[cderalow]

So my GT Trekking style hybrid came with Alex ACE-17 Double Wall Alloy 32 Hole wheels and Schwalbe Landcruiser 700cx40 tires.

I'd like to go to something a little less agressive tread wise (these are pretty much narrow MTB tires).

Basically, I use my bike for mostly road use/fitness, and I'm thinking I could probably gain a little speed by swapping to something more like a road tire.

The problem is, since the current tires are so wide, I'm not sure how narrow I can get.

I'm thinking a true skinny road tire (700cx23) would be too narrow, but I'm not sure about a 700cx28?

Anyone have ideas? Going for lower rolling resistance, but still maintaining the puncture resistance and hard pack trail friendliness. Maybe a cross tire? a 'city' tire?

 

[newleaf150]

Cder,

I understand the limiting factor on tire width to be rim width - tire has to be mounted on a rim that's at least somewhat narrower than it is, or you risk problems, up to and including catastrophic failure.

If you are interested in parting with those 40c Schwalbes once you're replaced them, pm me and maybe we can work something out. If they're 700c and the model I'm thinking of, I'd be interested @ the right price

 

[John_V]

I may be wrong, but I don't think you can get anything under a 32 cm tire on those wheels. I would go to the wheel makers web site and check to see if they have a chart or something that will give you that information. The tire sizes that will fit on a wheel is determined by the inner dimensions of the rim.

 

[cderalow]

I may be wrong, but I don't think you can get anything under a 32 cm tire on those wheels. I would go to the wheel makers web site and check to see if they have a chart or something that will give you that information. The tire sizes that will fit on a wheel is determined by the inner dimensions of the rim.

The newer version indicates a 23mm outside wide, with a 17mm bead width.

http://www.alexrims.com/product_detail.asp?btn=1&cat=2&id=140
wheels

http://www.schwalbetires.com/bike_tires/road_tires/land_cruiser
tires (specific model 42-622)

Ive taken measurements, and 23mm seems about right for the outside width of the rim.

 

[kneedrachen]

Why not use your hubs and lace them to a new rim rather than compromising on a tire size you do not want?

 

[cderalow]

$100/wheel for new rims & tires... plus labor to have them laced & trued

or $50/wheel for new tires... plus free labor to mount them.

Main reason.

Also tie in the oddball 32h hubs.

 

[kneedrachen]

I would think (and this is just me, without looking my numbers up) you'd be able to slap a set of higher pressure 38c on there. I'm a fan of the Kenda KwickTrax. I have about 1000 miles on mine: road, gravel, dirt, single/doubletrack, grass and sand. Zero punctures, I keep them at 85 psi. By comparison, my wife has a hybrid with 38c made by Specialized (can't remember the tire model, not the Armadillo) at 100 psi. She has flatted twice in the same places I went with zero punctures. The tread on the Kendas is fairly tame, might be worth a look-see.

Don't worry about paying someone to true your wheels, do it yourself! Yes, you! The best way to learn is by doing. I've found quite a few mechanics will teach you for a case of beer and some food.

 

[cderalow]

I've seen as low as 32c on bikes using the same wheels as mine, so I might head in that direction.

either that, or just save the $$ i would spend and keep saving to get a legitimate road bike next year.

I eventually want to do the whole Bike to the Beach thing, but I know I can't do it next summer. or on my current hybrid.

 

[qmsdc15]

You haven't included the price of spokes, which are very costly these days. Building wheels is expensive, even if you do it yourself.

You should be OK with 700x28 on those rims. Personally I would not use narrower tires than 28c. Not for towing trailer. Not for touring. For racing, sure, but I don't race.

You can ride to the beach on your hybrid. You can do it next summer. You can do it tomorrow. :thumbsup:

 

[cderalow]

You haven't included the price of spokes, which are very costly these days. Building wheels is expensive, even if you do it yourself.

You should be OK with 700x28 on those rims. Personally I would not use narrower tires than 28c. Not for towing trailer. Not for touring. For racing, sure, but I don't race.

You can ride to the beach on your hybrid. You can do it next summer. You can do it tomorrow. :thumbsup:

Google bike to the beach. It's a charity ride during the first weekend of August. 103 miles to Bethany Beach from DC.

When it occurs next year, I'm in Hawaii.

Re riding on my hybrid, they require an average speed of 15 mph, which while it is possible, is not comfortable for 100 miles.

Additionally, I kind of want a roadie for fitness rides so I can go further during my typical 75 minutes rides.

 

[stevenjoywell]

yeah, i think so,You should be OK with 700x28 on those rims. Personally I would not use narrower tires than 28c. Not for towing trailer. Not for touring. For racing, sure, but I don't race.

 

[cderalow]

I found the eventual answer. 23C is too narrow, 25C is good for riding/trainer, 28C would be better with towing, though 32C would probably be best.

 

[MNRider]

Look on the rim lable. Most manufacturers list the inside width of the rim along with the actual diameter in mm. Check with the manufacturer or your LBS but in most cases you can install a tire that is as little as 3-4mm wider than the rim. My touring bike has 22.5mm wide Salsa Delgado rims (inside dimension) and I ran 25mm tires on it all last year (about 3,000 miles) with no problems. I switched to 28mm tires for the comfort this year, but wouldn't have any problem putting the 25mm tires back on if I had to.