keyia

If the original bike comes with a 700x23c tire, I'd like to change it to a 28c, how do I know if the bike will have enough room for a wider tire? What spec should I look at?

10 Wheels

What bike is it?

10 Wheels

Too many variables to tell over the internet.

Take it to a bike shop and try a 28 on your rims.

keyia

OK. Haven't bought it yet..

ThermionicScott 

Whip out a 5mm allen wrench and see if it will fit between the current tires and the brake calipers, chainstays, fork blades, etc.

EDIT:

In that case, ask the guys at the store or email the manufacturer? The manufacturer ought to know what tires will fit...

10 Wheels

So, What bike is it?

kingsqueak

Some will say in the specs listing on the web sites. The racier the bike, the lower the tire clearance generally. Cyclocross frames generally have large tire clearance.

PatrickGSR94

I think often it comes down to brake clearance as to whether you can get the tire in and out with the brakes opened up. My bike came with 25's and I'm sure there is at least 2-3 mm clearance all around at all interference points, so a 28mm tire SHOULD fit. But when my brakes are open the 25's are already a tight squeeze in and out. You could deflate the tire to get it in/out, but that's a bit of a hassle IMHO.

himespau 

If it's at a bike shop, can you just see if they have another bike with 28 mm tires on it? If so, it should take at most a minute or two to try swapping wheels to see if the bigger tires would fit.

bikemig 

The width of the rim is another variable; everything else being equal, a wider rim will help out as the profile of the tire is lower. I just fixed up an old racing bike for a friend with short reach brakes and he had lots and lots of space for the 28c tires I mounted on his rims. I've seen racing bikes where this could be a problem on a narrow clincher.

seymour1910

are you still looking at the diamondback podium or just shopping around? someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think the cannondale synpase definately will take a 28.

keyia

Aha, yeah, I'm still looking at diamondback podium...

10 Wheels

Maybe Not....I have some 28's that measure 30's.

You cannot trust the Size listed on the side wall.

keyia

Can't send private message yet because of the minimum post requirement..

I'll go to a LBS and check this out. Thanks so much for all your prompt response!

keyia

Guess what I have found: https://100tofit.wordpress.com/2013/0...-aka-podium-3/

This guy put a 700x30 tire into a podium that comes with 700x23c ...

seymour1910

It's your money and by all means spend it how you want, but why are you looking to go 28mm right out the gate? Have you taken a ride on 23mm and didn't like it? Do you feel the type of riding you will be doing will require a wider tire? When you start talking about 30mm and above you should be looking at a cross bike, or maybe even a hybrid. For road cycling I think you will be fine on 25mm tires.

Johnny Alien

There are plenty of larger road tires that are fantastic, light and can go just as fast all while supplying a higher level of comfort. There is zero reason to tell someone to go to a cross bike because they want a wider tire on a road bike. (That is aside from the fact that a bunch of modern road bikes don't want to support that tire size.)

seymour1910

fair enough, then be my guest in telling the OP what road bikes can be had that support 30mm tires. I doubt there are many that will with no modification at all. I ddn't say the OP had to go to a cross bike, I'm just trying to find out why someone that has not even purchased a bike and taken it for a few rides wanted to go with a 28-30mm tire. I agree that a larger tire provides more comfort but that comfort can be had with a 25mm tire.

keyia

I have tried 23mm bike from a friend and It's not that comfortable. Main reason is just for comfort.

Looigi

That actually depends on the difference in width between the brake track and the tire. Get rims with wide brake tracks and you may not even need to open up the brakes at all.

Also, if the brake release lever doesn't give you enough clearance to get an inflated tire in and out, try setting the cable length a bit longer so you can turn the adjuster in to get some additional clearance.

Looigi

What pressures were the tires set to? Pressure makes all the difference, and many riders use too high a pressure based on the max rating printed on the tire or the mistaken belief that higher pressure rolls easier. Optimum pressure depends on rider weight, tire width and rim width.

That said, wider tires will allow running lower pressure and provide a more comfortable ride.

seymour1910

Read this and read it again OP, very sound advice and it is commonly ignored. If you get an aluminum bike and swapped the 23 for 25mm tires and lowered the pressure you would see exactly what Looigi is talking about. I'm not telling you not to go for 28mm tires at all, just that 25mm can be had for cheap and the correct pressure will smooth out your ride.

Velo Dog

Don't buy a bike that won't fit the tires you want to use.
A lot of what you read and hear about the "disadvantages" of wider tires is bogus. I've done the same 25-mile RT commute since 1979 on a huge range of bikes from racers to tourers to a recumbent, on tires from 19mm to 41mm. My fastest time, when I was about 55, came on an old steel mountain bike with 1.5 tires. In the last month, I've ridden my Rambouillet on 28mm, 35mm and 37mm Paselas (I don't use anything smaller than 28 anymore) at 60 to 95 psi. Speed is far more dependent on what I had for breakfast or how hard I've been working than on tire size or bike design. The engine counts more than the vehicle.

Will Goes Boing

If you want comfort why don't you get a comfort bike? A road bike is by no means going to be comfortable.

ThermionicScott 

If you can't set up a road bike to be comfortable, that's your problem -- not the style of bike.