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Optimal Tire Size for Clyde?
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 2008-04-17 7:49 AM |
Veteran  161   Pasadena, MD |  Subject: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde?Most everything out there is a 700x23 but should a bigger guy be using a larger tire? I'm 6'6", 210 and I seem to get a flat every 50-60 miles or so with my new road bike. I also have a flatbar with 700x32's and I have only had one flat in 3 years (800 miles or so). This will be my first full season riding this setup so I am inexperienced with true road bikes... does everyone experience this frequency or is it really a crapshoot of terrain and luck??
Edited by shaggy28 2008-04-17 7:51 AM |
| 2008-04-17 8:11 AM in reply to: #1344053 |
Champion 16151  Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? IME: It's not only tire size, but construction and inflation. Largeer sizes might be more tolerant of inflation differences. But, at 6'4 and 240, I ride 700x23 daily. I like Vredestein Fortezza Tri Comp tires and inflate them before EVERY ride to 140 psi. I have Micelin Pro2Race on the tri bike and inflate those to 120psi before EVERY ride. These tires are constructed with different materials in multiple layers for optimal rolling resistance, flat resistance, tackyness, etc. and are tuned for ride specifics. Some like the Specialized Armadillos for flat resistance. Also, as your tires age, they become more flat prone. This is my anecdotal opinion, but once I get flats too often, I buy new tires and all calms down. I think the outer layer gets worn down and you expose a tackier layer which holds glass better instead of repelling it from penetrating? Not sure why, just that I'll replace a tire if it's flat prone. I can't recommend strongly enough the Vredesteins. Also, learn what pressure you need to achieve to avoid pinch flats. Clydes will necessarily need a higher pressure than whippets; force and counter force in action. There's a theme here: Check your tire pressure before EVERY ride. Edited by pitt83 2008-04-17 8:16 AM |
| 2008-04-17 8:41 AM in reply to: #1344053 |
Expert 1049 Burnaby, BC | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? Well, I'm 207 and haven't had a flat yet (knock on wood). I'm still running the stock tires on my Specialized, a pair of Specialized Mondo 700x23C. I've only gone a few hundred km. If you want to read about how bad it can get, check out this thread. They had 5 flats on one short ride. Bigger tires will get less pinch flats because they're bigger. Smaller tires will need to run at a higher pressure for heavier riders. What pressure are you using? How often do you check and top up? |
| 2008-04-17 8:54 AM in reply to: #1344053 |
| 1072 | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? I agre with the poster above that type of construction along with checking and maintaing proper inflation are the key minimize flats. I am a little shorter, but about 225 so from experience selecting the right type of tires and maintianing the pressure really helps avoiding flats. I use Conti Ultra Gatorskins (700X25) on my cross/commuter/bike. I have not had a flat in 2 years. I always check the pressure before riding. The rear tire is especially important to keep the pressure up. Watch for tire wear. The rear tire wears faster then the front. I have replaced my rear tire at 3000 miles, but have gone over 5000 on the front. On my road/Tri bike I use Conti GP 4000s (700X23). They have worked very well also. No flats in two seasons and over 3000 miles on them. Keeping them inflated and checking them for wear or cuts before each ride helps. There is some luck involved along with being alert to road hazards to avoiding flats. I did make a mistake a few years ago and got a set of light weight tires (Conti Supersonics). Had pinch flats almost every ride. The side wall juast can't handle the weight of a larger rider. I I gave them to one of my light weight riding friends, and he has used them with no problems. |
| 2008-04-17 12:45 PM in reply to: #1344097 |
Veteran 161 Pasadena, MD | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? Gentlemen, thanks for the advice. I'm new to the road and I definitely appreciate the input. I'm pretty convinced to try something other than the stock tires at this point - they are Specialized brand but I'm not sure which model. I do check the pressure before every ride but perhaps my gauge is off. Do you guys use the gauge on the pump or a seperate gauge? I was seriously considering the Vredsteins and think I might try those out. Have you guys seen any difference in quality from buying at your LBS vs. a discounter like Performance Bike? I'm going to give those Conti's a serious look too. Thanks again! |
| 2008-04-22 5:53 PM in reply to: #1345005 |
Sensei Sin City | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? I ride on 700x23C's as well. I run them at 120 psi. I have had a few pinch flats and a blowout this last weekend because (I think) I inflated at 6:00 am when it was 65 degrees, and it got to 85 by the end of the race. Causing it to fail. If I would have know during the time, I would have let some air out..... Duh.... |
| 2008-04-22 7:43 PM in reply to: #1345005 |
Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? As far as gauge differences, it matters not. Just like your body fat scale being inacurate when it comes to an exact value, it works perfectly well to measuer differences. If you inflate to 120 on the same gauge each and every time, it might be 110 or 130, but it's always the same. As for Vredesteins, the Fortezza Tri comp is what I'm proposing. Watch out for other models; they're not as good, but much cheaper. I once saw blemished colors available real cheap, but only once and ~2005 or so. Biketiresdirect.com has them as do other on-line retailers. I just bought from excelsports.com a couple weeks back; they had the best price that day. Coloradocyclist.com was super high. You could ask at the LBS, but they'll likely come in at higher than on-line by quite a bit. Tires seem to have a huge price difference. |
| 2008-04-22 8:48 PM in reply to: #1344053 |
| Member 22 | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? Maybe I shouldn't but I ride on 700X21 and I'm 5'10" 240 lbs. I always make sure they are inflated before a rid. I have been riding on them for 2 years now with no problems. Not all tire/tubes are created equal. Make sure you have good qulity rubber. |
| 2008-04-22 10:04 PM in reply to: #1344053 |
COURT JESTER 12230 ROCKFORD, IL | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? The local bike shop recommended that due to my size (about 250lbs when I started) that I ride a 700x23 on the front and a 700x25 on the back. So that's what I do. |
| 2008-04-23 4:54 AM in reply to: #1344053 |
Frugal Gear Geek 2199 having fun with the kids | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? I had a snake bite issue years ago. LBS changed my rims, not tape, but a whole new rim. Expensive, but problem solved. Fast forward to 2 years ago. Same LBS and got new bike. Asked about wheel issue. was told that should not have been an issue, but did not dismiss the solution. The original wheel in question was an early aero style shallow rim. the hypothisis was due to the angles of the spokes on a rear wheel, the spokes could push through and cause a flat even if all else was rght. The new rim had a widder surface area where the spokes entered. I still ride these wheels on my trainer 20+ years latter. all the other thing noted before my post are valid, including high quality "trainnig" tires and going to 700x25. I have continental tires, not sure which model, but stiffer and with more kevlar than the bontagers that came on my new bike. good luck with your issues |
| 2008-04-23 11:45 AM in reply to: #1356154 |
Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: Optimal Tire Size for Clyde? Intersting point. IME: Throw away the rim strip which comes with any wheel. Buy a roll of Velox tape and re-tape the wheel. The silly rubber strip which comes on some stock wheels is laughable as protection from a spoke recoiling into the tube chamber. |
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