25mm tires on a Time, specifically VXRS Ulteam

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savechief
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:36 am

by savechief

I believe the user manual for my VXRS Ulteam says 23mm tires maximum. It looks like there is a lot of clearance, however, between my current 23mm Veloflex Corsas and the underside of the fork, the top of the seatstay at the rear brake and between the chainstays. I'd like to switch to Michelin Pro4 Service Course tires in 25mm once the Veloflex tires are shot.

Anybody out there have experience fitting 25mm tires to a Time?

Thanks.
Time VXRS Ulteam (7.16 kg)
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=120268

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

I installed 25mm Continental GP4000 clinchers on my Time RXR. They were fine until I inflated them to 100psi. At that point, the rear wheel was making contact with the contoured section of the seat tube. However, note that Conti tires run bigger than other brands. You may be able to get away with 25mm Veloflex or Vittoria tires.

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Foghat
Posts: 27
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 12:03 pm

by Foghat

I have a Time VXR, which is very similar to the VXRS.

The clearances aren't great, but I just about get away with using '28mm' Continental 4Season tyres. These tyres actually measure about 26mm.

On the front, there is plenty of room with the Safe+ forks - about 7-8mm.

On the rear, the gaps to the seat tube and seatstay bridge are small - about 2-3mm. Not ideal, but tolerable - although with my weight on it, I think the seatstay bridge clearance is probably even less, and it does get marked and scratched by material on the tyre.

Plenty of room at the chainstays - about 6-7mm each side.
Last edited by Foghat on Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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rijndael
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by rijndael

Foghat wrote: but I just about get away with using '28mm' Continental 4Season tyres. These tyres actually measure about 26mm.

It depends on the rim. They measure 28mm on my Velocity A23 rims.

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Foghat
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by Foghat

rijndael wrote:It depends on the rim. They measure 28mm on my Velocity A23 rims.


Wider rims like those would reduce the tyre height slightly, giving a bit more clearance. Mine are narrower 20.5mm Mavic Open Pros.
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btompkins0112
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by btompkins0112

You would think, but in fact the wider rims make the tire taller.....it's the straighter sidewalls

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fa63
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by fa63

Keep in mind Michelin 25 mm tires run pretty big (mine measured out to almost 27 mm on a set of Campy Zonda wheels).

Wester-Ross
Posts: 214
Joined: Mon Oct 08, 2007 9:51 pm

by Wester-Ross

I ride a Time RXR, with Zipp 101 wheels.
The manual also states a max tire size of 23mm, but I run Schwalbe 25mm without issue at all. Apparently these run true to size.

HOWEVER. last year I put on a pair of 25mm pro4 SC. These are a fair amount larger than 25mm, more like 27mm. The front was OK. The rear had exceptionally minimal clearance and when riding any grit the tire picked up scratched up the rear of the seat-tube.

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carbon2329
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Location: Utah

by carbon2329

My 2012 RXRS is the same way.

I put some 23mm Cont GP4000's on and the were a little bigger than spec (25mm to my measurements) and they barely fit under the fork/seat-stays...as well as the EE-brakes. (the mounts for the brakes could be higher too).

"Heaven-forbid", if I actually ran 25mm tires.....

But another wheelset that has 23 mm Conti GP 4000 (that are to spec) fit just right.

(I am about to sell the tires and get new ones and hope they are to spec. (but you never know).

savechief
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:36 am

by savechief

Thanks for everybody's help. I've never actually measured my 23mm Corsas, but I consistently hear that Veloflex runs small and that Michelin runs big. Maybe I'll give the 23mm Pro4 a try, with the hope that it's more like 25mm, or at least a true 23mm. Sounds like the 25mm Pro4 might be a little too tight.
Time VXRS Ulteam (7.16 kg)
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=120268

dugster10
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by dugster10

I miss my Time VXR Proteam. Best bike ever ridden.

eifelschleicher
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Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:59 am
Location: Bonn, Germany

by eifelschleicher

I ride 24mm Continental Force Comp tubulars and have tried 25mm GP 4000 on my VXRS.
No problems with either, but that's about it.
25s are getting close to the backside of the seattube.

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carlislegeorge
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by carlislegeorge

My Veloflex Corsa 25s run about 24.5 on a narrower (20.5) Farsports rim. Would run bigger on a wider rim, as noted above. Don't have a Time, but my Parlee Z5 SLi comes with the same guidance (i.e., no bigger than 23mm tires). I don't experience any rub with the 25s.
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Oswald
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Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2004 10:11 pm

by Oswald

rijndael wrote:
Foghat wrote: but I just about get away with using '28mm' Continental 4Season tyres. These tyres actually measure about 26mm.

It depends on the rim. They measure 28mm on my Velocity A23 rims.


Yep, I have the same tires and on my Easton EA90 RT they measure 28mm, on my Mavic Open Pro rims they measure 25mm. So the rim does make a big difference.

savechief
Posts: 354
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2011 2:36 am

by savechief

Just wanted to post a little follow-up…

So my 23mm Corsas, which I was sure would measure undersize, actually measured anywhere from 23.2-23.5mm on Enve SMART 3.4 SES rims. I want tires that measure a true 25mm, not necessarily a tire that is labeled a 25mm, so here are my options right now:

1) Buy the 25mm Corsas, hoping that they are similarly true-to-size as the 23mm Corsas I currently have
2) Buy 25mm GP4000S, as I've heard that they are true-to-size
3) Buy 23mm Pro4 Service Course, hoping that they measure slightly larger; I believe the 25mm Pro4 Service Course will measure out to about 27mm or so (see fa63's post above), which might create clearance issues

Decisions, decisions...
Time VXRS Ulteam (7.16 kg)
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=120268

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