29 x 2.0 tire on Trek 8.4
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29 x 2.0 tire on Trek 8.4
I was wanting to go to a wider tire on my hybrid to make it easier to navigate the sand in central Florida unfortunately this size is too big to clear the FD bracket where it attaches to the frame. There is plenty of clearance on the front. I guess I'll have to find a more aggressive tire in a 700 x 38 instead of the stock Bontrager LT3 as it wants to washout in the loose sand. Does anyone have any suggestions?
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You might want to take a look at these....
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=65023
If you go foldable the price goes up! Now these are only 700 x 34
This one would be best..... 700 x 42
https://www.conti-online.com/generato...ss_new_en.html
No idea on price but I am sure it would be a special order from any ibd
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=65023
If you go foldable the price goes up! Now these are only 700 x 34
This one would be best..... 700 x 42
https://www.conti-online.com/generato...ss_new_en.html
No idea on price but I am sure it would be a special order from any ibd
Last edited by agfa100; 09-11-11 at 07:32 PM. Reason: added a line
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I've been looking at the continental cyclocross tire over the weekend. I also took some measurements and found that a 700 x 42 would be the largest tire that would fit and would leave about 6mm clearance between the wheel and the FD bracket. I also emailed Trek to see what they recommended as the largest that would fit. Sometimes they are slow to respond to emails.
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I tried some Specialized Fast Trak LK Sport tires in 29 x 2.0 and they wouldn't clear in the rear. Today I went to my LBS and we compared them to a Bontrager 29.3 in 29 x 2.0. The Bontrager had a shorter profile than the Specialized by easily 20mm. I measured the diameter of the Bontrager and it measured about 28 inches compared to the Specialized at 29 inches. I guess all tire manufacturers don't make tires to the same specifications but the Bontragers do fit fine with 5mm clearance between the tire and the bracket.
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Here are the pics of the bike with the 29-3 Bontrager tires on it. Also included is the email response from Trek.Hello,
Thanks for writing in. Please forgive the delay, as we are in our busiest season. The 700x38c tire size is the largest we recommend for this bike. Going to a much larger size like this will incur clearance issues and potential frame contact issues. Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Best regards,
Andrew Pajak | Trek Bicycle Corporation | Technical Service Representative | andrew_pajak@trekbikes.com
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I have run the Conti Cyclocross tires. I don't recommend them for serious singletrack use. (I assume that is what you are after if you're looking at 29x2 tires.) They have sparse, shallow knobs that work so-so in hardpack and not very good in mud or loamy soil. More importantly they wear out super fast... I burned up the center knob in the rear faster than any knobby I've ever had and then the tire really sucked in the dirt.
Note that I haven't raced cyclocross. Perhaps they are good for that in comparison to other tires but I won't buy them again for singletrack MTB trails.
Anyway-- very interesting about the Bonty tires. I may have to test fit them on my Quick CX!
Note that I haven't raced cyclocross. Perhaps they are good for that in comparison to other tires but I won't buy them again for singletrack MTB trails.
Anyway-- very interesting about the Bonty tires. I may have to test fit them on my Quick CX!
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I just wanted something that wouldn't washout in the sand of central Florida. I don't plan on doing any serious singletrack just recreational but the 700 x 38 tires that came on the bike would cause the front end to slide out from under you in the loose sand. the person I ride with has 700 x 50 (29 x 2.0) and hea doesn't have that problem. I'm going to try the new tires out on Saturday and see how they do.
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I also sent an email to Gary Fisher bikes since the 8.4 DS is a Gary fisher signature bike and here is what they say about bigger tires. BTW anyone who purchases a 8.x DS bike has to register it through Gary Fisher Bikes. Here is the email:
Hi,
Thanks for writing. Since actual tire width can vary depending on brand and tread design, we don't have a comprehensive database of maximum sizes for specific bikes. If you're interested in trying a different type or size, have your shop test fit the tire you're interested in to make sure you have adequate clearance. In general, we will spec the bikes with the widest tire the frame was intended for.
Best regards,
Michael Plymale | Trek Bicycle Corporation| Technical and Customer Services | 801 W. Madison Street, Waterloo, WI 53594
Hi,
Thanks for writing. Since actual tire width can vary depending on brand and tread design, we don't have a comprehensive database of maximum sizes for specific bikes. If you're interested in trying a different type or size, have your shop test fit the tire you're interested in to make sure you have adequate clearance. In general, we will spec the bikes with the widest tire the frame was intended for.
