Hi:

My son has a kids' hybrid with 20x2.125 tires on Alex C-1000 32h rims. They're knobby BMX type tires. We've been doing some short ( 100 mile ) tours, but are doing a much longer one this summer. I'd like to get him some road tires, instead of the knobbies.

What sort of tire sizes can I reasonably expect to put on these rims? There are a variety of 20x1.5 tires with kevlar linings that would be good for a tour. Once you get up into the 2" range, options become much more limited, and I can't start spending $40/tire just to experiment with what will work.

Any suggestions for what I can use? Am I pretty much limited to the 20x2.0 to 20x2.125 range?

Thanks!

- Rich

How heavy is your child? I would think 1.5" tires would be plenty wide assuming you're riding paved roads or well maintained gravel (like a rail trail). That's right in the width range adult loaded tourers run.

i usually take my wheels into my LBS and see what they offer for the event. i have 16" wheels on my greenspeed, so i understand the limiting factor your going through. just taking them in to the LBS means they can measure and see what they have that's compatable n usually i get em to go a head and install the new tyre(s) cause new ones are a pain in the pitelly to put on! if the shop is slow when you go in i've notice you have more chance of getting tub/tyre installation thrown in free. if they are slammed they try and wrangle a 5 out of me for it... i can usually talk em out of it though.

good luck!
kat

Assuming the wheels/tires are 406 as opposed to 451, Primo Comets come with and without Kevlar belts in 20x1.35 or 20x1.5. (406/40 or 406/37). Minimal tread, smooth-rolling.
They are also available in a couple of 451 sizes.

Comets are commonly used on recumbents ridden on the road.

He's around 55 pounds, and is carrying 5-10 pounds on his rack. My concern is actually not so much the weight as it is the fit to the rim; i.e. would a typical 1.5" tire be too narrow for rims currently running with 2.125"? Unfortunately, the local bike shops pretty much don't want to deal with you if you're not buying a $5000 carbon frame - ask about a 20" tire, and I'd probably be laughed out of the shop. ;-)

Thanks!

- Rich

They're 406 sized. From the responses I've gotten, it sounds like my concern about putting the narrower tires on the existing rims is not actually much of a problem. I've been using vittoria randonneur tires for touring on everything from rail trails to close-to-sheets-of-broken-glass, and have never had a flat yet, so I'll probably try those on his bike, as they come in a 1.5" width.

Thanks!

- Rich

You have some CRAPPY bike shops in your area then. We have one bike shop that has as many kids bikes as adult bikes, they dont care if you want a $300 bike or a $6000 bike, they treat you the same. Another shop appears to be kind of uppidy based on the customers that come in and loiter (no other good word for it) but the workers are very kind and help ya no matter what. The owner gave me 10% off a bike pump because I couldnt decide between the cheaper one and the better one, he said hed take 10% off the better one to help me decide. Easy decision that was

As to the tires, find a shop that sells recumbent bikes. They will likely be more help. The shops around here even carry bmx bikes, I dont think they would laugh you out of the shop at all. Maybe drive to an area that isnt so high class and find some good bike shops there...Probably friendlier service, too.