New wheels, new tires (difference between 700x25, 26, & 28?)

06-14-2004, 08:10 AM

I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the rear) have
700x26c tires.

I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36 spokes on
the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c tires on this
one...will I notice any significant differences? I'm buying the another
cassette for the new rear wheel that is exactly the same as the one on my
current wheel, just so I can ensure the bike rides basically the same with
either wheelset.

06-14-2004, 07:59 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:

> I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the rear) have
> 700x26c tires.
>
> I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36 spokes on
> the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c tires on this
> one...will I notice any significant differences?

Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd probably
look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.

A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant roughness,
you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.

A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-14-2004, 07:59 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:

> I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the rear) have
> 700x26c tires.
>
> I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36 spokes on
> the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c tires on this
> one...will I notice any significant differences?

Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd probably
look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.

A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant roughness,
you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.

A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-14-2004, 07:59 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:

> I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the rear) have
> 700x26c tires.
>
> I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36 spokes on
> the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c tires on this
> one...will I notice any significant differences?

Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd probably
look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.

A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant roughness,
you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.

A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-14-2004, 07:59 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:

> I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the rear) have
> 700x26c tires.
>
> I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36 spokes on
> the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c tires on this
> one...will I notice any significant differences?

Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd probably
look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.

A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant roughness,
you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.

A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-14-2004, 07:59 PM

Roger Zoul wrote:

> I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the rear) have
> 700x26c tires.
>
> I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36 spokes on
> the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c tires on this
> one...will I notice any significant differences?

Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd probably
look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.

A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant roughness,
you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.

A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

06-14-2004, 08:25 PM

Frank Krygowski wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
::: I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the
::: rear) have 700x26c tires.
:::
::: I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36
::: spokes on the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c
::: tires on this one...will I notice any significant differences?
::
:: Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd
:: probably
:: look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.
::
:: A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
:: perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant
:: roughness,
:: you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.
::
:: A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
:: protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

Thanks, Frank. I've already ordered some 26s, but when I current ones wear
out I'll move to something a bit bigger, if I haven't lost more weight by
then.

06-14-2004, 08:25 PM

Frank Krygowski wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
::: I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the
::: rear) have 700x26c tires.
:::
::: I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36
::: spokes on the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c
::: tires on this one...will I notice any significant differences?
::
:: Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd
:: probably
:: look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.
::
:: A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
:: perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant
:: roughness,
:: you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.
::
:: A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
:: protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

Thanks, Frank. I've already ordered some 26s, but when I current ones wear
out I'll move to something a bit bigger, if I haven't lost more weight by
then.

06-14-2004, 08:25 PM

Frank Krygowski wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
::: I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the
::: rear) have 700x26c tires.
:::
::: I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36
::: spokes on the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c
::: tires on this one...will I notice any significant differences?
::
:: Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd
:: probably
:: look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.
::
:: A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
:: perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant
:: roughness,
:: you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.
::
:: A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
:: protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

Thanks, Frank. I've already ordered some 26s, but when I current ones wear
out I'll move to something a bit bigger, if I haven't lost more weight by
then.

06-14-2004, 08:25 PM

Frank Krygowski wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::
::: I've a heavy rider (240lbs). My current wheels (28 spokes on the
::: rear) have 700x26c tires.
:::
::: I've ordered a new wheelset due to spokes breaking on the rear (36
::: spokes on the rear). I'm thinking of putting 700x25c or 700x28c
::: tires on this one...will I notice any significant differences?
::
:: Personally, I'd go with at least 28. If I had your weight, I'd
:: probably
:: look at 32 mm, if it would clear the frame and brakes.
::
:: A narrow tire might give very slightly less rolling resistance on
:: perfectly smooth roads, but if the road has any significant
:: roughness,
:: you'll probably be better off with a wider tire.
::
:: A wider tire (assuming you inflate it enough) also provides more
:: protection from pinch flats or "snake bite" flats.

Thanks, Frank. I've already ordered some 26s, but when I current ones wear
out I'll move to something a bit bigger, if I haven't lost more weight by
then.