23c VS 25c

[NE1L]

I have just bought my first road bike after really enjoying the morning rides on my neighbors bike. However on my first ride I got a flat in no time on closer inspection the slicks are a little too slick with many cuts and I believe these tires to be shot I’ve been looking for replacing them with a new set of Conti Gatorskins 23c however have been told when speaking to one of the bike shops looking for better prices the Ride of the 25c are much better

 

Any comment from peoples past experiance

 

I’m more of a social weekend rider enjoying longer rides not really into the race seen... Yet

[TNT1]

Go 23 and pump em hard as you can... You'll break bricks with that.

[AndreZA]

The ride might be more comfortable due to the increased volume but then again you will still pump them 110psi. The wider tyre does nothing to prevent less puntures. 23mm Gatorskins are pretty good when it comes to puncture protection.

[Witkop]

In the old days, racing was done on 19c or 20c and only the very heavy (ie not race snakes) ventured onto the 23c.

 

Now it has been "proven" that there is no real performance loss to race on 23c's everyone is doing it. (Some still use 20C's on the front).

 

Going to 25c sounds a bit extreme on a road bike, as does a granny gear. If you will to go there maybe a 10 speed 29er is what you really wanted in the first place.

 

I don't think a 25c tyre will "protect" you from glass ext more than a 23c tyre, and also a 25c tyre may not fit through the brake calliper properly either.

 

Best advice is to pump the tyres to 9 bar and be more careful where you let the tyres go. (I know this is impossible as South African roads are shod with broken glass and where there is no glass there are pot holes). Okay maybe consider that 29er instead and cycle on the pavement.

[Guest Iron]

Dude , 23c is the way . I train and race on them and if pumped to the correct pressure ( about 8bar/120psi depending on make , check on the side wall you will be fine) .

[TNT1]

In the old days, racing was done on 19c or 20c and only the very heavy (ie not race snakes) ventured onto the 23c.

 

 

 

I raced U/23 SA's in Ballito on 18's... Somewhere in the 1990's I believe.

[Witkop]

I raced U/23 SA's in Ballito on 18's... Somewhere in the 1990's I believe.

you, race snake, you.

[splat]

I thought that the latest and greatest revelation was that wider tyres rolled better ?

 

See here

 

I used 25mm tyres for a season.

If I could find them, I would use them again.

A bit more air volume = a bit more comfort (I weigh 100kg)

[Oltremo]

I ride both 25 and 23 Gatorskin.

25's were ok. Very uncool looking. Comfortable, gave me lots of km, using the one now (after a year) solely on the indoor trainer. Last year I was using it on indoor trainer and road, gave me no problem. Did not notice weight or rolling resistance to be an issue (was not on my race bike)

Replaced this year with 23. Looks more the part. Just as good as the 25's

[NE1L]

Thanks for all the feedback guys I went with a new set of gatorskin 23c

[rock]

I just changed to a skinnier tyre - went from 35c to 32c (small block8), feels like I'm flying now but have had quite a few 'nearlys'

[GF29er]

just bought my second set of 28c Gator skins from conti... (from solomons this time) very happy, have not had a single puncture in 2 years of road riding - probably about 2000km and there is still plenty of life left in the original tyres, just buying more so I have them when I need them.

 

Of course there is a weight penalty, but the comfort is more important as I can safely run them at 50-60psi (until recently I also weighed over 100kg)