What tyre width do you use during training and racing?
I’ve seen the trend now is to go for 25c as they have been tested to be faster. However, I’ve also uncovered wider tyres provide a more comfortable ride too.
Also a second question, do all wheel sets accomodate these wider tyres or do you have to buy a complete new wheelset if you want to use 28c for example. (like riding over rough chip roads)
I only ride 25 for comfort and because they don’t flat as often (I find) for larger riders. Most rims should work up to 28, you’ve just got to make sure you have clearance at the brakes.
23s at 100 psi. Golden.
Use of wider front rim with 25c tire plus PSI around 82 enhances the comfort of training rides especially over typically bad/rough pavement. Use of 28c tires may induce fit issue with brakes and forks.
I’ve seen the trend now is to go for 25c as they have been tested to be faster.
I think I missed that report. Better Crr but worse aero. The optimum setup will depend on what you are doing.
You can certainly use 28mm tires on any rim. The only issue you may encounter is clearance on your frame or fork.
Yes, larger tires do provide more cushion. I use them because I weigh over 180 and want to reduce my compression flats. Are you heavy enough that the trade off in price and aerodynamics of larger tires is worth it to you?
In winter-time I ride Conti 4-Season 28mm tires with a butyl tube on normal alu-box wheels (I think Shimano RSII), but I have also tried them ZIPP 202 / 808 wheels. These combo’s fit without issue’s on my Venge and my previous gen P3. I wouldn’t know about other frames though. I use them on the box-wheels simply because I stopped using my 808 as every-day wheels in winter. Spring/Summer I ride them all the time, not in winter.
I Don’t want to risk a flat in cold-windy-wet Belgian winter days. You quickly get used to the higher rolling-resistance and it serves as a plus when your first race comes up and you put on those new 23mm tires with latex tubes. It makes you feel like you are flying 
The extra cushioning and comfort is very noticeable, especially as I only inflate to 90 (95max) psi in winter.
Have fun,
S.
What tyre width do you use during training and racing?
I’ve seen the trend now is to go for 25c as they have been tested to be faster. However, I’ve also uncovered wider tyres provide a more comfortable ride too.
Also a second question, do all wheel sets accomodate these wider tyres or do you have to buy a complete new wheelset if you want to use 28c for example. (like riding over rough chip roads)
Road bike: 25c for training, switch the front tyre to a 23c if I’m using deep section rims.
Tri bike: 23c all the time (I would use a 25c in the rear even for races but my frame doesn’t have the clearance for it)
Reasons for this are more comfort and and less chance of punctures in the rear (I’m ~77kg), and aerodynamics up front.
Aerodynamically, 25c may test faster on the widest of rims, but the majority of wide rims are optimised to be aerodynamic on a tyre in the 23C range.
Mirroring what other have said. Basically all road wheelsets will take a 28c tyre. However, many road frames and brake calipers don’t have the clearance for a tyre with this much volume. Best to check before you splash any noticable cash.
Aerodynamically, 25c may test faster on the widest of rims, but the majority of wide rims are optimised to be aerodynamic on a tyre in the 23C range.
I think you mean wider rims are optimized to be less slow with 23mm and wider tires
Aerodynamically, 25c may test faster on the widest of rims, but the majority of wide rims are optimised to be aerodynamic on a tyre in the 23C range.
So far that has never been the case. Even on the widest of rims, so far, 23 has been more aero than 25, and 22 has been more aero than 23
Fastest, well that might be different, since you have to sum the aero and crr properties. But there are 22 and 20mm tires with really low crr out there.
In winter-time I ride Conti 4-Season 28mm tires with a butyl tube on normal alu-box wheels (I think Shimano RSII), but I have also tried them ZIPP 202 / 808 wheels. These combo’s fit without issue’s on my Venge and my previous gen P3. I wouldn’t know about other frames though. I use them on the box-wheels simply because I stopped using my 808 as every-day wheels in winter. Spring/Summer I ride them all the time, not in winter.