Best regards,
Michael Plymale | Trek Bicycle Corporation| Technical and Customer Services | 801 W. Madison Street, Waterloo, WI 53594
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I've been riding them for a few weeks on the local trails and they work great. I've run over tree roots and edges of rocks and they've held up really well without any flats. I've also ridden them on the roads in the neighborhood and they roll pretty good. So far this Bontrager tire is the only one I have tried which fits the bike and clears everything without rubbing. Since my original post I have purchased an extra set of 700c MTB (WTB FX 28) wheels to put these tires on. Now when I want to ride the paved roads and trails I just change back to the original wheels with Bontrager H2 tires (700 x 35). Of course the other tires with the lower tire pressure are a lot more comfortable.
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Great. Thanks for the info... I suppose the next things I need to figure out are:
1. The 29-3s fit the Bontrager 850 wheels on the 8.4... but will they also fit the Bontrager 750 wheels on the 8.3?
2. The 8.3 comes with the Altus FD rather than the Deore. I wonder if the Altus would cause clearance issues with a 29x2 tire. Do you know if the Altus is more bulky than the Deore?
3. If I did want an extra wheelset for quick switch-out, would I have trouble finding compatible ones given the 8.3 is a 24-speed, rather than 27?
4. Finally, what sold you on the 8.4 over the 8.3?
Thanks
1. The 29-3s fit the Bontrager 850 wheels on the 8.4... but will they also fit the Bontrager 750 wheels on the 8.3?
2. The 8.3 comes with the Altus FD rather than the Deore. I wonder if the Altus would cause clearance issues with a 29x2 tire. Do you know if the Altus is more bulky than the Deore?
3. If I did want an extra wheelset for quick switch-out, would I have trouble finding compatible ones given the 8.3 is a 24-speed, rather than 27?
4. Finally, what sold you on the 8.4 over the 8.3?
Thanks
Last edited by jeffboy; 10-20-11 at 11:36 PM. Reason: grammar
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Hopefully I can answer some of these questions.
1. The tire should fit but the best way to find out is ask your LBS if they will mount one on the rear wheel to see if it fits and clears everything in the rear. This would also answer question #2.
3. I ordered my wheelset from my LBS and I took all the information about the bike to him. He ordered the same 9-speed cassette (SRAM in my case) that was on my bike and attached it to the rear wheel. I also let him know that I had disc brakes and what size the rotors were (160mm).
4. The reason i chose the 8.4 was because of the gears ( although I don't know if I'll ever use all of them) and the hydraulic disc brakes. I had read in several reviews that the other disc brakes chattered alot.
The extra set of wheels and tires cost me about $300.
The one thing I found out is that almost every time I change the wheels out I have to center the calipers over the disc brakes but this only takes about 1 minute per wheel.
1. The tire should fit but the best way to find out is ask your LBS if they will mount one on the rear wheel to see if it fits and clears everything in the rear. This would also answer question #2.
3. I ordered my wheelset from my LBS and I took all the information about the bike to him. He ordered the same 9-speed cassette (SRAM in my case) that was on my bike and attached it to the rear wheel. I also let him know that I had disc brakes and what size the rotors were (160mm).
4. The reason i chose the 8.4 was because of the gears ( although I don't know if I'll ever use all of them) and the hydraulic disc brakes. I had read in several reviews that the other disc brakes chattered alot.
The extra set of wheels and tires cost me about $300.
The one thing I found out is that almost every time I change the wheels out I have to center the calipers over the disc brakes but this only takes about 1 minute per wheel.
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i will be doing this to my 8.3,tires should be here fri..
Thanks for doing all the research and making it easy.
Thanks for doing all the research and making it easy.
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I've been riding them for a few weeks on the local trails and they work great. I've run over tree roots and edges of rocks and they've held up really well without any flats. I've also ridden them on the roads in the neighborhood and they roll pretty good. So far this Bontrager tire is the only one I have tried which fits the bike and clears everything without rubbing. Since my original post I have purchased an extra set of 700c MTB (WTB FX 28) wheels to put these tires on. Now when I want to ride the paved roads and trails I just change back to the original wheels with Bontrager H2 tires (700 x 35). Of course the other tires with the lower tire pressure are a lot more comfortable.
what PSI have you been running on the new tires?
