Skinny vs. Wide Tires for Fixed Gear

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wabicycles.com/
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Previously, the cycling world thought that skinnier tires for road/street riding were strictly better, and most importantly faster. Now, people are catching onto the benefits of wider bike tires: comfort, puncture resistance, better corning and finding out that they're not necessarily slower than skinnier tires under real world conditions. As more people are converting to wider tires for ever day use, are skinny or wide tires better for you and your fixed gear? Let's find out.
My tire recommendations:
Skinny Tires (25c or less)
Continental Grand Prix 4000: amzn.to/3aaiTsB
Medium tires (28-32c)
Continental Gatorskin: amzn.to/2VsZdfA
Wide tires (35c+)
Panaracer Pasela: amzn.to/2T45SLx
Panaracer Gravel King Slick: amzn.to/2Ti2co9
Fixie Famous Shoutout:
StanStrong108
Ryan Witt
Patreon Singlespeed Shoutout:
Carlos Flores
nicodache
@ffnivas
Barak S
Pat Bateman
Simon Newton
Gregory Tomlinson
Connect with me:
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/ zachygallardo
*DISCLAIMER: This description contains some affiliate links. I'll get a small commission from anything you buy from those links to help run the channel at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
#fixedgear #fixedgearbike #cycling

[@RCGJR_]

I ride with 5c tires with no chain and no handlebars. Love it ♥️

[@SimonFuto]

Lightweight. I ride 3c with no saddle or cranks.

[@gregguerin9197]

i dont ride to ensure im on the lightest bike humanly possible

[@guildofgamefails]

Haha, you guys are using tyres? I use fruit by the foot on my bike!

[@emilioadams3223]

fruit by the foot? rookie. If your not using crunchy jiff as assembly lube you’re definitely doing it wrong.

[@its_jowen]

Pathetic I put banana peels on my shoes and skate my way around town

[@danielmcanulty1562]

Really great overview. Just picked up fixed gear cycling again after move to Vallejo, and got two front tire flats two days in a row. Started boning up on tires. Good luck in Taipei, thanks for this great video.

[@titansilva24]

I know you mostly cover fixed gear stuff but I ride a steel frame road bike bianchi from the 90s and I love your channel Zach. I use 32s and I love them they feel the perfect happy medium between wide and skinny. They are very comfortable and my bike is a blast to ride

[@jtoth1995]

Guy at 8:35 *stops pedaling* Me: Wait, thats illegal

[@loomzoom]

Where?

[@kulasoy7676]

He has coaster hub

[@charlesaaroncamp8546]

Moving from road 25C to gravel-ish 28C as we have loads of good, crushed stone/ gravel trails around Chicagoland. Excited to try them out. Thanks for the helpful pros and cons!

[@rhomyalimwijaya3406]

Zach i learn so much from your channel. I appreciate what you're doing buddy. All the best many thanks

[@Messerjocke90]

I took my Hard tail Mtb for a spin yesterday, right after my fixed. The difference is insane. The transition between these two feels exactly the same as from a regular Mtb to a fat bike 😂. But also I really really REALLY enjoyed coasting on it and just riding over anything without really feeling it compared to the fixed gear where you feel anything you roll over. Even ants.

[@ritalinkidsonritalin]

Even ants! 🤣 At least we can't feel bacteria when we roll over them. Give a fixie SOME credit lmao!

[@thepedlad7946]

Go up a tyre size

[@Messerjocke90]

@@thepedlad7946 already did that. Didn't know what tires size I can ride on my 400 Euro Unknown SC-1 before, but after improving the fork (getting rid of some ugly welding spots that stuck out) I was able to go up from the stock 23c's to 28c's and now I even got a new fork in the mail so Im going to pump it up to 32c's. But that's going to be it. Can't get bigger in the rear. I'm already at the rear end of the dropouts.

[@hansfranz8795]

@@Messerjocke90 Hey man, I'm currently contemplating whether to get an Unknown SC-1, what's your experience with it?

