, I would like to avoid a future where I find out that we didn't really give larger tires a shot in earnest because we chose cheap tires.
Thank you, all, for your assistance.
My question is this: what effect does tire quality have on ride comfort? Are there certain tires that should be avoided or sought when one wishes to optimize comfort?
Please keep in mind that comfort is the only parameter that matters with respect to my tire choice in this situation. My wife is very much a recreational rider so things like high speed handling, wet weather performance, and rolling resistance are of little importance. Even puncture resistance isn't a big deal.
The bike in question currently has the Schwalbe Lugano 25C that came stock with the bike. Presently, I could purchase a pair of Schwalbe Lugano 28C for $16 each plus shipping. That would make for a pretty cost effective "larger tire" experiment. That said, I would like to avoid a future where I find out that we didn't really give larger tires a shot in earnest because we chose cheap tires.
Thank you, all, for your assistance.
#2
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,600
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3691 Post(s)
Liked 5,495 Times
in
2,786 Posts
The GravelKing slick is the most comfortable 28mm tire I've tried. Noticeably smoother than GP5000 28s I have on another bike.
Likes For shelbyfv:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2228 Post(s)
Liked 2,011 Times
in
972 Posts
I'd go with the fattest tires that will fit. Measure the gaps around the tire at the chain stays and fork crown and guestimate how fat you can go.
Also consider raising the handlebars.
Also consider raising the handlebars.
Likes For Flatforkcrown:
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for your input. Both of those exercises have already been undertaken, along with numerous others. For the purpose of this thread, I'm interested in nothing other than the relationship between tire quality and comfort.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My budget is, effectively, unlimited so long as I could realistically expect the cash outlay to provide a meaningful comfort improvement. If my wife wouldn't notice the difference between the $16 Luganos and a $200 tire, I'd certainly want the Lugnos.
#7
Senior Member
Also, tire inflation is really the biggest factor here. Going wider doesn't make things more comfortable by itself, it allows the tires to be pumped squishier while still behaving well. Here's a calculator for establishing a reasonable starting point on inflation pressure:
https://info.silca.cc/silca-professi...ure-calculator
If she's not already running her tires problematically low, she could try reducing inflation pressure and seeing to what degree that helps with comfort. Some hand comfort issues are caused by excessive inflation pressures, but many are more an issue of fit.
Likes For HTupolev:
#8
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,647
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10999 Post(s)
Liked 7,527 Times
in
4,211 Posts
A higher quality wider tire will feel even better than either of the above.
Tire width trumps tire quality when it comes to comfort. A cheap 2" MTB tire will provide more cushion/comfort compared to a high quality 23mm road tire.
#9
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,344
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3907 Post(s)
Liked 4,853 Times
in
2,239 Posts
Unlimited budget?
Get her a bike that takes 32/35s, the expensive ones.
edit: Let her choose a new bike for fatter tires, easier to brake. Even e-powered.
Get her a bike that takes 32/35s, the expensive ones.
edit: Let her choose a new bike for fatter tires, easier to brake. Even e-powered.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Likes For Wildwood:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 4,077
Bikes: Velo Orange Piolet
Mentioned: 28 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2228 Post(s)
Liked 2,011 Times
in
972 Posts
Thin wall tires (e.g. Rene Herse) tend to remove all the little bumps and vibrations more so than thicker wall tires, and bigger bump smoothing mostly comes down to tire volume. To me, the thin-wall small bump smoothing is a relatively minor increase in comfort, but it might be significant to someone with CTS.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Likes For Harold74:
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thin wall tires (e.g. Rene Herse) tend to remove all the little bumps and vibrations more so than thicker wall tires, and bigger bump smoothing mostly comes down to tire volume. To me, the thin-wall small bump smoothing is a relatively minor increase in comfort, but it might be significant to someone with CTS.
One of the interventions currently in play is a Redshift Shockstopper stem. I suspect that dampening will overshadow some of the other possible interventions but it's difficult to know with certainty how that will play out. I definitely want to exploit anything that one might consider low hanging fruit which is why I'm exploring larger tires and lower air pressure. If the "bang for buck" on thin wall tires in this combination would be minimal, than I may leave that option on the table for now. The Luganos are not high end tires but, at the same time, they are slicks with only nominal puncture guard. It's not like they are Schwalbe Marathon's or anything.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
In some reviews of the Redshift Shockstopper stems, folks expressed their opinions that the system worked but expectations should be modest, on par with the switch from a 25c tire to a 28c tire. If it makes sense to do so, I seek stack the benefits of the stem combined with a larger tire.
