I have a Novara Corsa Hybrid which has been one of my project bikes (I'll post some pics later). It came stock with 700 x 40c tires
which ride OK, but wont allow fenders with the rigid fork I put on the bike.

The long and short is that I bought some 700 x 28c Vitoria Rand. tires. There was ever so much swearing involved as I tried to get
them on. The thought of changing one of the on the go is...I don't like to think about it. So they went back to REI.

It hadn't occurred too me that my rim might be too wide for some 700 tires, but that seems to be the case. Right now there are some
cheepy Fortes that are 35s and allow only about 1-2mm clearance between the tire and mud guard in the front of the tire, it seems
OK in the back of the back end of the front tire from a clearance place. The rear tire/mudguard are fine.

Is it reasonable that a 28c tire would be too small for a rim that came stock with a 40c? The bigger tires fit/go on & off with no problem,
the smaller ones have to be torqued on and off with a great deal of stretching. I had assumed that since the diameter is the same
then any 700's would work...

Thanks,
Brian