I have been using 700x23 Bontrager R4s on my Enve CC 8.9s with no issues but is this the best set up? The Enve wheels are 26mm front and 24mm rear so should I size up to 700x23? I am looking for a fast tire with good cornering characteristics in wet conditions. I’ve read a lot of threads but don’t see any that deal specifically with the right tires for the new wider wheels. Advice appreciated!
28 gatorskins
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Zipp is still telling their pro triathletes 23mm GP4000s… which is funny since they make a tire themselves.
Force/Attack, might be better in wet and cornering… but honestly, you skill level and pavement conditions will always be the overriding factor. I’m VERY aggressive at cornering and I’ve only slide out once in the last 17 years of racing and that was on wet pavement when accelerating hard out of a sweeper in a sprint tri just outside T1. Rear steeped out just a little and i caught it. I’ve railed my Gatorskin rear pretty hard through a couple corners without issue FWIM.
Does Enve have any suggestions?
Well Enve and Smart suggest GP400s
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What size would you recommend, 23 or 25mm?
I have the 23 on mine and am very pleased…and is what they recommend.
Many thanks!
I have the same wheels and use Michelin Pro 4 in 23 mm. The Conti 4000’s are obviously great too. No need to go wider unless you want a 24/25 on the rear so that it lasts longer.
The only reason I was thinking wider was all the talk about lower RR.
The only reason I was thinking wider was all the talk about lower RR.
Yes, and there’s a descent argument for using 25mm on the rear which is mostly fared anyway for that reason. Especially on course with rough pavement. It would add a bit more confidence in the wet too to have a little more contact patch back there and be able to trail brake with the rear if needed with a bit more confidence. I might buy both and make a last minute decision.
The only problem I see is Latex tubes. All of mine are designed for 23mm max size. SO i have to get a different tube for it.
23mm 4000s’ on mine. they go fast.
No issues running those latex tubes with a 25mm tire. Latex is way stretchy (technical term).
Tubes are flexible when it comes to upwards sizing. I’ve stretched 26" tubes on my 29"er in a pinch, and they worked just fine…
Road tubes is road tubes a 23 will work in a 28 tire. And for stretchy point of reference I use 26x2.5 tubes in my 4.8 inch surly fat bike tires.