#14
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,344
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3907 Post(s)
Liked 4,853 Times
in
2,239 Posts
My smoothest riding tires at @ 28mm are VeloFlex and Vittoria tubulars. Conti 5000s at 25mm ride like Gatorskins compared to the 320tpi casings from other manufacturers.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#15
Full Member
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Barboursville, Va
Posts: 278
Bikes: N+1
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 94 Post(s)
Liked 419 Times
in
159 Posts
https://www.probikekit.com/bicycle-t.../12344796.html
Get her these. I have the tubular version and they are the best riding tires I’ve had.
Get her these. I have the tubular version and they are the best riding tires I’ve had.
#16
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,600
Mentioned: 41 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3691 Post(s)
Liked 5,495 Times
in
2,786 Posts
I haven't tried the Rene Herse in 28 but I recently had some extra light 35s and the ride was astonishingly smooth. They were too flat prone for me but definitely the nicest ride I've experienced. If budget is truly irrelevant (about $90 each) and you don't mind a flat every few hundred miles, might be an option.
#17
I’m a little Surly
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,295 Times
in
647 Posts
Tires and saddle have the largest effect on ride comfort
#18
Grupetto Bob
Join Date: Sep 2020
Location: Seattle-ish
Posts: 6,239
Bikes: Bikey McBike Face
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2599 Post(s)
Liked 5,680 Times
in
2,932 Posts
If she doesn’t have tiny hands, you also might want to consider double wrapping her bar tape too.
__________________
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Road 🚴🏾♂️ & Mountain 🚵🏾♂️
Likes For rsbob:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,601
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 700 Times
in
436 Posts
Recently purchased Michelin Pro4 Service Course tires, don't have a lot of miles on them yet, but so far I'm very happy with them. Seem to isolate me from bumps in the pavement. Note though, if considering, my old tires were 700 x 25, so ordered the same size. The Michelins are a little larger than spec'd. The 25s measure 27, but I had clearance and like that they are a little larger.
Ordered them here, don't know if other sites might have them for less $$: Michelin Pro4 Service Course Tire at BikeTiresDirect
Ordered them here, don't know if other sites might have them for less $$: Michelin Pro4 Service Course Tire at BikeTiresDirect
#20
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,228
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,246 Times
in
624 Posts
Recently purchased Michelin Pro4 Service Course tires, don't have a lot of miles on them yet, but so far I'm very happy with them. Seem to isolate me from bumps in the pavement. Note though, if considering, my old tires were 700 x 25, so ordered the same size. The Michelins are a little larger than spec'd. The 25s measure 27, but I had clearance and like that they are a little larger.
Ordered them here, don't know if other sites might have them for less $$: Michelin Pro4 Service Course Tire at BikeTiresDirect
Ordered them here, don't know if other sites might have them for less $$: Michelin Pro4 Service Course Tire at BikeTiresDirect
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
#23
Zircon Encrusted Tweezers
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: high ground
Posts: 1,349
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Liked 137 Times
in
85 Posts
IME, the effect you are asking about is real and perceptable, but still fairly subtle. I tend to doubt it will make an important difference for someone with CTS.
#24
Zip tie Karen
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Posts: 7,004
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1465 Post(s)
Liked 1,542 Times
in
806 Posts
Higher quality tires give handling characteristics, like liveliness, that don't really translate into comfort at all. And usually only more seasoned riders can experience the difference.
Likes For Phil_gretz:
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,812
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1945 Post(s)
Liked 2,175 Times
in
1,326 Posts
If your wife is hurting as bad as you indicate, and she loves to ride, I think you are just chasing the wind with a 25mm to 28mm tire change as your solution.
Both Fox and Rockshox have come out with low travel suspension forks for gravel bikes. I don’t know much about them, but that is where I would put my effort.
John
Both Fox and Rockshox have come out with low travel suspension forks for gravel bikes. I don’t know much about them, but that is where I would put my effort.
John
Likes For 70sSanO: