Best tire width for hybrids?
10-10-16, 07:19 AM
#26
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700x32 has been perfect for me with 95% paved surface riding. I'll keep that size but go with a bit more aggressive edge pattern on my next set to increase performance on dirt and gravel.
10-10-16, 08:10 AM
#27
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I use 700x28 when riding on pavement. The 28 size size is sufficient for a smooth ride and stable traction on firm firm surfaces. The lighter tire size helps the bike feel more responsive to an honest effort. The Michelin Endurance is now sold in a 700x28 size, this is a great all-around tire.
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When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
10-10-16, 08:38 AM
#28
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Short answer - 35's
Longer answer:
The 'expert independent advice' seems to be trending towards use of wider tires for road/trail cyclists. While there is no uniformity in such opinions, I am a convert - but at 69 yrs I put a premium on comfort.
In addition to tire width, the key criteria for me include:
~ trade-off between suppleness of tire / puncture resistance / durability (I favour 'suppleness');
~ tread pattern (heavily dependent on when/where one is riding);
~ rim width (again, I favour the wider rather than narrow rims)
~ 'actual installed' width of tire vs 'nominal-on-package' width
~ tire pressure (also little uniformity of opinion - I favour lower rather than higher.)
~ price (I am fortunate in being able to regard this as being of lower importance).
General rules I suggest re tires (only my opinions - worth what you pay for them)
(i) get best quality you can afford
(ii) width no narrower than you currently use, and likely wider (upto width accommodated by bike specifications)
(iii) pressure no more than you currently use, and likely lower
Longer answer:
The 'expert independent advice' seems to be trending towards use of wider tires for road/trail cyclists. While there is no uniformity in such opinions, I am a convert - but at 69 yrs I put a premium on comfort.
In addition to tire width, the key criteria for me include:
~ trade-off between suppleness of tire / puncture resistance / durability (I favour 'suppleness');
~ tread pattern (heavily dependent on when/where one is riding);
~ rim width (again, I favour the wider rather than narrow rims)
~ 'actual installed' width of tire vs 'nominal-on-package' width
~ tire pressure (also little uniformity of opinion - I favour lower rather than higher.)
~ price (I am fortunate in being able to regard this as being of lower importance).
General rules I suggest re tires (only my opinions - worth what you pay for them)
(i) get best quality you can afford
(ii) width no narrower than you currently use, and likely wider (upto width accommodated by bike specifications)
(iii) pressure no more than you currently use, and likely lower
I'm with you 100% on this. Our budget is tight but good tires make such a huge difference that I figure out a way to buy them.
I tend to go as wide as my frame will let me and the lowest pressure I can without the sidewalls squirming in turns. In fact, my next purchase is going to be a new wheelset with much wider rims. My current rims are too narrow for the tires I'm using and I have to run them a higher than optimal pressure. I just have to decide between Velocity Cliffhanger rims and Velocity Blunt 35 rims. First world problems......
10-15-16, 07:01 AM
#31
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I have 60mm Big Apples on my bike and it's awesome! I had expected to find it harder to pedal due to increased friction but it hasn't worked out that way for me. It also works as basic suspension with pressures set to 2.5bar..
10-15-16, 07:45 AM
#32
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Man, that's a really nice bike. I'm digging the X1 up front too.
10-15-16, 08:00 AM
#33
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Thanks mate, I agree. It's stock apart from the saddle (Sportourer FLX Gel Flow Deluxe), handlebars (Contec Baguette Magique) and pedals (Shimano Saint). Accessories added since purchase are a Blackburn rear rack & Cube CMPT kickstand. It's now more comfort-orientated than it was as stock but I'm in no hurry.
10-15-16, 07:37 PM
#34
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Depends on where you ride like everyone said. I do mostly neighborhood loops of 5.3 miles and I do that several times for cardio. The streets are great, no bad potholes, so I ride 25mm on my trek fx 7.4. Everyone advised against going so small but I am so glad I did. The ride is not harsh at all and the bike literally flies now. I feel like I have a road bike with flat bars.
I'm not a speed demon but it's nice to get up to 20mph relatively easily with 25mm compared to the stock 32mm that came on the bike. But the best benefit....?
THINNER TIRES ARE MUCH EASIER ON THE KNEES !!!!!!!
I'm not a speed demon but it's nice to get up to 20mph relatively easily with 25mm compared to the stock 32mm that came on the bike. But the best benefit....?
THINNER TIRES ARE MUCH EASIER ON THE KNEES !!!!!!!
10-15-16, 09:25 PM
#35
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I have the second set of Forte Greenway Kevlar 700x40 on my Diamondback Trace. First set gave me 1800 miles. pressure 70psi, but I'm going to investigate different between front and back. I'm about 75/25 road/dirt.
My wife likes the Bontrager H2 26x1.50 my Specialized Hard Rock Comp that she uses.
My wife likes the Bontrager H2 26x1.50 my Specialized Hard Rock Comp that she uses.
10-16-16, 01:34 PM
#36
aka Phil Jungels
10-19-16, 06:19 PM
#37
Senior Member
Depends on where you ride like everyone said. I do mostly neighborhood loops of 5.3 miles and I do that several times for cardio. The streets are great, no bad potholes, so I ride 25mm on my trek fx 7.4. Everyone advised against going so small but I am so glad I did. The ride is not harsh at all and the bike literally flies now. I feel like I have a road bike with flat bars.
I'm not a speed demon but it's nice to get up to 20mph relatively easily with 25mm compared to the stock 32mm that came on the bike. But the best benefit....?
THINNER TIRES ARE MUCH EASIER ON THE KNEES !!!!!!!
I'm not a speed demon but it's nice to get up to 20mph relatively easily with 25mm compared to the stock 32mm that came on the bike. But the best benefit....?
THINNER TIRES ARE MUCH EASIER ON THE KNEES !!!!!!!
For my road bikes I use 25c slick tires and there is nothing better.
Just today I put a set of 700x37c Continental tour ride tires on one of my road bikes, these tires could probably be used for gravel as well. I did my usual 15 mile daily road ride, lots of small hills and drops the whole ride and... well...no.
Bike got heavier, felt heavier, climbing was torture compared to the 25's and speed dropped. I can't relate how someone using a commuter bike on the road would even think of using anything other than 25's or 28's without knobs, just not practical or efficient.
Where the 37's I used today shined were when I when I purposely went off the side of the road into gravel and grass, they'll roll over anything on the side of the road and they're also good if you want to build leg power and use them on the road for fitness and leg strength.
Last edited by gilpi; 10-20-16 at 03:45 AM.
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