[@citrOhm]

I think my city all-rounder fixie tyre is Continental SuperSport, 28. I love them. They are so smooth, got the grip, and city-fast. And puncture protected.

[@jeffrey2839]

Finally an awesome content about tire width

[@RyanWilson876]

25c front and rear for the win in my opinion! Although, depending on the build, 28c looks great. I personally like the bumpy ride and the response of feeling everything.

[@jaman5735]

sidewall wear and damage come from riding with under pressured tires. tire pressure checks and maintaining correct pressure is key!!! great videos!!!

[@jakubpu]

Great video! By the way, the road buzz you feel with skinny tires might feel fast, but is actually slowing you down.

[@bubbatheking9225]

I never knew how sophisticated riding has become. I'm 67. This was a real helpful vid. Thanks ZG.

[@dasilentninja1611]

I have been running Panaracer Pasela Pro Tites in a 35c for the past few months and I love them so far.

[@devoidbmx1]

I run 48cm Rene Herse Ultralight tires on my Crust Lightning Bolt single speed. Love that they work great on dirt as well as bad pavement, and they give a supple and comfortable ride.

[@RE-vl8ii]

I'm currently on 28 c gatorskin in the front and Randonneur 28 c in the back for maximum fixie points. Randos are cheap, durable plus the red stripe is a badge of honor.

[@jeh45345]

I have a cheap 90's mountian bike converted to 6 bolt fixed gear. It has 26" X 1 1/8" . Sometimes I put on the 26" X 2 1/4". Love that thing!

[@mg004033]

I switch my 25c tires to 35c and at first I thought the 35c were going to be sluggish. Couldn’t be more wrong, not only could I ride faster with the 35c and more comfortably, but best part is my back and neck doesn’t ache anymore after a ride.

[@mg004033]

@Raphael Gallo still the same rims. As switching from a 23c to a 35c unsure, but according to my research, your rim should be able to handle a 28c tire.

[@humildemarcelo]

@Raphael Gallo I'm running 32 c on a 20mm wide rim and it's totally fine

[@kimkrimson]

@Raphael Gallo i ride 40s on a set of 16mm rims. You will be fine with 35 for sure! Don't settle with anything less and maybe don't go any bigger to stay safe in the corners

[@Immortal__]

​@slavelaboringkid7597internal or external?

[@sheilastallard]

Singlespeed=23mm, touring bike=28mm, small wheel folder (Brompton)=32mm and I enjoy all of them !! xxxxx

[@faascencio]

Love my 35 -38c tires......won't ever switch to skinny. Thick tires for the win.

[@Anjuroo]

Wabi lookin hella sick with that steer tube chopped down!

[@sir_jerhyn]

My favorite tire is Maxxis Refuse!

[@Cube_Ernator1077]

700C x 28.

[@GordonMoat]

Newer version of Continental 4000 is the 5000, though there was an in-between version called the 4000RS (sometimes discounted). You can get these up to 28mm wide.

[@AlessandroCardano]

Bike came with 23's and got a 25 for the rear after too many punctures. Rode like that for 2 years but it was a pain to avoid cracks, bumps and rough streets. Yes, they are responsive, but too much for my taste. 3 days ago I got a pair of Conti Ultra Sport 28's and I'm riding in heaven, the comfort is unmatched and I can enjoy the ride more. Yes, they provide more momentum, and that translates into slower launches but easier speed. I very seldom skid so I hope they'd last me for a good time. -A

[@gryphonavocatio]

I've been running 28c Panaracer Pasela PTs on my Fuji Feather (the biggest tires I can get on the bike), and I love them. They handle the limited amount of dirt I hit on my rides just fine. I've got 23c Grand Prix 4000 on my road bike, and those are great, but I'm gonna upgrade them to 25c some day. I've never been a fan of Gatroskins, though. My brother has those on his road bike and I just never liked how they felt.

[@amitkumar-wj8gn]

the thing I learnt from this video is that 30 mm is the ideal option for the one-size-fits-almost-all! WTB Exposure!

