Minion DHF 2.3 same size as DHF 2.5 WT - WTF?

[skizix]

I've been running Minion DHF 2.3's, front and rear, for a few years. I liked them, but figured I'd try a bigger size, so I got DHF 2.5 WT ("wide trail", designed for wide rims - I'm running 35mm inside-width).

So I mounted up one 2.5, and compared it to the 2.3. They are the exact freaking same size. I held them edge to edge, and they appear to be the exact same width. And I put them hub-to-hub, with the tires against a wall. The hubs were exactly aligned, and so they are the same height as well.

So it would seem: nothing gained, except extra weight (they are a couple ounces heavier, per tire.

Am I crazy, or did I get flim-flammed?

[El Chupacabra]

Something is wrong. I have two 27.5 bikes, one with 29mm internal rims, one with 30mm. One has a DHF 2.3, other has DHF WT 2.5. The 2.5 is noticeably wider and the knobs are different (larger).

I can post side by side pics later.

[XXX-er]

A 2.5 Minion DHF came stock on the front of my 5.5 Yeti, and an aggressor on the rear which I replaced with a 2.35 DHR Minion

No picture but the bigger front tire is definatley bigger & both tires measure true to the advertised width both in casing size and tread size

[El Chupacabra]

Something is wrong. I have two 27.5 bikes, one with 29mm internal rims, one with 30mm. One has a DHF 2.3, other has DHF WT 2.5. The 2.5 is noticeably wider and the knobs are different (larger).

I can post side by side pics later.

Here's pics.

Dirty tire is a 27.5x2.5 WT, on a Race Face ARC 30. Clean tire is a 27.5x2.3, on a WTB i29.

[NuMexJoe]

From your pics, the 2.5 looks wider, but if IRL they look & measure the same, I'd guess the new 2.5 hasn't stretched out yet? Or, just send me the POS 2.5 DHF. My last trip to Angel Fire convinced me I need something bigger than my 2.4/2.25 combo on the Balance.

[El Chupacabra]

I'm standing around in the garage waiting for the dog to finish eating, so...

FWIW, the 2.5 (dirty one) has been on that bike for almost a year. The 2.3 (clean) has been mounted only about a month.

[skizix]

Here's pics.

Dirty tire is a 27.5x2.5 WT, on a Race Face ARC 30. Clean tire is a 27.5x2.3, on a WTB i29.

Well that is odd. Wish I'd taken pics. I had those same two perspectives, and mine looked exactly the same. they seem to ride exactly the same too (except I now have intact knobbies, which is nice).

Mis-labled 2.3's maybe (seems highly unlikely, but...)?

[skizix]

From your pics, the 2.5 looks wider, but if IRL they look & measure the same, I'd guess the new 2.5 hasn't stretched out yet? Or, just send me the POS 2.5 DHF. My last trip to Angel Fire convinced me I need something bigger than my 2.4/2.25 combo on the Balance.

Is this really a thing? New tire stretches out, noticeably increasing it's overall size?

I've never noticed that, but never had a reason to notice.

[NuMexJoe]

Yeah. Some appreciably so, some just a bit. Probably not something you'd necessarily notice unless you were measuring for it. A day in full sun at 40 psi will accelerate it.

[skizix]

Yeah. Some appreciably so, some just a bit. Probably not something you'd necessarily notice unless you were measuring for it. A day in full sun at 40 psi will accelerate it.

This is definitely what was going on. When I first put the 2.5 rear on the bike, it looked like the exact same clearance as the 2.3. Now, a week and a few rides later, there is very obviously way less clearance on the chainstay (almost a sketchy amount, but it does still clear) - mostly in the height dept., less so width-wise.

So, Chupa had a new 2.3 and an old 2.5, so I guess the non-stretched/broken-in 2.3 looks obviously smaller than the had-plenty-of-time-to-stretch 2.5, in his pics. I had the opposite scenario, and the new, freshly mounted, not-yet-ridden 2.5 appeared to be the exact same size as the old, stretched out 2.3. Not anymore.

I'd never, ever noticed that. And back in the day, I used to run some freaking fat, balooney, way-too-light tires, until I started blowing sidewalls all over the place - bet those stretched out significantly (w/o me noticing).