winter tyres 23 or 25 ?

[Richard F]

My new cube comes with 23×622 schwalbe one tyre's. I'm going to put on continental gatorskins on straight away for the miserable wet and wintry weather we will get. Any suggestions to 23 or 25 or bigger for balance and grip. Also my first ever road bike. But I have experience on a cube hybrid and also wearing cleats.
Thanks people
Rich

 

[gaz]

25. more comfort with little added resistance.

 

[50000tears]

Yes a 25 has slightly more contact with the ground but this is negligible and you wont really notice the difference. So get 25s if you can but 23s will be fine too. I only have 23s on my summer and winter bike and they work perfectly OK. 25s are every so slightly quicker than 23s on the road so another reason to get them too I guess.

 

[Arjimlad]

Another consideration - my Defy 2 wears Giant's mudguards and I struggle to get 25mm underneath them without any rubbing. The 23mm are fine though.

 

[Richard F]

Cheers guys top advice

 

[50000tears]

Another consideration - my Defy 2 wears Giant's mudguards and I struggle to get 25mm underneath them without any rubbing. The 23mm are fine though.

Lol I almost mentioned this too as I have the Defy 1 but then figured it was just a thing with the Defy range.

 

[MikeW-71]

I've only ever used 23mm, so can't say really, but they have been no problem at all during the winter. I wouldn't get 25's under the mudguards anyway.

 

[shouldbeinbed]

yeah I couldn't get 25's under my mudguards, I tend to put my speedy bike in the shed for winter tho and stick with the wider wheeled ones.

 

[buggi]

25. more comfort with little added resistance.

in fact less resistance on 25c if you cycle under 20mph. Yes, i was surprised too as I've always gone for 23s but its something to do with 25s flexing across the width and 23s flexing down the length at lower speeds. It's on schwalbe web site. Go figure!

 

[MikeW-71]

Actually, if the OP is thinking of Gatorskins, also consider GP 4 Seasons as they have a different compound that is grippier in wet and cold conditions.

 

[Richard F]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I need lots of it lol

 

[vickster]

Lol I almost mentioned this too as I have the Defy 1 but then figured it was just a thing with the Defy range.

I had the same issue with cruds on the avail, better with 23s than 25s

 

[e-rider]

I use 23s for everything. It wasn't long ago, 20s were the norm. and 23s were considered big!

I frequently used 17s or 18s back in the day! Not sure if such size tyres even exist today?

Unless you're carrying loads, I don't see the point of 25s, however, they don't really add any extra resistance according to recent studies, so why not if you must!

 

[cyberknight]

Actually, if the OP is thinking of Gatorskins, also consider GP 4 Seasons as they have a different compound that is grippier in wet and cold conditions.

Beat me too it
Some people find gators to be a bit slippery so its not a recommended tyre for wet riding , i use them all year round for commuting but i know where not to push the envelope .

 

[Kestevan]

Personally I wouldn't touch Gatorskins, esp in winter. Much more grip with the 4 seasons, or Bonty Hardcase, or even Michellin Lithion (although these are probably not as hardy). Others however have no problems - so each to their own.

I run 23s all year round - although this is more to do with clearance than anything else.