[@DEFKNIGHT]

Or the Continental 5000 in size 32mm

[@samk6868]

Sacramentos riding is amazing, riding from sac to davis is awesome and the roads have been improved a lot!

[@dukelorenzmorales2601]

I have a constantine drag fixie and I had 23c tires at first and changed to 28c tires and I love riding the 28c tires. Planning to build a tracklocross in the future

[@kevinbarillas5242]

28c and 32c have always been my favorite

[@user-mm1lt9rq1m]

Do they still work well in Hilly areas?

[@ChrisALindsay]

I decided to go for a Surly Steamroller as it allowed me to install up to 700X38c tyres for my single speed build.

[@robest334]

I can't wait for this video. I'm currently running 23c thickslicks on the front(looks 25c inflated) and 25c gatorskins on the back. I'm thinking of running with 30c on the front and back but I don't know if my colossi Mondial track can accommodate those tires.

[@jewellmaster4746]

The Surly Steamroller is an excellent choice for wide tire clearance. It has more of a road bike geometry though.

[@victormolina3314]

I rode this gnarly dirt trail with my 32c Gator skins and those bad boys took it like champs, great tires.

[@lamontauto]

Great video! Keep it up!

[@mattsowi6479]

I will tell you on my road bike I road 19mm 25mm and 28 mm tires and found 28mm the best On my other bike I road between 1.5 inches to 2 inches No there not fixed gears but I can tell you I one hundred percent agree with this video It makes 100% sense these pros and cons God the fixed gears look great I wish my local shops had fixed gears

[@nova-jo1649]

Never really liked 25c tires, not a fan of stiff rides 28c usually always my go to, but I can't go wrong putting on some nice 35c one in a while👍🏽

[@reginaldfowle4586]

I run a 32 rear and a 28 front. Turning in NYC is a breeze. Thanks for this info Z its gonna help on my next build. Ride reasonably dangerous!

[@isaacheatley7989]

Got 33c gravel kings on my Fuji declaration build and they are so awesome in the snow

[@gilberttiborjakub9890]

I use 32mm wide tubeless on my commuter bike, this the ideal performance/speed/puncture resistance combo for me.

[@danieleduardovaladezmartin8004]

My feather came with vittoria zafiro on 25. I switched up to gatorskins on 28 (because i saw it on a flashy yellow bike).I feel enough difference since i ride on these wider tires improving comfort. I got a hard punch in the back wheel and the tire now feels bumpy, is like ride on bad pavement but is my tire (not my rim).

[@Divercitylife]

I've never even seriously considered going fixed gear, but I love your videos. My road bike has 42s and my mountain bikes always have 3in, but still love the content.

[@peterbaskind9872]

My worst crash was also a RR track. The tire got swallowed up, and off I went. Fractured pelvis (which really hurts, BTW); cracked rib, broken wrist. Interestingly, though, I did learn that if you are lying in the road at 5:45 am in Germantown, TN, cars will drive around you. But I was riding a wide tire. That was a pretty big gap - and the track crosses the road at an odd angle. Many riders have fallen there.

[@AnoleVidz]

The squirrels in the trees are the best :D

[@thetraveler9]

Ive ridden 700c 23-25 mm for years. I recently bought a cheap mountain bike with 26 wheels and fat tires. I was surprised by how much more distance fat tires take up per peddle vs skinny tires.

[@SamuelBlackMetalRider]

700x35 Panaracer Gravelking SS on my TrackloCross. GP5000 in 700x28 on my track bikes for full on speed. 28 front & 32 Gatorskin on my fixed steel commuter. 25 front & 28 back VITTORIA CORSA G 2.0 for my Crit Machine.

[@sheldonharvey8306]

Years ago, I bought a used Trek 500 series that had 23s. I pop them the first time I wrote over the railroad tracks going into Old Sacramento. I replace those with 32 cyclocross tires and they work a lot better. Thanks for the video. And thanks for the my Sacramento memories.

