Tire Upgrade
12-22-13, 04:12 PM
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Tire Upgrade
My wife has a Trek Lexa Alpha, with 700x23 stock tires. Hasn't ridden it much since she bought it, but we plan to be much more active this upcoming summer. In preparation for some rail-to-trails we plan to tackle, we're considering putting bigger tires. Is there a easy way to tell how big of a tire a rim will take, assuming clearance of the brakes/fork/etc? I'm assuming that 700x28 will be the biggest she can go.
12-22-13, 04:29 PM
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Rims are pretty tolerant of tire size. Cyclocross riders often install 700-30 or 700-35 tires on narrow "road" rims. If your wife's frame/fork will clear them, 700-32 should work.
12-22-13, 04:38 PM
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Since there's only loose correlation between the nominal and actual widths of tires, it's pretty much a trial and error thing. However to find the ballpark, note the place of closest clearance, which is usually the top of the fork, or under the front caliper, and/or the side clarance between the chainstays.
Then measure the clearance with the existing tires and convert based on this guidlines--- Radial clearance changes 1 for 1 for width since all the increase is to the outside. Side clearance changes by half the change in width since it's on both sides.
Also keep in mind that you have to leave more margin for error between the chainstays, since wheels can easily develop some wobble, though it's rare to have a radial increase from bending.
Then measure the clearance with the existing tires and convert based on this guidlines--- Radial clearance changes 1 for 1 for width since all the increase is to the outside. Side clearance changes by half the change in width since it's on both sides.
Also keep in mind that you have to leave more margin for error between the chainstays, since wheels can easily develop some wobble, though it's rare to have a radial increase from bending.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
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