General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Tire Widths Rss Feed  
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2013-07-18 2:14 PM

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Expert
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Middle River, Maryland
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Subject: Tire Widths

How did you choose your tire widths?  From my limited research I see less rolling resistance at 25, less wind resistance at 23.

I'm running Conti 4000s tires, 23 on the front, 25 on the back (this was a purchase mistake, but it seems to work just fine).



2013-07-18 2:20 PM
in reply to: jmhpsu93

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Champion
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Knoxville area
Subject: RE: Tire Widths
kind of depends on the wheel you are running it on.

23/25 is fine though. The aerodynamic penalty of a wider tire on the rear is not very severe on the back.
2013-07-18 2:23 PM
in reply to: Leegoocrap

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Middle River, Maryland
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Subject: RE: Tire Widths

Originally posted by Leegoocrap kind of depends on the wheel you are running it on. 23/25 is fine though. The aerodynamic penalty of a wider tire on the rear is not very severe on the back.

Stock Shimano R500s that came with the bike.  Saving for an upgrade.  Smile

2013-07-18 4:05 PM
in reply to: jmhpsu93

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Champion
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Tacoma, Washington
Subject: RE: Tire Widths

I guess the whole tire size question begs for more information, and this may speak to a different perspective as well as a different place in the N+1 continuum...

Are these tires going to serve everyday as well as race usage?

I like 23's for racing, but for everyday riding, I'm really liking 28's. Of course, my tri bike won't take 28's, so I'm talking about my road bike (and it's shocking how many road bikes won't accept anything bigger than a 23!). Yes, they have more rolling resistance, and yes, more aerodynamic drag. BUT... the comfort of damping out the vibration of chip-sealed road after 50 miles makes FAR more difference to me than the little bit more work I go through getting them there. Then again, most of my mileage this year has been aboard a "gravel bike" with 26x1.5 slick MTB tires...

2013-07-18 9:11 PM
in reply to: jmhpsu93

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Subject: RE: Tire Widths
I weigh 175 lbs (80 kg). I like 23 front / 25 rear. Using a 23 rear tire slows me down. I've even tried a 28 rear tire and found it to be very comfortable.

Less than 140 use 20 or 21f / 23r
Between 140 and 165 lbs use 23f / 23r
Btween 165 and 200 lbs 23f / 25r
Over 200 lbs 25f / 28r
2013-07-19 7:46 AM
in reply to: Six000MileYear

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Middle River, Maryland
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Subject: RE: Tire Widths

Originally posted by Six000MileYear I weigh 175 lbs (80 kg). I like 23 front / 25 rear. Using a 23 rear tire slows me down. I've even tried a 28 rear tire and found it to be very comfortable. Less than 140 use 20 or 21f / 23r Between 140 and 165 lbs use 23f / 23r Btween 165 and 200 lbs 23f / 25r Over 200 lbs 25f / 28r

Whew...197.  Just made it.  Tires selection is OK, even if by accident.  Foot in mouth

Thanks, folks.



2013-07-19 9:50 AM
in reply to: Six000MileYear

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Subject: RE: Tire Widths

Originally posted by Six000MileYear I weigh 175 lbs (80 kg). I like 23 front / 25 rear. Using a 23 rear tire slows me down. I've even tried a 28 rear tire and found it to be very comfortable. Less than 140 use 20 or 21f / 23r Between 140 and 165 lbs use 23f / 23r Btween 165 and 200 lbs 23f / 25r Over 200 lbs 25f / 28r

 

that's the 1st time I've heard this.  a suggestion that tire width choice is dependent on weight?

I thought that's what air pressure was supposed to compensate for?

2013-07-19 9:31 PM
in reply to: morey000


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Subject: RE: Tire Widths
I use 25 mm on my road bike and 23 mm on the tri bike. I really like the feel of the 25 mm tires cornering. I would prefer to have 25 mm on the tri bike with the lower rolling resistance but will need a newer generation of wheels.
2013-07-19 11:16 PM
in reply to: SHTri

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Subject: RE: Tire Widths
Word, from what I've read recently that 25 is more the way to go with the wider aero wheels.
2013-07-22 2:39 PM
in reply to: tomspharmacy

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Elite
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Cleveland
Subject: RE: Tire Widths

I use 23/25 on my FLO90's.  The rear wheel just BARELY fits on my P1, but it does.  The width is very nicely hidden from the wind by the seat tube and I get a nicer ride.  

Roads that I've had others say were terrible, I've found to not be all that bad and I think the difference is two-fold:  the wider wheel and tire, and the fact that FLO's don't really want you inflating much above 90-100 PSI.

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