Tires for Southern Tier

[djzack]

Right now I use 700/23 Continental road tires on my Fuji Road Bike.  Would these tires suit me well on the trip?  Or should I up the width to 700/25 or larger?  Any thoughts on this?

[staehpj1]

I started the ST on 23 mm Gatorskins and managed, but there is some pretty bad chipseal and the buzz was a bit bad.  When they wore out I switched to 25 mm and they were much nicer.

EDIT: I should probably note that I packed very light and was also on a road bike with not much clearance.  I would probably run 28mm if there was room and I was ready to replace the tires any way, but I chose to start on 23mm because I figured that I would wear them out first.  I do not regret the choice.

[dkoloko]

I have toured with tires as narrow as 20mm (short trip); doable, but I recommend wider. I don't see much advantage in going from 23mm to 25mm. If you have to buy new tires I recommend for touring the widest tires that fit your road bike. Also recommend touring bike over usual road bike, but if road bike is all you have, or if you are traveling extremely light, go for it. Marked size on tires doesn't necessarily correspond to actual size. Don't be surprised if 25mm tire isn't wider than 23mm tire, and maybe narrower.

[jiminwa]

I can't see going with less than 28mm. You might consider having your valve holes sized for shrader tubes, and using presta adapters if that's your preference. Presta valve tubes might be hard to come by. Carry your bicycle off the road in CA;AZ; perhaps other places or you may spend time removing thorns and patching tubes. I went across decades ago,before there was a "route". I made the mistake of not starting with new tires and had to try to find some in Mississippi. They barely had heard of a 700cc tire, let alone have any.With UPS shipping and such you can get emergency parts pretty easily these days.

[dkoloko]

I don't see much merit in going to Schrader tubes because of alleged difficulty in finding Presta tubes; not in this country for 700c tubes. I've ridden many miles in CA and AZ; goat heads weren't a problem, although they were there in parts of AZ I rode.  I've found touring tires harder to find than Presta tubes. Even so, in this country I've given up carrying a spare tire. I carry two extra tubes and a patch kit.

[DaveB]

+1 on leaving the Presta valves.  Even Wal-Marts carry Presta tubes these days.  I also agree on carrying at least two spare tubes and a patch kit for any type of tube, Presta or Schrader.

I'd use the widest tires that will fit your frame and fork but that may not be any wider than 700-23 for some bikes.  My experience confirms you can't believe the nominal size.  I've also had tires marked 700-25 that were really 23 mm wide and currently have a set of "700-28" tires that actually measure 26 mm. 

[staehpj1]

+2 on sticking with Presta.

I have done a good bit of touring in the US and finding presta tubes has never been an issue.