road tire width
 

I am converting my old reliable centurion lemans into a townie and was looking to mount 700x32c tires on it. The rims are older but very solid Trek Matrix ,13mm inside width. Is this tire too wide? If so would a 700x30 cross tire work? I want to get a wide a tire as possible on it .

I think the widest tire that can go on a 13mm rim (measured inside ) is a 25mm wide tire. Please check Sheldon brown's tire section on the Harris cyclery website to be sure.

Whenever I've tried to retro-fit wider tires onto a road bike, the brakes have become the limiting factor. Most Shimano road calipers won't take anything larger than about 28mm without deflating the tires.

I have some old diacomp calipers ,they seem to have about 7mm more clearance than shimanos. I should be ok on tire clearance. I checked Shedon Browns site, it seems to be vary conservative on what you can mount ,on a 13mm inside width (700x25) ,dont cross bikes use standard 700c rims, like Mvaic open pros ? Or are they using a hybrid type rim?

What's matter with you? these fine people gave you straight advice about what size tire you can put on a 13mm rim and confirmed that info through Sheldon Brown and you laughed it off? Sheldon Brown is not being conservative by any means, there is a limit as to how wide you can SAFELY go with out causing problems with the tire; and with your 13mm rim that would be 25 with a 28 being the very largest size-if that manufacture of the 28 is actually closer in size to a 25-no one manufacture uses the same size measurement criteria.

If you want to cyclecross your going to need wider rims such as a 15, 17 or 19mm rim if you want to put on about a 30 tire. Mavic makes cross rims and Open Pros are not those. An inexpensive Mavic is the Crossland. Check with your LBS since I don't cross and therefore not sure what rim manufactures there are that make those types of rims.

But hey, I don't care if your going to do your own thing, but then why ask for our help?

Cross bikes use wider rims - usually 17mm

I have some 13mm rims that I have put 700x25C tires on. You can maybe stretch that to 700x28C.

Also check the chain stays for clearance. I have a bike with "long" reach calipers (actually they are "standard" reach 47mm-57mm). There is plenty of clearance for a big tire at the brake calipers but I am limited to 700x35C because of clearance at the chain stays.

Thanks for the info

Yea I guess there is something wrong with me for following up on my first question as I always like a second opinion. But then again I dont cruise the forums looking to give someone SH** for asking afollow up question. SO...
After checking with tech support at three companies and going to my LBS and then some ,and scouring the web I found that 700X30 cross tires are used on road rims ,YES 13mm and 14mm inside width. I also found that I can even go bigger, possibly up to 37mm if my stays and fork will accomodate it! DaM* I should have done my homework first ,but then again I thought this forum was to ask about, and discuss bike topics, not be a condescending A**.

And to everyone who gave me good advice,thanks.

Well being the condescending A** that I am, and not smart enough to leave well enough alone (see I can insult myself!); I wish you all the luck with your tires and rims by putting on those 30 cross tires on a 13mm rim. I know I don't know what I'm talking about most of the time, but you also proven that Sheldon Brown just doesn't know what he's talking about either. Sure glad you did your homework! Dam, there's that condescending A** attitude thing again. I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it.