Bicycle Mechanics - matching mtb tyres to rims?

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lobstermike
10-17-11, 01:08 PM
Hi everyone,
Is using a mavic xm317 rim too narrow for using a 26x2.4 tyre? I ride xc mostly, but i do like to have the extra cushioning of a large tyre up front. What width rim would be the 'ideal' for a 2.4 tyre?

nfmisso
10-17-11, 01:56 PM
Scroll about ¾ of the way down this page to the cart of tire width vs rim width; make sure that you read the commentary.
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width
lobstermike
10-17-11, 02:08 PM
Thanks nfmisso, i looked at that chart before i asked the question, and according to that chart a 17mm rim is compatiable with a max size of a 1.7 inch tyre, which seems a bit weird when the stock tyres that were on the wheels were 2.1 inch! I see it says that riders exceed these sizes with no problems, but i was thinking that maybe a 2.4 tyre would be pushing the limits a bit too far?

cobba
10-17-11, 06:57 PM
The Mavic XM 317 has recommended tyre widths of 1.00" to 2.10"

http://www.mavic.com/en/product/rims/mountain-bike/rims/XM-317

Mavic recommends 21mm wide rims for tyre widths of 2.10" to 2.50"
cyccommute
10-18-11, 07:04 AM
Thanks nfmisso, i looked at that chart before i asked the question, and according to that chart a 17mm rim is compatiable with a max size of a 1.7 inch tyre, which seems a bit weird when the stock tyres that were on the wheels were 2.1 inch! I see it says that riders exceed these sizes with no problems, but i was thinking that maybe a 2.4 tyre would be pushing the limits a bit too far?

Brown's values are for high pressure tires and don't really apply to low pressure wide tires.


The Mavic XM 317 has recommended tyre widths of 1.00" to 2.10"

http://www.mavic.com/en/product/rims/mountain-bike/rims/XM-317

Mavic recommends 21mm wide rims for tyre widths of 2.10" to 2.50"

I run 2.3" on Mavic XC 317 without issue. The recommendations are conservative. That said, be careful of the pressures you run in them. The wider the tire, the higher the total pressure within the tire. That's not the pressure per unit area but the total force on the tire wall. A wider tire is a bit more prone to blowing off the rim in some circumstances.