I Don’t want to risk a flat in cold-windy-wet Belgian winter days. You quickly get used to the higher rolling-resistance and it serves as a plus when your first race comes up and you put on those new 23mm tires with latex tubes. It makes you feel like you are flying The extra cushioning and comfort is very noticeable, especially as I only inflate to 90 (95max) psi in winter.
Have fun,
S.
I was able to put 32 tires into my Cannondale Slice and ride it at 65 psi for a lot of my training. It really is awesome…it pretty well makes riding with others a killer workout, but great for my bad neck and awesome for “feeling light” when I go to racing on 23’s. This is impossible on my Cervelo P3…a 25 will hit the cut out.
I think you mean wider rims are optimized to be less slow with 23mm and wider tires
This. And it’s important to remember that tubular tires (which all the pros use) do not get wider on wide rims, but clinchers do. A 25mm tubular is ~23mm clincher.
On the road bike I use a 28/25c mix for training (probably breaking some rule about having non-matching tires, but I like the comfort of the 28c on the rear and don’t have the clearance for 28c on the front). For racing I have always used 23c but am considering 25c next time I need new race tires, since aero is less of an issue when road racing.
Tri bike is always 23c, tried 25c but don’t have the clearance on the cutout
Commuter singlespeed is 25c front and back. I’d go bigger but don’t have the clearance. Also don’t think the rims on my singlespeed would take anything bigger - had a few issues getting the 25c to seat properly.
For commuting and training I run Schwalbe Marathons, nice and bulletproof.
I’ve seen the trend now is to go for 25c as they have been tested to be faster.
You can certainly use 28mm tires on any rim. The only issue you may encounter is clearance on your frame or fork.
My SRAM s60/80 says on the rim max tyre widith 23mm. What could possible happen if is put a 25mm or wider on them?
In winter-time I ride Conti 4-Season 28mm tires with a butyl tube on normal alu-box wheels (I think Shimano RSII), but I have also tried them ZIPP 202 / 808 wheels. These combo’s fit without issue’s on my Venge and my previous gen P3. I wouldn’t know about other frames though. I use them on the box-wheels simply because I stopped using my 808 as every-day wheels in winter. Spring/Summer I ride them all the time, not in winter.
I Don’t want to risk a flat in cold-windy-wet Belgian winter days. You quickly get used to the higher rolling-resistance and it serves as a plus when your first race comes up and you put on those new 23mm tires with latex tubes. It makes you feel like you are flying The extra cushioning and comfort is very noticeable, especially as I only inflate to 90 (95max) psi in winter.
Have fun,
S.
I was able to put 32 tires into my Cannondale Slice and ride it at 65 psi for a lot of my training. It really is awesome…it pretty well makes riding with others a killer workout, but great for my bad neck and awesome for “feeling light” when I go to racing on 23’s. This is impossible on my Cervelo P3…a 25 will hit the cut out.
You might as well tell us what brakes you use for such a wide adjustment.
I’m 95 kg or 210 lbs and Roadie & P3 both have
Front - 23 mm Schwalbe One @ 100 psi
Rear - 25 mm Schwalbe One @ 100 psi
next round of replacement tyres, I’ll try 25/28 mm on the roadie. the only reason I haven’t changed the fronts to 25 mm is that my 23 mm front are wearing extremely well.
Use of wider front rim with 25c tire plus PSI around 82 enhances the comfort of training rides especially over typically bad/rough pavement. Use of 28c tires may induce fit issue with brakes and forks.
Good advice for anyone doing IMMOO. For hosting one of the best IMs in NA they have the worst roads I’ve ever ridden. A 25c @80 would have been nice last year.
I was a die hard 23c guy. But, I got a deal on some 25c for training and I will not go back. The ride quality is noticeable. That being said, I will continue to race on 22c on C2 HED wheels.
My SRAM s60/80 says on the rim max tyre widith 23mm. What could possible happen if is put a 25mm or wider on them?
That’s hilarious! They might just mean it needs a narrow tire for good aero.
25 is my choice, but I live in an area with quite crappy roads. 28 is too much imho, unless you ride at a very bad tarmac.