Not so long ago, the idea of running anything wider than a 23mm tyre on a road bike was enough to get you laughed out of the pace line.
If you were feeling especially daring, maybe – maybe – you’d squeeze in a 25mm. Anything bigger was the preserve of cyclocross racers and tourers.
Fast forward to today, and 28mm road bike tyres feel like the de facto norm on performance bikes.
However, visit any sportive or weekend group ride and you’ll spot everything from old school 23s to plump 30s to 35s. Even full-blown gravel-like tyres pushing 40mm and beyond aren’t out of place on modern endurance rigs.
It’s a remarkable shift, fuelled by better rim designs, disc brakes, a booming interest in comfort, and ever-improving tubeless setups.
Of course, there’s plenty else that goes into picking road bike tyres.
Do you go all-in on puncture protection, or chase marginal gains with a super-supple racing slick? Do you swear by a particular brand, or pick purely based on price and performance? What about tubeless?
But width is at the heart of modern debate, and we want to get to the heart of what real riders are actually using – and what they want to see tested.
So, we’re handing the reins over to you.
Whether you still long for the days of 21mm tubs pumped up to 150psi or are merily chugging along on pillow-like 35s, we want your input.
Vote using the quick poll below and drop your thoughts in the comments – your feedback will directly shape the tyres we test over the coming months, so don’t hold back.
Voting closes at 23:55 on 20 July 2025.