[@felipepaloma9877]

Great video Zach, anyway you can post the link to where I can find the front basket. Thanks man!

[@toddschmitt6631]

Hey zach love your videos,,my question is what is a good tire for wet road conditions?

[@kimkrimson]

Don't forget you can always get a long caliper brake and go 650b on most fixie frames. Thanks Sheldon

[@raduolteanu2829]

2:58 squirrel chase in the background!

[@obiwankenobi661]

its not just about the tyre width but also the tread thickness. some tyres are simply thicker than others. most race tyres are super thin and arent meant to be ridden for months on end. there are some good 28/32 tyres with proper thickness that offer a good mix of both. the only problem i ever have is the profile. the profile can cost you alot of rolling resistance but is fundamental in wet conditions. so the real question is wet vs dry and how much air pressure depending on what kind of surface you plan on riding.

[@MeneerHerculePoirot]

My go to for tires fg are 25mm Schwalbe Marathon Plus because I hate flats. Got them anyway. So, I switched to 28mm and haven't had a flat since 2008 on my fg.

[@neoxyooj]

didn't know you rode in Sacramento. I live and ride in sactown all day, from Elk Grove to Folsom!

[@AmblerSonoma]

I run 650b x 47 WTB Horizons, tubeless, on my Surly Steamroller, and it's incredible! I can ride anywhere, they are super smooth, and the grip is unmatched. Highly recommend 650b conversions for fixed gears, so you can max out the tire size.

[@porelbarranco]

Hey Jordan! I am planning a bike build similar to what you describe and am struggling to find a 650b fixed wheel set. I am thinking of building them myself but it would be my first and am still looking for options. Did your Steamroller come with wheels or did you make them custom?

[@AmblerSonoma]

@@porelbarranco I had them built up by a shop. Used Origin 8 track hubs and Dt Swiss xm401 rims.

[@juanpalomo5532]

also when we getting a Hotline: Zach video

[@ThivvyCassie]

that would be an amazing collab

[@TheTubaEmporer]

Definitely need a hotline video with Zach

[@Oliviaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Lol would be a tepidline

[@Jake-fy6lm]

@BeboSaab You're an idiot. It's only okay to ride fast if you fight people? Get help.

[@riv6580]

BeboSaab youre annoying.

[@Ufitlinda]

Hi! Thank you for this information. You are exactly what I was looking for. I have a fixie, used to ride in the city. Move to the woods, road are gravel and I made a trail around the property. Gravel, wood sticks, acorns everywhere, I figure to retire the fixie since I never knew I could change the tire. Excuse my ignorance, this bike was a gift a while back to go group city bike rides. I have no idea yet, about where to measure to find a non skinny tire for my bike. I’d appreciate if you or anyone with experience would be so kind to help me. I want to ride my fixie on the trail. Thank you. ☺️

[@jesse3220]

I plan to use 25c tire on front and have a 28c tire on the back as I skid and skip stop alot to is this a good idea anyone ?

[@wallonthefloor]

what kind of basket is on that nature boy im looking for one for my big block

[@ShredST]

Looks like Wald 137, if you don't know already.

[@aquariusgirl8454]

What is the best tire whn riding on brick roads. College campus in Richmond VA has Asphalt roads but bricks on the pathway to get from building to building.

[@mattm9689]

What do you guys recommend for around 32c wheels? I’ve always rode 25c but yesterday almost ate it yesterday on loose gravel lol.

[@sir_jerhyn]

I am currently getting Michelin Protek Max in 28cs right now, it's gonna be comfortable ride! Let's not forget the mention of my gear ratio, which is is 44/16! Spinning is winning.

[@forcemacapagal736]

Zach I have a question what if I want to make my track bike into a tracklocross can I just put a 700x35 on the back tire and a 700x25 in front is it good enough for a Gravel trail?

[@FrenchCoops]

I run a 28 in the front and 25 in the rear. Easy skids and a less twitchy front end

[@bishopm4401]

Do you need wider wheels to fit wider tires? Like will the wheels that came with 23C tires fit 35s?

