Tire Width for Hybrid Bike
 

I've been riding for ages but never felt the need to swap out the stock tires. I picked up a Public V7 a few weeks ago and want to throw on some Armadillo tires but they aren't quite the right size. The stock tires are 700 x 35C and Armadillos don't seem to come larger than 700 x 32.

I know this is just a few mm difference but wonder how this might effect my ride (I expect it will in positive ways). This is also a more common tube size so it seems like a good move. Not sure if I'm measuring correctly but the rim measures 26mm. Thanks!

I use both 32's and 35's on different bikes. Can't really tell difference in ride quality or comfort. I inflate them to about 10% under recommended pressure for that tire, so for the 32mm, recommended max pressure is something like 90psi. I inflate to about 80.

As for tubes, I've used 25-32mm tubes on the 35mm tire. No issues.

Be sure the new tires will fit the fenders (assuming your Public bike has them -- most I've seen do). Brakes too. Tires vary quite a bit from nominal specs. If your bike has fenders go for the 32 wide Armadillos just to be safe.

I have a set of Specialized Hemisphere 700x38 that seem pretty close to 38. And an Innova 700x38 that's a bit narrower, an Innova 700x35 that's closer to 32. A pair of Continental 700x42 that are actually closer to 38 wide. A pair of Michelin 700x40 that are closer to 45 wide and quite a bit taller than anything else I have. The 700x42 Contis and 700x40 Michelins aren't at all similar -- at a glance anyone would pick the Michelins as being the larger in nominal specs, but nope.

In actual ride characteristics, the width isn't the major factor. The tread design and inflation matter more. I can run the Michelins and Contis at low pressure safely where they're much more comfortable at no cost in perceptible rolling feel. Where I really feel a difference is on patches of sand, pea gravel or large sharp railroad ballast gravel. That's where the wider Michelins feel more secure at lower pressure (around 50 psi, much lower than Michelin's recommended 75-85 psi). Otherwise, I can't say I feel much difference between the 700x35 and 700x40 or 42 tires.

I have come to think of 32s as neither here nor there. I like 28s for pudgy road bike tires, and 35s (or 37s) for all-terrain (including poorly maintained fall-winter-spring roads) (on 700c, 2" minimum for 26")

28 mm is minimal width if you don't want to run very high pressures. Easier to pump tires with a cheaper pump if you need to fix a flat on the road. Also quite more comfortable than 23 and even 25 (if the same tyre model is compared).

32 is a bit more comfortable, but not good enough for bad pavement, especially if hauling something on the rear.

37 is the minimal width for poor quality roads, or for hauling groceries and a child seat back. Going wider than that has minimal comfort gains, but often hard to squeeze under fenders.