Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - For you folks over 350 lbs......what size tires are you riding?

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corwin1968
06-22-12, 07:32 AM
I'm getting a custom wheelset built and I'm torn on what tires to get. Part of me wants to get 700 x 40c Schwalbe Duremes for durability and versatility but another part of me wants to get 700 x 32c Vittoria Randonneur Hypers for lightness and more "zip".

I weigh about 370 lbs and the wheels will be 40-spoke Dyads. Is anyone close to my weight running 700 x 32's or smaller with no issues?

Mithrandir
06-22-12, 07:54 AM
I weigh 400, and I run the 700x40c Duremes. I love them. One flat in 1,660 miles, so far the best tires I've ever owned.

I've tried heavier tires (Marathon plusses). I've tried lighter tires (Marathon Supremes). They have had negligible and unmeasurable effect on speed. At over 350 pounds, we will not feel any "zip" that lighter tires may potentially offer.

My philosophy? As uber-clydes, we should be taking weight off of ourselves before we ever consider taking the weight off the bike.
rdtompki
06-22-12, 09:38 AM
Our tandem team is right around 350 lbs and we ride 28mm Conti GP 4 seasons. You can certainly run this size tire as many tandem teams at your approx. weight do (but no curb hopping!). A bigger tire would give you more margin for error, potholes, etc. We run our tandem tires at 110 psi rear, 105 psi front.

corwin1968
06-22-12, 09:46 AM
It didn't occur to me that the tandem forum could be a source of good information so I went over there and there are two threads on tire width on the first page alone! I'll spend some time browsing thru that forum for more information.

Thanks!
ClemY
06-22-12, 11:44 AM
I used to be 345. I am now 265. I currently like Conti Sport Contact 700x37c and Vittoria Randonneur Hyper 700x38c. The Hypers are super comfortable and quite fast.
Yo Spiff
06-22-12, 01:32 PM
I was up to 286 at my heaviest and have ridden with 23c and 25c tires on my road bike with no problems. I have 32c Panaracer Pasela Tourguards on the tandem and combined we are probably 450-500 pounds. The 32c's seems just fine, though I debated going with 35's as well.
S2CPitts
06-23-12, 01:04 AM
I'm 355 and just had some rims built and went with 700x28 Bontrager Racelites at the reccomendations of the lbs. 45 miles so far and no problems.
Chris