[@jamesowen418]

You can ride over anything on Schwalbe Marathon tyres! That's why you didn't puncture. They're pretty heavy though.

[@johnli8831]

5:25 tell me whats playing in the background plz

[@ladduncan]

Thinking about making my Raleigh xxix 29 into a fixie for around town

[@carlosfigueroa790]

Greetings from Central America, Guatemala City.

[@dfmcode1418]

sir can you make a video about 27 single wall vs. 700c rims by the Way like the video. helped me a lot 😁

[@thatsit1754]

Can I use a normal body bike but I change the tyre with fixie tyre?

[@Lousysuperior]

Surly steamroller*** i love my bike. My only complaints are that it doesn't have canti mounts or rack mounts. I have a ss/fixed crosscheck as well but its way slower handling. I may throw on some wide risers to the crosscheck because it may just be that im running drops

[@eats__ass2897]

ive been riding my 23c on dirt and gravel, not sure if im doing it right or wrong 😂

[@fcallophoto]

Hey Zach, what about Tannus tires? have you tried them?

[@juanpalomo5532]

lucky i can fit 32's on the big block. got 2 wheel sets; Deep V's for the skrrrrt, Suns for the dirt.

[@L__85436]

Hey zach. Wabi thunder or cinelli tutto for tracklocross?

[@brauljo]

For the price of the higher end Wabi framesets, you could get a custom Chinese titanium frameset from Waltly or Titan. Or you could opt for the custom titanium frame and a carbon fork from Aliexpress. Point is you can go nuts with whatever dimensions you want, add a tapered head tube, T47 bottom bracket, zero toe overlap even with a midfoot position and 60 mm tires.

[@brauljo]

@BeboSaab I don't, but I do have a custom titanium allroad bike and hardtail mountain bike. They're pretty great, I used the free version of Bikecad to get the geometry, they use that to make you detailed drawings for manufacturing. It takes from a few to several iterations till you can give them the go ahead to begin making the frame[set]. I got the allroad frameset for 1150 USD shipped and the mtb frame for 930 USD shipped, although I would recommend just getting an Aliexpress carbon fork and use that for the geometry of the frame instead of paying more for a custom fork. It ain't cheap but it's not a bad price if you compare it to getting a local custom frame. You do have to make sure that you know what you want and to thoroughly check the drawings they give you, because they'll make whatever is on there even if it's a bad idea. Their English is quite acceptable. www.spanner.org.uk/ This is a blog about custom Chinese titanium frames, the guy offers guidance for a price. But that's not necessary, the blog does have useful information. I didn't know of the blog till after I got the first bike.

[@timboha8191]

35 Explore UFH in winter, 25 Conti GT's when it's nice, both on my Cinelli mash, plenty of clearance

[@terrell6768]

Watching this from Sacramento

[@fonztheonly]

i love my 23s i love harsh rides, riding on bigger tires makes me feel like im always having a flat tire

[@aidan8082]

Fr tho i always gotta look if my tire is flat on 28’s 😂

[@timothy4122]

23c tires in the front 25c tires in the back

[@ouroboroszx4998]

i’m running 32c because i’m a bit of a heftier rider. i feel like when i hop off a curb with anything smaller the tire is gonna pop lol. in fact, speaking from personal experience

[@sour3000]

I think the other way around I have 23s and I constantly worry about the inner tube more than I do on a wider wheel bike lol

[@fonztheonly]

@@sour3000 its not that i dont worry about getting a flat i do but the ''hardness'' for me its like tire its ok and softy bigger ones i feel weird my mind its just used to harsh rides

[@knarf_on_a_bike]

My first true track bike was so tight I could only ride 19s on the street. Otherwise the front tire rubbed the downtube. So now riding 23s is like riding an easy chair.

