Anyone still using 23 C tyres?

[midliferider]

I have not used even 25 C tyres for nearly 7 years. I have only one proper gravel bike but Triban 520 easily accommodate 30 C.
I just repaired an old road bike which has 23 C on the front and 25 C on the rear. I just came back from a short ride. Road surface was bit wet and I found it slippery on road and when going through uneven, badly damaged road.
I can't understand how we managed with 23 C without any issues.

 

[Sharky]

Yes, range from 23 to 28. Can't go bigger on my bikes. Wasn't that long ago that I was still riding 20's on my TT bike. The latter hasn't been used for a couple of years, but maybe next year.

 

[craigwend]

I have not used even 25 C tyres for nearly 7 years. I have only one proper gravel bike but Triban 520 easily accommodate 30 C.
I just repaired an old road bike which has 23 C on the front and 25 C on the rear. I just came back from a short ride. Road surface was bit wet and I found it slippery on road and when going through uneven, badly damaged road.
I can't understand how we managed with 23 C without any issues.

We knew no better...

 

[fossyant]

I'm on 25c which aren't much different from 23c. That's the biggest that fit my vintage road bikes. The CX bike has 28c on the road wheels.

 

[sevenfourate]

Yes. Being lovely and thin: I cut them up and use them as small rubber shims / sound dampeners between contacting parts of machinery etc 🤣

**Humour 😉

I understand using on vintage bikes. But on anything modern [With space for bigger tyres] both comfort and speed can be had by bigger volume and lower pressures. So that’s a no from me then….

 

[ColinJ]

Not me - I like to have some feeling left in my hands after hours riding on iffy road surfaces!

I have a 25C on the front of one road bike because it won't take bigger, 28C on the back. My best bike has 28C and feels better on rough roads. I think that I might be able to squeeze 30C on so I will try that when the 28s need replacing. I have been riding 32C tyres on my bike down here in Devon and they have worked wonders on some pretty rough surfaces. There is room for much bigger but the Aksium wheels are only rated for 32C (I am not sure why).

 

[fritz katzenjammer]

I’ve run 23 & 25C on my old Bottecchia road bike and it seems fine.

I’d try larger but these are such a snug fit into the rear stays that I can’t inflate the tire until after it’s in the frame.

silly bike.

 

[Drago]

I ditched 23C for 25C about a decade back.

 

[Shadow]

Oh yes.
Only because on my original road bike, nothing larger will fit.

 

[Jameshow]

25mm on my Cannondale and focus carbon as any bigger won't fit.
28 my winter bike
32 on my cx bike
45 slicks on MTB.

 

[13 rider]

Still on 23s on my older Defy ,I could squeeze in 25s but for what I use the old Defy for it wouldn't make a difference and the last time I bought a tyre the 23s were cheaper 😁 probably less demand

 

[Paulus]

The smallest I ride now are 25's, but the other bikes are shod with 28's, and 32's on the two tourers.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

I can't understand how we managed with 23 C without any issues.

But we did, and thought nothing of it. Up till relatively recently riders still use 22 or 23mm tubulars in Paris - Roubaix.

I'm not saying bigger tyres aren't an improvement, but 23's are not the work of Satin they are made out to be.

 

[Paulus]

But we did, and thought nothing of it. Up till relatively recently riders still use 22 or 23mm tubulars in Paris - Roubaix.

I'm not saying bigger tyres aren't an improvement, but 23's are not the work of Satin they are made out to be.

You just needed thicker bar tape instead of the cotton or Cork stuff to stop some of the vibration.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I use 25 on my summer bike and 28 on the winter but used 23's for years and still have a set on my 'vintage' Colnago. I have to admit I am in the minority as I am not a fan of wider tires/lower pressures. 25mm at about 70psi front and rear works well for me. I am making no claims about speed/rolling resistance etc. I just prefer the feel.

I can't remember which team it was, but I remember reading an interview with a pro tour mechanic years ago. He had to constantly check the tire pressure on Spanish riders wheels as they would constantly sneak into the truck and pump them up to 100psi as they were used to riding high pressures on pristine Spanish roads. They'd even do it at the Belgian Classics 😂