Help please, clarify tire sizing issue 29er MTB / 700c
 

Hello,

I'm sorry to be springing a newbie question like this, but I've read a few different forum posts and had a conversation with 2 LBS's and I'm more confused than ever :twitchy:

I have a GT Timberline Hardtail 29er with 2.1 knobby tires.

I've registered to ride a Century on the 13th and I want to make the bike go faster!!!

So I need a slick tire or something more appropriate for the road (the ride is all roads).

I went to my LBS and they told me that there are road tires available for a 29er but they didn't stock them and couldn't guarantee getting them here for next Saturday's event..

From the store parking lot I phoned another store, 50 miles from my location, hoping they'd have a pair and I could pick 'em up. They told me they didn't, but to go back into the store and ask for a 700c hybrid tire, the widest available, with tubes, as they would fit.

So I went back into the store and was told 'no way can you get a 700 tire on a 29er wheel'. :notamused:

Can someone please clarify this for me. Also, can you suggest a place where I can purchase what I need online, somewhere that offers fast/guaranteed shipping. I don't want to pay more than around $70 for the tires, since if it's any more than that I may as well snag a cheap/old roadbike off Craigslist for $100

Am I approaching this the wrong way? If so I'm open to suggestions on how to go about this Century ride. I'm not looking to break any records, just to get around in one piece and hopefully get back in time for the meal at 4.30. If I can't resolve the tire conundrum then I'll just ride with knobby tires, no biggie.

Many thanks!!

Bruised

Yes, both 29er and 700c wheels have a 622mm Bead seat diamater.

That said, 29er rims trend wider than road rims, so I'd question the wisdom of running a 700c tire narrower than, say, 28mm on a 29er/mountain rim.

Once in a blue moon a good $100 road bike comes by but that's a pretty big roll of the dice.

These are my favorite 28s. Ship next day, sometimes the same day if early morning order.

Clement Strada LGG 120 TPI Tire at WesternBikeworks

I'd also get some barends. Gonna be a long day to run with only one hand position.

I just received today a set of WTB Freedom Cruz Tires for my 29er. Marked 29 X 2.0 - they're described as commuter tires.

As fat slicks, they seem made for urban riding.

I've run Gatorskin 28s without any issues on my regular 29er rims. I wouldn't try to do that on my P35s though. My buddy runs 25's on his 29er for century duties.

Thanks folks!

It seems I was given surprisingly bad information at a LBS. As I said in my first post, I was told quite categorically by the young guy in the store that a 700c tire would not fit a 29er rim. He even consulted the mechanic guy who confirmed.
Following the help here, I drove down to another LBS and they were able to fix me up with road tires which are working out exceptionally well.

I'm more than a little disappointed in having received such poor advice on such a rudimentary issue, from a fairly 'prestige' establishment in the area. But I've moved on!

Thanks again.

29er are 700C rim tires. The only difference is the rim width. Its still 622 mm.

I wouldn't go back there

crazy as it sounds. i actually had to be shown that a 29er wheel fits on a 700c wheel i thought it was the craziest thing also

Me neither.