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Bigger tires ok on race wheels?

Old 09-16-15, 09:35 AM
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Bigger tires ok on race wheels?

Hi folks,

I have an old set of Bontrager Race TLR wheels collecting dust that would be convenient to use on a new bike I'm building up. They originally came stock with my Trek Domane (but I replaced them on that bike with high-end race wheels).

The new bike I'm building up is a steel Soma Double Cross frame with a road drivetrain, but I want bigger tires for commuting. Initially, I'll use cantilevers because I have some, and with this brake/frame setup, tire clearance won't be an issue. I'll be using the Soma on roads and occasionally light dirt or gravel trails.

But, the Race TLR's are exactly that - mid-priced alloy road and race wheels that are kind of light (front 18 spoke, back 24 spoke).

I'm just wondering if mounting bigger hybrid-type tires (size 32 or 34) on these racing rims would be a bad idea, structurally speaking... can I use them? Or, should I look into buying different wheels, perhaps with more spokes, maybe for cyclocross or comfort bikes, just to be safe? Anyone know?

Thanks!
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Old 09-16-15, 10:04 AM
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jaranth, One issue of using tires wider than a rim maybe spec'd for is running the tires at a pressure high enough to spread the brake tracks. A 32-37 mm tire at 70 PSI max may work just fine.

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Old 09-16-15, 10:06 AM
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What do you mass?
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Old 09-16-15, 10:10 AM
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As far as running a 32-35mm tire you'll be completely fine. Even the narrowest rims I've come across will fit tires like that no problem.

A far as strength is concerned, that's going to be a function of your weight and how you use the bike. Not the tire size. I wouldn't recommend lightweight 18/24 spoke wheels for commuting but you might be ok. In any case, any issues will not be caused by the wider tires.
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Old 09-16-15, 10:13 AM
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A symptom of wider tires on narrow rims that I have recently run across is the sidewall is more prone to getting cut by rocks/debris. It may be coincidence but with my 23's I have never had this issue but since I switched to 25's recently it has happened twice. I am running the same rims.
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Old 09-16-15, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by spdracr39
A symptom of wider tires on narrow rims that I have recently run across is the sidewall is more prone to getting cut by rocks/debris. It may be coincidence but with my 23's I have never had this issue but since I switched to 25's recently it has happened twice. I am running the same rims.
I think you just had bad luck. (and a 25c vs a 23c is a pretty small change.)

I had the exact opposite worry. My 23c tires on 25mm wide rims make the sidewall of the tire vertical, instead of curving back in toward the rim. The tire is effectively a 26c or 27c. I was worried that the part of the sidewall closest to the tread would be more exposed to sharp debris on the road.

And then I sliced the sidewall on the third ride on those wheels. I even posted a comment in another thread asking about other rider's experience with wide rim sidewall cuts. (Nobody had a similar problem.) Now, 3500 miles later, it's never happened again.


Originally Posted by jaranth
Hi folks,

I have an old set of Bontrager Race TLR wheels collecting dust that would be convenient to use on a new bike I'm building up. They originally came stock with my Trek Domane (but I replaced them on that bike with high-end race wheels).

The new bike I'm building up is a steel Soma Double Cross frame with a road drivetrain, but I want bigger tires for commuting. Initially, I'll use cantilevers because I have some, and with this brake/frame setup, tire clearance won't be an issue. I'll be using the Soma on roads and occasionally light dirt or gravel trails.

But, the Race TLR's are exactly that - mid-priced alloy road and race wheels that are kind of light (front 18 spoke, back 24 spoke).

I'm just wondering if mounting bigger hybrid-type tires (size 32 or 34) on these racing rims would be a bad idea, structurally speaking... can I use them? Or, should I look into buying different wheels, perhaps with more spokes, maybe for cyclocross or comfort bikes, just to be safe? Anyone know?

Thanks!
I would think the large tires would be easier on the rims. The big volume and lower pressure will absorb big bumps that would otherwise jolt the rims. You should be less likely to get the little cracks around the spoke holes that eventually let a spoke pull through.

Keep the tire pressure low enough to make a smooth ride. On a 32c, I'd try 50-65 psi front, and 70-80 rear, depending on your weight.

Last edited by rm -rf; 09-16-15 at 10:40 AM.
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Old 09-16-15, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by Jiggle
What do you mass?
That question sounds very engineering-oriented, lol. Not sure what you mean... but, my weight is 175 lbs, and with the bike (being a steel bike and all) will most likely total just over 200 lbs without loaded panniers. Is that what you meant?

Originally Posted by rm -rf
I would think the large tires would be easier on the rims. The big volume and lower pressure will absorb big bumps that would otherwise jolt the rims. You should be less likely to get the little cracks around the spoke holes that eventually let a spoke pull through. Keep the tire pressure low enough to make a smooth ride. On a 32c, I'd try 50-65 psi front, and 70-80 rear, depending on your weight.
Well, I guessed that bigger tires would mean less stress on rims than the smaller, higher-pressure tires they're made for... but, what about cornering stress? I'm guessing it's not an issue, either... but what do I know?

I'm probably just overthinking it; still, a rim failure would be... nasty.

Last edited by jaranth; 09-16-15 at 12:01 PM.
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Old 09-16-15, 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by jaranth
my weight is 175 lbs, and with the bike (being a steel bike and all) will most likely total just over 200 lbs without loaded panniers.

Well, I guessed that bigger tires would mean less stress on rims than the smaller, higher-pressure tires they're made for... but, what about cornering stress? I'm guessing it's not an issue, either... but what do I know?
You might be too heavy to commute daily on those wheels. You may run into problems of breaking spokes and wheels coming out of true. Nothing catastrophic but annoyances that can make you late for work.

Either way, again, the wider tires will have absolutely nothing to do with it.
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Old 09-16-15, 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by FastJake
You might be too heavy to commute daily on those wheels. You may run into problems of breaking spokes and wheels coming out of true. Nothing catastrophic but annoyances that can make you late for work.
Not disagreeing at all, but according to Bontrager there's no rider weight restrictions on these wheels... but if I taco'd a wheel, I wonder if they'd pay for my hospital bills?
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