Fifty Plus (50+) - Tire Change

If you change from a 23mm to a 28mm tire, should the brakes be adjusted to clear the wider tire, for example in changing flats?

You will have to open the brakes wider to allow the 28's to fit.

Brakes are adjusted to the width of the rim, not the width of the tire.

When you open the brakes, you'll need to open them a bit wider, but closed and ready for action, they should remain the same.

tsl has it right. If you don't want to fool around with the adjustments at all, just fix the flat, inflate enough to see if the tire/tube are seated properly, let the air back out, remount wheel on bike, and then inflate to desired pressure.

HI,
I ve noticed when seating a tire and tube, that it needs a couple trys to get it seated correctly.
Part of the problem maybe that most tire seat better if they are not on the road as they inflate maybe suspended on a wheel stand.
I ve heard a tube twist as the tire delfates after the first inflation.
this extra step may prevent future pinch flats form twiseted tube.s
Doug

Brakes are adjusted to the width of the rim, not the width of the tire.

When you open the brakes, you'll need to open them a bit wider, but closed and ready for action, they should remain the same.

I had to raise the brake bridge on my front wheel to run 700 X 28 Michelin TransworldCity Tires.

Many brake calipers do not open enough to let 28mm tires easily pass through when removing the wheel.
If you are not running brifters on your bike, many of the Tektro brake levers have a quick release device built into the levers. When these are used along with brake calipers with a quick release feature, you get enough extra opening to be able to slip wider tires through the brake pads without needing to deflate the tires.

Many brake calipers do not open enough to let 28mm tires easily pass through when removing the wheel.
If you are not running brifters on your bike, many of the Tektro brake levers have a quick release device built into the levers. When these are used along with brake calipers with a quick release feature, you get enough extra opening to be able to slip wider tires through the brake pads without needing to deflate the tires.
Man, those Tektro levers are nice, I have 'em on two of my bikes now.

HI,
I ve noticed when seating a tire and tube, that it needs a couple trys to get it seated correctly.
Part of the problem maybe that most tire seat better if they are not on the road as they inflate maybe suspended on a wheel stand.
I ve heard a tube twist as the tire delfates after the first inflation.
this extra step may prevent future pinch flats form twiseted tube.s
Doug


Never had this experience...once it's on, it's on.

If you change from a 23mm to a 28mm tire, should the brakes be adjusted to clear the wider tire, for example in changing flats?

What sort of bike are we talking about here? On all mine I open the brakes in order to get the wheel off easily..I'm running tires anywhere from 23 to 35 depending on the bikes, but as tsl pointed out the brakes, when closed, need to fit the rim.

Felt F-80
700 X 28 Michelin TransworldCity Tires.

The tires have a heavy tread.
They rub the brake bridge unless I adjust the cable to raise it up from the tread.

Brakes are adjusted to the width of the rim, not the width of the tire.

When you open the brakes, you'll need to open them a bit wider, but closed and ready for action, they should remain the same.

I used to think that way but not so much any more.

My experience is that when switching from a 23mm tire to a 28mm tire a brake cable tension adjustment is probably going to be necessary.

I installed a set of 28mm gator skins on my 105 equipped retro grouch road bike. When I did that I found that, even with the brake quick release opened, the inflated tire would not squeeze between the brake pads. Loosening the brake cable made it work and the brake lever still doesn't bottom against the handlebar. The same is true of my Red Rocker bike but it uses a 105 caliper with an interrupter lever.

Anyway, how do you open the brakes "a bit wider"? On my caliper brakes the QR is either all the way open or all the way closed.

Then again, one can simply deflate or reinflate tires to pass between the pads when necessary. Sounds obvious, but be sure to spin your tires to make sure you have clearance between tire tread and brake arms. Some current "standard reach" brakes leave little clearance. (My sweet old Superbe Pro's won't take a 28- they rub.)

I had to raise the brake bridge on my front wheel to run 700 X 28 Michelin TransworldCity Tires.

But you still adjusted the brakes to some degree of tolerance related to the rim, yes?

What sort of bike are we talking about here? On all mine I open the brakes in order to get the wheel off easily..I'm running tires anywhere from 23 to 35 depending on the bikes, but as tsl pointed out the brakes, when closed, need to fit the rim.

Fuji Roubaix with Tectro RX140 brake sets. Can get 28s on but they have to be forced somewhat.

I recently put 700x28 gatorskins on my Allez because of bad road conditions, i didn't need to make any brake adjustment to either mount or run the tires.