Who’s still on 23mm?

[Webbo2]

I’m currently on Pirelli 26 mm on my summer bike which look quite big compared to my cont‘s 25mm on my other bikes. Given the battering I have had on the 26’s over last few months I’m dreading riding the 25’s for the next few months.

 

[fossyant]

I've never had an issue on narrow tyres. I used to commute in all weathers on 23s. There's just a fad for fat tyres atm, no doubt created so the manufacturers can sell you new bikes.

It's like the fad for wide bars, and we're back with the UCI stopping them being too narrow. All three of my road bikes are 38cm C2c (40cm external).
23mm/25 is the limit on one of my bikes, I reccon my best bike could go to 30mm but the rims are quite narrow, so they wouldn't pump up that wide. It was interesting that my recent purchase of Lithion 4's did say the width would be less on a narrow rim.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I've got a horrible bit of road near me with a stretch where the surface seems to be made of tarmac with the largest grade aggregate in it I've ever seen. It feels as if my teeth are going to be shaken out when I ride my 28mm and 32mm tyred bikes. I dread to think what it would be like on 23mm.

 

[Jenkins]

Do you 23mm users still oil your chains too ?

Oiled chain, rim brakes and inner tubes.

Regarding other comments about the ride on 23s, I don't seem to find the ride too bad but that's on a Ti bike with the Conti 4000s and it was also used for winter commuting when I was a worker. I did try a pair of cheapie tyres from PlanetX and the ride was so harsh thanks to a very stiff sidewall that I chucked them and paid the premium for comfort.