700x26 vs. 700x23 - How much of a difference?

Dan Chatten said:

I'm going to change my 26's to 23's. Has anybody made a similar change and noticed that much of a
difference in the ride - performance - et al.

You will need more air pressure to avoid pinch flats, and the ride in general will be less
comfortable. They look racier, though.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all _`\(,_ | mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so (_)/ (_) | that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. [1 Corinth. 13:2]

I don't know about you, but I prefer the wider 25-26mm tire. Why? Wider tires have more air volume
which means you can run them at lower psi (usually 100-110psi) resulting in more comfort. Further,
wider tires means more meat on the road, so arguably better handling. Further, some wider tires,
e.g., Avocet Fasgrips 700x25, have arguably lower rolling resistance...... "Dan Chatten"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm going to change my 26's to 23's. Has anybody made a similar change and noticed that much of a
difference in the ride - performance
- et al.

I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks, Dan

I am a pretty big guy and have found that a 25 tire gives me a much better ride than 23. When I made
the switch I though that I might lose some speed but it has not happened.

"bfd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I don't know about you, but I prefer the wider 25-26mm tire. Why? Wider tires have more air volume
which means you can run them at lower psi (usually 100-110psi) resulting in more comfort. Further,
wider tires means more meat on the road, so arguably better handling. Further, some wider tires,
e.g., Avocet Fasgrips 700x25, have arguably lower rolling resistance...... "Dan Chatten"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm going to change my 26's to 23's. Has anybody made a similar change and noticed that much of
a difference in the ride - performance
- et al.

I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks, Dan

Quoted message said:

Further, some wider tires, e.g., Avocet Fasgrips 700x25, have arguably lower rolling
resistance......

Do the Avocets still measure smaller than they are listed? B

(remove clothes to reply)

[email hidden] (Dan Chatten) ...

Quoted message said:

I'm going to change my 26's to 23's. Has anybody made a similar change and noticed that much of a
difference in the ride - performance
- et al.

I made the same switch a couple of years ago. I went from Specialized Armadillo 700x26 to
Continental Grand Prix 700x23. I pump both to 110
psi. I weigh 210.

I find the Conti's offer better handling. Purely subjective, but I like the harder ride of the 23s,
and they just feel like they roll better on straights and grip better in turns. The difference is
small, and might be purely because the Conti's are more expensive tires (and lighter since they're
not armored), rather than just the size difference, but I'm sticking with the Contis in the 23mm.

Michael

"B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Further, some wider tires, e.g., Avocet Fasgrips 700x25, have arguably lower rolling
resistance......

Do the Avocets still measure smaller than they are listed?

Very slightly. An Avocet rep the other day told me that 28's are about 27mm, 25's are "about" 24mm,
etc. Bigger tires are more accurate. This jibes with my experience. That kinda pisses me off since I
got used to the "old" 28's, which gives me a nice 26mm tire, which I think are just the cat's meow!
If I stay with the Avocets (and my stash runs out), I'll have to go to either 27mm or 24mm.

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Michael said:

I made the same switch a couple of years ago. I went from Specialized Armadillo 700x26 to
Continental Grand Prix 700x23. I pump both to 110
psi. I weigh 210.

I find the Conti's offer better handling.

I'd suggest that has more to do with the structure of the Armadillo than the size difference. I ride
either 23mm or 25mm Avocet tires, and the handling of the two sizes is very similar. The larger ones
are more comfortable, though. The smaller ones have better clearance...

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig... You _`\(,_ | soon find out the
pig likes it! (_)/ (_) |

B said:

Quoted message said:

Further, some wider tires, e.g., Avocet Fasgrips 700x25, have arguably lower rolling
resistance......

Do the Avocets still measure smaller than they are listed? B

No, they are pretty accurate -- depending on the rim, of course.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all _`\(,_ | mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so (_)/ (_) | that I could remove mountains, and have not
charity, I am nothing. [1 Corinth. 13:2]

bfd said:

I don't know about you, but I prefer the wider 25-26mm tire. Why? Wider tires have more air volume
which means you can run them at lower psi (usually 100-110psi) resulting in more comfort. Further,
wider tires means more meat on the road, so arguably better handling. Further, some wider tires,
e.g., Avocet Fasgrips 700x25, have arguably lower rolling resistance...... "Dan Chatten"
<[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm going to change my 26's to 23's. Has anybody made a similar change and noticed that much of a
difference in the ride - performance
- et al.

I appreciate the feedback.

Thanks, Dan

I go for the best of both worlds: a 23mm front (Avocet fasgrip K) and a 25mm rear. To me, a nice
combination that reflects front and rear weight distribution, a good ride, and no excess pressure in
the rear required to hold up a 180 pounder. I ride about 110psi in both tires.

Bruce Ball

David L. Johnson said:

Michael said:

I made the same switch a couple of years ago. I went from Specialized Armadillo 700x26 to
Continental Grand Prix 700x23. I pump both to 110
psi. I weigh 210.

I find the Conti's offer better handling.

I'd suggest that has more to do with the structure of the Armadillo than the size difference. I
ride either 23mm or 25mm Avocet tires, and the handling of the two sizes is very similar. The
larger ones are more comfortable, though. The smaller ones have better clearance...

I ran Armadillos and then immediately Conti Gatorskins (armored version of the Gran Prix) on my
tandem, and would say there is no comparison. The Armadillos just felt - funny. Kind of dead. Worse
yet, the rear one blew off the rim at the rated pressure. The Contis have been faultless, and I've
been running them on my own "half bikes" with equal success - but just ordered a pair of Hutchinson
kevlar belted tires to try them out for a change.

Mark Hickey Habanero Cycles habcycles.comhabcycles.comOpen ↗ Home of the $695 ti frame

Mark Hickey said:

David L. Johnson said:

Michael said:

I made the same switch a couple of years ago. I went from Specialized Armadillo 700x26 to
Continental Grand Prix 700x23. I pump both to 110
psi. I weigh 210.

I find the Conti's offer better handling.

I'd suggest that has more to do with the structure of the Armadillo than the size difference. I
ride either 23mm or 25mm Avocet tires, and the handling of the two sizes is very similar. The
larger ones are more comfortable, though. The smaller ones have better clearance...

I ran Armadillos and then immediately Conti Gatorskins (armored version of the Gran Prix) on my
tandem, and would say there is no comparison. The Armadillos just felt - funny. Kind of dead.
Worse yet, the rear one blew off the rim at the rated pressure. The Contis have been faultless,
and I've been running them on my own "half bikes" with equal success - but just ordered a pair of
Hutchinson kevlar belted tires to try them out for a change.

I can say it a different way: Armadillos suck. Conti has not improved on their clincher race tires
since the Grand Prix was introduced -- Grand Prixs are excellent for racing and training. They are
an excellent combination of puncture resistance, weight, and lifetime. Their downside is cost (oh
well). I also very much liked the 700x25 Grand Sport, a slightly lower cost training "version" of
the Gran Prix but very good puncture resistance, lifetime, and decent 245g mass for a true 25c
(Peter White is apparently selling the Grand Sports -- I hadn't seen them for years in the States).
The Avocet Fasgrips -- now "Carbon 12" are excellent too, just as good as the Contis and *maybe* a
tad better.

You've decided to dp some experimenting. I just quit doing that out of frustration (unless I get a
super deal on something else). The Grand Prix, Grand Sport, and Fasgrips have always served me very
well -- so I'm willing to pay their somewhat premium price. I've occasionally gotten sidewall cuts
in the Grand Prixs.

peterwhitecycles.comroadtires.htmOpen ↗ avocet.comcarbon12 specs.htmlOpen ↗