Bicycle Mechanics - Tire height problem!!! Rubbing on frame!!!

Ok, I took the reccommendations of a few people and bought some 700 x 28c Gatorskins for a new build. I inflated them to 110 psi. I installed the front tire onto the bike and notice that the front wheel rubbed on the brake arms ever so slightly. As I hadn't yet installed the STI I think that will be ok, because when I draw the brake arms in toward the rim the arm raises slightly to allow clearance. However, the back is a problem. The tire rubs on the frame!!! Is there such a thing as a frame that will only allow a certain height of tire? I am stumped!!!
2003 Motobecane Sprintour
Easton Vista wheels
Continental Ultra Gatorskins 700 x 28c
I chose that size because I am 275 lbs and ride on semi rough roads.
Thanks for any help.

1st things 1st, are you absolutly sure the wheel is properly seated in the dropouts ?

Yes, some road frames intended for racing or serious sports riding have very close tire clearances and won't accept any tire larger than 25 or even 23 mm. A 700x28 that is a "real" 28 won't fit them. I recall some of the early Kestrel EMS forks that wouldn't even clear a 700x25.

I just installed them again just to make sure. Yes, they are seated correctly on the front and back. Thanks,
Well the Sprintour is a higher model for Motobecane.
I tried to take a picture but it it very difficult to capture that minute gap.

Ok, I took the reccommendations of a few people and bought some 700 x 28c Gatorskins for a new build. I inflated them to 110 psi. I installed the front tire onto the bike and notice that the front wheel rubbed on the brake arms ever so slightly. As I hadn't yet installed the STI I think that will be ok, because when I draw the brake arms in toward the rim the arm raises slightly to allow clearance. However, the back is a problem. The tire rubs on the frame!!! Is there such a thing as a frame that will only allow a certain height of tire? I am stumped!!!
2003 Motobecane Sprintour
Easton Vista wheels
Continental Ultra Gatorskins 700 x 28c
I chose that size because I am 275 lbs and ride on semi rough roads.
Thanks for any help.

I run 700x28 Gatorskins (great tires!) on a couple of my bikes and the rear tire on one bike only clears the seatstay bridge by 2 or 3mm. And, that's at 90psi. So, unless you get a road bike that's specifically designed for plenty of clearance, you might have problems. The more all_out_racing a bike is, the more likely. A road bike that's designed for fenders and plenty of clearance - like a Rivendell - is better for tires that are bigger than x25. Any time you know you are going to be running fatter tires or fenders it should be a consideration when spec'ing a new bike. The three places that you would commonly have trouble would be under the seatstay brake bridge, underneath the fork crown, and just behind the BB tube.

Thanks, I think I will trade in these 28c's for some 25c's and see if that does the trick. I am pretty big so I might have a problem going under that.

Thanks, I think I will trade in these 28c's for some 25c's and see if that does the trick. I am pretty big so I might have a problem going under that.

You might try a different tire. Just like rims, tires have a wide variety of shapes and crosssections. Maybe someone can suggest a tire that is "low height". It's just another of the many things on a bike that are of no importance until they don't fit, or start rubbing. In the words of Rosanne Rosannadanna, "It just goes to show - it's always something".

I am down to about the same weight you are and I have had no problems with my 700x23's. They came on the bike and I haven't bothered to change them. The road's here aren't the best and I still have no problems. I do run the rear at the tire's recommended max and the front at ten less.