Changing to different tires
 

Hi, everyone. Im a newbie rider, and just putz around for fun on paths and stuff mostly. Just bought a new Diamondback Apex 29er mtb and its a great bike but i just wanna swap out my knobbies for some more road and path friendly treads. Im just having problems wrapping my mind around tire sizes. The mtb tires on it are 29x2.1. I understand that 700c and 29" are equivalent rims. Im wondering about tire width. 2.1 comes out to around 53mm but ive been told to get 35s. Wouldnt you want to aim for something closer to 53? 35 just sounds so small. Its confusing. Im 5'11" and about 240lbs so a bigger tire is better, right? I found some Continental tour ride tires in 700x47c. Can i use 42s or should i stick with 47s and bigger?

Big tires make sense when they have knobs on them, but when you go slicks they just look weird IMHO. I run 26" x 1.5" on my mountain bike as slicks. So for a 29er that would be somewhere between 700x35 and 700x40, I guess. I wouldn't go much larger than 700x40 personally.

If I were you, I'd opt for the 42s, especially on the rear - then maybe a 35-37 (maybe 42) on the front.

The ride will be almost as plush, and capacity will still be similar, but handling will be remarkable improved.

p.s. you won't notice any harshness on the front end with the smaller tires, but handling will be greatly improved.

Yes you can run 700c tires. The only issue is that MTB rims are wider than road rims. Measure your rim width and then get something larger/ equal size. You can run tires narrower than the rim, but it causes issues, and looks as stupid as people who stretch tires on their cars.

23/25mm is a standard road tire.

28/32 is big comfy tires on a road bike

Your weight only means you should keep them inflated correctly, to avoid pinch flats. Just get something with minimal tread if you don't ride trails.

You could run a 25 racing slick. That would be silly though.

35 is a perfect size imo

Panaracer Pasela 35 is good.

The chart on this page shows what width tires are reasonable on which internal rim width. It says it is a little conservative, but it is a guide.

Don't let anyone talk you out of fat slicks. Sure, you can run 35mm tires on your bike. But the 42-50mm tires you were looking at will also be a good choice and be super comfortable. Remember guys, this is for a hardtail 29er MTB. It's not going to be fast no matter what. Skinny tires would be a silly choice in my opinion. I don't often like riding a MTB on the road but when I do I like to have a wide slick tire to take advantage of the offroad/jumping capabilities of the bike.

Oh, here is the page... Tire Sizing Systems

+1

Slick(er) tires make sense to reduce noise, and increase efficiency slightly, but narrower is not always the best answer. You do tend to lose some comfort by going narrower,which I assume is part of why you selected the 29er.

Comfort and efficiency can both be increased with nice tires in wider widths.

I rode 40 mm Kenda Happy Medium tires (purchased from biketiresdirect.com) on my Trek 7.3 FX for a while, and I liked them, but I didn't have much clearance with my frame. I now use 35 mm Clement X'plor USH in 35 mm. If on a 29er my ideal tire would be like the USH (nice center rib) but wider.

My preference is for some tread because I spend a lot of my riding time on gravel and crushed stone, but I like a smooth rolling tire when I do hit pavement. I have done rides of up to 45 miles on the USH tires, and don't feel I was less efficient than if I was running slicks of about the same width.

I just was browsing a site, and came across a tire I saw before, and would like to try if I ever had a suitable bike.

The Schwalbe Big Apple 29er tire. It is nice and wide, with a road worthy tread. When I wear out the tires on my 26" backup bike, I plan to give the 26" version a try. :)

And as I was rereading your original post, I don't think you need convincing about staying with wide tires, but are looking for the right tires. These might be the answer. Plenty of width without the knobs that can be noisy and also add a a little bit of a squirmy feeling to the ride on pavement.

Fat tires need less pressure than skinny ones for a given weight, so the ride is more comfortable. 38 to 45 sounds OK to me.

+1

The difference in ride quality between a 35mm tire and a 45mm tire is significant. Big time!