[@michellitura1664]

if you use 25c you need to change the rims? thank you

[@victorpelini5995]

28c is the good spot for me now. I think I can push up to 32c but more than that I will have clearance issue (old peugeot frame from the 80s)

[@rockjunkie1699]

HEY! i have a pugeot US express and run 32s on it and absolutely love them. glad to see another steel pugeot roaming around!

[@victorpelini5995]

@@rockjunkie1699 There a LOADS of them in France

[@vernonhadley]

The Grand Prix 4K have no protection and typically run wider than similar sized Gatorskins. Just an FYI to potential purchasers. I have 3T fork that maxes at 25c, I can fit 28c Gatorskins in there with minimal rub, while the 28c Grand Prix 4K rub a lot. It may have to do with the stiffness of the Gatorskins, but I prefer them for the protection.

[@finalbattle777]

grand prix 4000s tends to run wider. might be due to e suppleness of the tyre like u said.

[@markchester7776]

Just asking can i use my mtb frame to make a fixie?

[@xSamy0217]

Can I fit a 700x35 tire on a wheel set that has 700x23c. It's a Deep V Fixie Rim

[@rashb3994]

Been riding on 3inch wheels for a year 5hat feel like riding on air at times but want something faster. 23 is too big of a jump. Guessing 38 to 47 would do on a single speed.

[@grimispotato245]

I started riding fix with 28's "28 to me are like beginners tires" and when I got more into fix riding I started to use 23's bad idea I got flats after flats now that I've got more into fix riding I use 25's gatorskin and I do see there is a speed difference I have use thickslicks and I don't like them to me they feel if there not max aired they are slow I probably should try 23's that mite be a good size

[@Shelterpello]

do skinny wheels feel any good for a beginer ?

[@pratyushsharma6655]

Can someone tell durability of 700x35 ? I had a pretty wide tyre bike previously (without gear) and booked a hybrid now with gear having this tyre size. I am just worried about flat tyre frequency. Even a 35 is slim for my standards. Ty in advance : ) PS: Will mostly drive on pavement, normal and rough roads like in the video in the starting.

[@richielebron5898]

The train tracks got me with 29x2.2s!!

[@ThreeTon14]

I'm kinda sick of punctures on my 25c. And i'm looking forward to get a 32c. I assume those should be more protective against little rocks and stuff. Am i right?

[@loosermvp]

Yes

[@renidalelimos4988]

can i use 28c on a 29 inch rims?

[@KostasNiki]

anyone else noticed those squirrels chasing each other on the background at 2.58? XD

[@markmarlatt1105]

Trying to build up a fixed 26er! Tires will be about 2 inches wide. Basically a monster track bike!

[@TheFriendofnight]

Running 32c 4seasons black on my geared bike and 28c ultra sports ..pretty fast, and besides popping them bunny hopping nearly never get a flat. Medium is the best imho.

[@tonycobb1895]

Is there an easy way to check how wide a tire your bike can fit? For example measure the distance between your rear seat stays and minus 10mm for clearance. Or measure the space available inside the front rim to the bottom of the brake caliper. Its a generic track frame with horizontal dropouts. I have 23mm on the bike with a bunch of space possibly for 32mm or 36mm. I would like to be able to ride on a bumpy paved bike trail with a 2 mile gravel causeway on one end. Overall it would turn a dull heavy frame into a solid comfortable 4 season bike. How do Thick Slicks do in Rain/slushy weather?

[@iwritechecksatthegrocerystore]

I would just say go to your local bike store or even more preferably a co-op with your bike and ask them to let you try a different size to see how big you can fit. Every coop I’ve ever been to has been super cool about letting people borrow tools and fix things yourself so you probably shouldn’t have an issue. Especially if your going to actually buy one.

[@Torsan1977]

Wish my thickslicks would wear out so I could have a reason to buy a pair of 32mm Gatorskinz.

[@jansenalvarez3138]

is there tubeless tire option for fixies?

[@HaniJIsmail]

Im on 28s and I wanna ride some gravel so I'm going to move up to 32s(max for wabi classic frame XD) but im going to wait for them to go bad since they are gatorskins and they arent cheap lol