New2Cycling

Hello All,

My bike is a bit slow. I would really like to make her go faster. I have a Cross bike. Am I able to put road tires and rims on it? I'm really not sure. Thanks!

Big Helmet

Your existing rims will almost certainly fit normal road tires. What kind of rims do you have?

I have two wheel sets for my cross bike -- one relatively heavy and strong with cross tires, and one relatively lighter with 700x25 slicks I use for commuting. (The "road" wheels also have a narrower gear cluster.) The rim widths are the same for both wheel sets. In other words I could just switch tires, but I'm lazy and it's faster to switch wheels.

Bottom line -- regular road tires will almost certainly fit on your existing rims, or you could buy another set of wheels and put the skinny tires on those.

desmobob

I bought a Bianchi Axis 'cross bike in June. I have a set of 700x28 Gatorskins that I put on in place of the treaded 700x35 tires that came on it. I have since bought a road bike so I put the treaded tires back on the Axis, but eventually I will be buying another wheel set for it so it will be easier to change tire types.

You can put road slicks on your 'crosser's wheels, or buy a second set of wheels and cassette so you can quickly/easily switch tire types.

Good riding,
desmobob

pelikan

I put 25c on my Jake, but like the idea of two wheels so much as soon as I find a good deal, I'm going that route.

kuhneng

I went exactly the same route (second set of road wheels for my cross bike). I picked up a set of Supergo Korsos for $150 and haven't regretted it.

Mehow

I have 700x23 on my LeMond Poprad.

GTcommuter

I've got 700x28's on my Cross Check with a mismatched wheel set. An old Alex cross/touring rim up front and a newer Mavic Open Pro on the rear. No reason for the mixed wheel set, just had to cobble something together after ruining the old Alex rear wheel. With a pair of Vittoria Randonneur tires, it has been a durable and reliable set up.

truman

If you go with a second set of wheels, I've found it worth the effort to ensure that the rims are the same width as your current set, to keep from having to reset the brake clearance, each time you switch.

CBBaron

I will second this suggestion. Last winter I was switching wheels on my fixed gear between slicks and studded as the weather conditions varied. Adjusting the brakes was such a pain I left the rear brake disconnected for a few weeks. After a few weeks of disuse on heavily salted roads the rear brake was no longer function when I finally went adjust it.
Craig