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I've been running them at 40 psi and its like they are stuck to the ground when climbing up the bumps we have here in Florida. I think the max is 50 and the min is 30 or 35.
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Hello choclabman! Thanx for the valuable info. Have you tried any other 29er tire other than the ones you mentioned? I just wanted to know what possible other options there are. THanx bud!
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The Bontrager and the Specialized were the only two I tried. Once I found that the Bontrager 29-3 would fit I stopped looking. Most of the 29 x 2.0 tires won't clear the FD bracket because the profile (height from bead to the tread) of the tires is too tall. A 29 x 1.95 tire might fit with enough clearance but I haven't checked on manufacturers for that size.
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I did a boatload of research on this.
The undersized 29er tires that I know of are:
- WTB Nanoraptor 29x2.0, actual width 1.95" and no protruding shoulder knobs, older tire design
- Kenda Karma 29x1.9, actual width 1.9" at shoulder knobs, older design
- Panaracer Fire Cross, 700x45 and 29x2.1, discontinued but might be able to find a set
- Bontrager 29-3, 29x2.0 rear specific and 29x2.25 front/rear (universal) are both smaller than rated size. They have 1.8" and 2.1" actual width, respectively.
The Bontrager 29-3 set is the best thing going that I am aware of. If the rear 29x2.0 doesn't fit you are stuck with cyclocross tires which you actually can get in sizes bigger than 35mm if you buy from the UK. (US distributors do not stock any 38-45mm that I have seen.) If the front doesn't fit then you can use a Kenda Karma or WTB Nanoraptor depending on your terrain conditions, or maybe your LBS would have other options in a 2.0" - 2.1" tire that will work.
The undersized 29er tires that I know of are:
- WTB Nanoraptor 29x2.0, actual width 1.95" and no protruding shoulder knobs, older tire design
- Kenda Karma 29x1.9, actual width 1.9" at shoulder knobs, older design
- Panaracer Fire Cross, 700x45 and 29x2.1, discontinued but might be able to find a set
- Bontrager 29-3, 29x2.0 rear specific and 29x2.25 front/rear (universal) are both smaller than rated size. They have 1.8" and 2.1" actual width, respectively.
The Bontrager 29-3 set is the best thing going that I am aware of. If the rear 29x2.0 doesn't fit you are stuck with cyclocross tires which you actually can get in sizes bigger than 35mm if you buy from the UK. (US distributors do not stock any 38-45mm that I have seen.) If the front doesn't fit then you can use a Kenda Karma or WTB Nanoraptor depending on your terrain conditions, or maybe your LBS would have other options in a 2.0" - 2.1" tire that will work.
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oh btw, I didn't mention Stans The Crow 29x2.0.. a LBS had it and I'd seen it online.
totally useless. semislick with shallow plus-shaped knobs. I really don't know the riding conditions where I would want that tire as opposed to a more narrow tire, or a tire with better knobs.
totally useless. semislick with shallow plus-shaped knobs. I really don't know the riding conditions where I would want that tire as opposed to a more narrow tire, or a tire with better knobs.
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choc and Colin-thanx! I ride only at the Fullerton Loop here in California. It has a bunch of trails that has packed dirt with a few loose sand. On my 26" i have used the Kenda Small Block 8's and work probably 95% of the route except for the slight gravel area. Im sure the 29-3 is the best for for our bikes. Last question: Would you recommend the 29-3 for both front and rear or follow the recommended combo of 29-3 TLR Front/29-3 Rear? Thanx again guys!
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I don't think the 29-3 2.25" universal tire will fit the rear of most hybrid frames.
It would be a small tire on any proper 29er MTB, and the 29-3 2.0" would be really small.
It would be a small tire on any proper 29er MTB, and the 29-3 2.0" would be really small.
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The Bontrager tires look like they fit well. I just picked up a set of Nano 2.1 WTB tires and I rode them on some rocky, muddy and sandy trails yesterday in Pittsburgh. The Nano's gave me good traction and are great self cleaning tires. I also experimented with tire pressure and found that they rode well in the above conditions at 30 psi. (I am 230 pounds) Here are some photos (Note: One photo shows the front tire and fork, it looks like there is no clearance in the picture; there is actually a great deal of clearance.)
Last edited by donnyrambo; 09-01-14 at 09:18 AM.