My 35mm tires measure 32mm when mounted.... Do I need wider rims to increase width?
12-05-13, 08:55 PM
#1
GO, Mordecai!
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NYC
Posts: 817
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
My 35mm tires measure 32mm when mounted.... Do I need wider rims to increase width?
I'm running Sun Venus rims that apparently have a 19.4mm width.
I mounted Continental Cyclocross Race Clincher tires that are 700 x 35c and when mounted, my calipers show that the tire is 31-32mm wide. Is this due to rim width not being wide enough? Or is the actual tire width really that far off? Thanks for any info. This is my first season with a cross bike!
I mounted Continental Cyclocross Race Clincher tires that are 700 x 35c and when mounted, my calipers show that the tire is 31-32mm wide. Is this due to rim width not being wide enough? Or is the actual tire width really that far off? Thanks for any info. This is my first season with a cross bike!
12-05-13, 08:57 PM
#2
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,243 Times
in
621 Posts
The size listed on many tires is often incorrect.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
12-05-13, 09:15 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 14,744
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 525 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3230 Post(s)
Liked 3,868 Times
in
1,439 Posts
It would probably come out wider on a wider rim, but that kind of difference isn't unusual.
__________________
My Bikes
My Bikes
12-06-13, 08:53 AM
#4
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Continental has often produced a smaller tire than labeled. They can advertise a lighter tire than a correctly sized competitor.
__________________
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.
12-06-13, 11:27 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Posts: 403
Bikes: Bullitt Milk Plus with Alfine 11s; Dahon Smooth Hound
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
12-07-13, 08:40 AM
#7
Senior Member
I went with a wider rim, Velocity A23, and it got my 35mm Happy Medium and Speedmax up to about 34.5mm. On my old wheelset they were about 32.5mm. So I agree that a wider rim, may widen the tire.
12-07-13, 12:00 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: St. Pete, Florida
Posts: 1,258
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Basic geometry says that a 3mm increase in rim width will get you about a 1mm increase in tire width if the tire's mounted cross-section is roughly circular.
12-07-13, 06:03 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,119
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
12-08-13, 11:53 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 8,896
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 196 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
4 Posts
This. More often than not, tires are narrower than their advertised width. Some, however, are actually wider. Jack Brown 33s and Vittoria Rando Hyper 32s both measure close to 35 mm on my wheels, which are Mavic Open Pros.
12-08-13, 01:06 PM
#11
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Some of my Vittoria tires are oversized and others are undersized. Hypers are larger than labeled, my 700x28 Rubino Pro Tech II ate narrower and the 700x25 Corsa CX are correct. My 700x27 Challenge Parigi Roubaix are more than 29mm wide. I use 23mm wide rims with all these rims.
__________________
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.
12-10-13, 11:33 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Polo, MO
Posts: 52
Bikes: '02 Jamis Coda, Eighthinch Scrambler V3, On-One Scandal V2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have heard people mention that you can let tires set around for a few days aired up to the maximum listed psi in a warm environment. After doing so, the tire will grow in volume, then reduce the pressure to your desired ride quality. I plan to test this theory after I unwrap my new tires and wheelset for Christmas. 
12-10-13, 11:36 AM
#13
Galveston County Texas
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In The Wind
Posts: 33,221
Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1350 Post(s)
Liked 1,243 Times
in
621 Posts
I have heard people mention that you can let tires set around for a few days aired up to the maximum listed psi in a warm environment. After doing so, the tire will grow in volume, then reduce the pressure to your desired ride quality. I plan to test this theory after I unwrap my new tires and wheelset for Christmas.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"
Fred "The Real Fred"
