Questions about tires and wheels.......
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Questions about tires and wheels.......
Heres the deal, I am a newer rider who has recently started getting more serious about biking. I just purchased a cyclocross bike (Specialized Crux) and love it. However as with everyone else here I am constantly thinking about what can make my ride better and/or faster. From what I read wheels and tires are the first major upgrade most people recommend. I was searching the web and found that I know next to nothing about wheels and tires. So here are the questions.
1. Are all 700c wheels disc brake compatible, if not how do you tell if they are?
2. How do you know what the min and max tire size a rim can take?
3. What should I be looking for when buying a new wheelset?
4. Difference and +/-'s of the different types of wheels(clinchers, areo's,tubeless?
Also anything else that comes to mind regarding tires and wheels feel free to share. Thanks in advance.
1. Are all 700c wheels disc brake compatible, if not how do you tell if they are?
2. How do you know what the min and max tire size a rim can take?
3. What should I be looking for when buying a new wheelset?
4. Difference and +/-'s of the different types of wheels(clinchers, areo's,tubeless?
Also anything else that comes to mind regarding tires and wheels feel free to share. Thanks in advance.
#2
Geck, wo ist mein Fahrrad
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Front Range
Posts: 715
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
1. no. manufacturer will state if disc only
2. size is limited to the width your frame will allow, assuming you have canti brakes, you may squeak a 700x38, but no larger. the wheel may recommend a tire size but . . .
3.the most expensive is not the best.
4. open to debate, I don't feel like opening that bag of kittens, except to say the most expensive is not the best.
advice= 23's are fast, flimsy and brutal. 25's are fast, less flimsy and forgiving. 28's are forgiving and good for off-roading and commuting. 32's are good for off-roading, cyclocross and usually knobbies. I use a 38 for snow and ice and it barely fits my Bianchi.
2. size is limited to the width your frame will allow, assuming you have canti brakes, you may squeak a 700x38, but no larger. the wheel may recommend a tire size but . . .
3.the most expensive is not the best.
4. open to debate, I don't feel like opening that bag of kittens, except to say the most expensive is not the best.
advice= 23's are fast, flimsy and brutal. 25's are fast, less flimsy and forgiving. 28's are forgiving and good for off-roading and commuting. 32's are good for off-roading, cyclocross and usually knobbies. I use a 38 for snow and ice and it barely fits my Bianchi.
Last edited by Rx Rider; 04-15-12 at 09:47 PM.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
thanks for the quick reply my bike runs disc brakes. Im glad to hear that the most expensive is not the best as I doubt I will be shelling out more than $500 on a set once I learn bout all this stuff.
#4
Really Old Senior Member
If you spent in the neighborhood of $2000 for a bike, the wheels that are already on it shouldn't be too shabby.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Huntington Beach, CA
Posts: 7,085
Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 478 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 87 Times
in
67 Posts
try the PSIMET web site. Get the Continental Grand Prix 4000-S from PSIMET when you get the custom wheels from him.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 391
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width
The chart shows what size tires fits what size rims. Scroll down to the red and green chart. On your rims, it should say 622x15 etc. The 15 is the rim size.
The chart shows what size tires fits what size rims. Scroll down to the red and green chart. On your rims, it should say 622x15 etc. The 15 is the rim size.
#7
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,363
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6219 Post(s)
Liked 4,219 Times
in
2,366 Posts
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html#width
The chart shows what size tires fits what size rims. Scroll down to the red and green chart. On your rims, it should say 622x15 etc. The 15 is the rim size.
The chart shows what size tires fits what size rims. Scroll down to the red and green chart. On your rims, it should say 622x15 etc. The 15 is the rim size.
Sheldon Brown's size ranges are very conservative on the upper end. I run XC717 rim on my mountain bike with 2.12" (55mm) tires mounted. That's way past what he says is possible. Of course, I run mine at low pressure to keep them from blowing off the rim. The lower end of his scale is okay, however.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
Most disc hubs are for MTB/hybrid use and use 135mm axles. Road bikes use 130mm axles. Check the Over Locknut Dimension of your frame.
130mm disk wheels are quite rare and if you really, really want an upgrade, you may be better off getting a wheelbuilder to make you a custom set. Your current wheels are quite usable and dont need upgrading.
CX tyres generally suck on the road and wear out rapidly. Switch them for a road, commuter or touring tyre.
Clinchers are the std tyre.
Deep aero rims are for going solo at very high speed.
Odd designs may be faster and stronger (eg spokes with no bend) BUT spares support can be tricky.
130mm disk wheels are quite rare and if you really, really want an upgrade, you may be better off getting a wheelbuilder to make you a custom set. Your current wheels are quite usable and dont need upgrading.
CX tyres generally suck on the road and wear out rapidly. Switch them for a road, commuter or touring tyre.
Clinchers are the std tyre.
Deep aero rims are for going solo at very high speed.
Odd designs may be faster and stronger (eg spokes with no bend) BUT spares support can be tricky.
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the chart. I believe my rims are 700cx17 so I should be able to use 25mm to 37mm I believe. Thats a pretty good range. The reason I am asking about all this is because Ideally I would like to have two sets of rims one for more road riding conditions and then my stock wheels for training and ruff use. As PSIMET I will probably look into that more once I feel comfortable that I understand all the wheel jargon and what it is that I want.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,552
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,584 Times
in
2,344 Posts
your new bike's wheels and tires should be perfectly adequate
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 757
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I've thought about doing the same thing. The best way to do it would be to build your own (or have someone else build them). That way you can use light road rims laced to MTB disc hubs (you're bike uses 135mm rear hubs, which is the mountain bike standard). If you have the money, a set of DT Swiss 240S hubs laced to Mavic Open Pro rims with DT Swiss double butted spokes and alloy nipples would be sweet. Some light 700x25 road tires and you've got some significant weight savings. Don't forget that you would also have to buy another set of disc rotors and a rear cassette too. That's why I just swap tires every now and then - two sets of wheels is expensive.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Guys its not that my current rims are not good, in fact I really like them but I would like another set or wheels for racing. I dont want to have to swap tires and all that. Thor29 thanks for the suggestion your post was helpful.