I you are racing or timing your rides, skinny tires have the advantage of being lighter and more aero. You need 'em.

If you are riding for exercise or recreation, why not use a tire that won't beat your butt and spine? Larger tires also offer increased cornering grip.

These are 45mm 100% treadless slicks. Grip is silly sticky. They look dead sexy in black or gumwall.
Specialized Bicycle Components

Or if you want to go all the way to 53mm (2.1"), these are for you.
http://www.amazon.com/FREEDOM-TIRES-.../dp/B00JL4CMR0

Stop by the LBS and look at Hybrids.
They typically come with 35-37mm tires.
That would give you a visual idea of what to expect.

A lot depends on what size, and where you put them..... A 35mm tire on the front will have little to no effect on ride comfort, compared to a 45-47. On the rear, it is huge and feels like riding on a rock! A 40mm tire feels the same as a 45 on the back, so offers comfort and capacity, where you need it, and won't affect handling!

But that 35mm tire on the front will improve quickness of steering and precision, where anything bigger won't.

By mixing sizes, you get the best of both worlds - comfort, and precision!

I run a 35 Schwalbe Marathon Supreme on the front of my Crosstrail, and a 40 on the back - It is completely transformed from the 45s that came OEM. While, still remaining the same - without the knobs!

From the OPs post, I take it he was trying to slightly roadify his hybrid, and this will help, and be noticeable. If he wants to keep it a cruiser, leave the knobs or put fat road tires on it.

MHO

I just put a pair of 700x38 Vittoria Randonneur Hypers on my AWOL and they are quite fast and nice riding. I picked mine up for $11 ea from Planet X USA but they appear to be out of them Nashbar has them for $24 though..


Nashbar - Welcome!

I just did the same thing on my AWOL--Vittoria Randonneur Hypers from Nashbar--amazingly plush ride, seems more efficient than the Specialized Trigger Sports at 42mm the bike came with. Highly recommended.

Okay, (3) 30 mile commutes later... I'm really liking the Hypers so far, they ride nice roll fast and corner very well at high speeds on the pavement portion of my commute. They ride pretty well on loose pack but I tend to not be too aggressive on that part of my ride. I originally wanted a pair of Barlow Passes but had a hard time rationalizing the price for a tire that I may or may not like. At $11 each I decided to buy two sets, figured I could easily sell the unused set for cost if I didn't like them. I'm glad I purchased two sets as I am no longer lusting for a "better" tire for the bike.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...0/IMG_1806.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...0/IMG_1807.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7...0/IMG_1808.JPG

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/dow...e.php?id=56434

I would never say "it will never be fast no matter what"....not so different than my hybrid I rode on a 75 mile ride that I finished, and kept up with a few ladies on road bikes who did not finish.

It may not be "as fast" as a road bike with 700x25 tires.

And yep at 11 bucks a tire good deal that you grabbed a spare set. I did wear out a rear 700x35 specialized nimbus in 2000 miles, wore it square anyway, wore a flat spot on it....I'm sure on the back I could burn it in down til we saw threads.

Bill

Agreed, my goal is not to go as fast as a road bike but to try to get as much speed out of my bike as possible with minimal trade offs. I'm too old to pile on the spandex and ride all hunched over for hours at a time but I do like to go as fast as I can while still maintaining a degree of comfort.

If you get on a even a slight decline, downhill, and have some tail wind that bike will go more than 30 MPH if you do your part :-). I'm 50 and I wear spandex and ride a road bike :-)...will as long as I am able :-). You can also set up a flat bar bike to end up in sort of the same rider position.

I have always been too self conscious for spandex. I live in a very hilly city and hit 45+ on my daily commute.

It is all about function, anybody that does not like seeing me in it can lick my sack hehe.

I think it's way different than your hybrid. The OP's bike is a 29lb MTB with a suspension fork.

Wider tires allegedly roll faster.

Rolling Resistance | Schwalbe North America