I have a 1999 cannondale road bike which I've used for many years as a SS in NY, but now i live out in the woods and the 23mm tires do not seem up the job of the rough dirt roads around my house. The main problem is I tried putting 35mm Schwallbe marathon plus tyres(NUCLEAR BOMB PROOF) on the bike but they do not fit.

Anyone out there got any experience with any tires that they use on road as well as off road (gravel roads mostly). I'm hoping that I might be able to use 28mm.

If all else fails i been looking around at maybe a cheap touring/cycle crosss frame that can take up to 38mm tires.
I was interested in the NYCbike frames but was put off a little by the negative vibes on the forum towards them. Then i seen a touring frame at Nashbar(cringe) for around $200 which was light and would hold the right tyres for the job.

It's very tough to juggle a wife with no interest's in cycling and the desire to buy new a new bike.

thanks

https://schwalbetires.com/node/120/ok
700x28 should fit

You'll probably be able to put 'cross tires on there, but most road rims are made pretty narrow for skinny race tyres, so super-wide off road rubber will have a tendency to flop around. I think Sheldon has a recommended rim width & tyre width chart on his site.

you can fit up to 40's on most box style rims

I know they'll fit, but they won't be as stable as they would on a wider rim. Just something to think about.

i guess? i put 40s on my open pros and race cross on them

i'm really looking at maybe a pair of 32mm if possible. The cannonadale is more of a problem than the wheels as the wheels have the marathon plus 35mm right now and they seem to fit fine. BUT the frame is the problem.

I'm 100% fine with my slightly knobby 28s (Schwalbe Marathon nonslick armored commuter tires, an awesome choice) on slightly rough fire roads. You have to pick your line carefully if the road hasnt been groomed recently but it's more than doable. **** I ride my 25's on fire roads but I am a special sort of idiot.

edit: ah i see you know about marathons already, good on ya.

i just came from cycling through Spain & France on Bianchi Volpe fully loaded with Marathon plus. 1400km no flats..................
I only use Schwalbe tires.

which marathons do you ride with ?

The 28mm regular ones (not Plus) with the slight tread, flat protection and reflective sidewalls. My bike store had more slick 28mm marathons but I wanted something that could take the occasional fire road and I was told that the knobby option was better for flat resistance. Obviously they're not as good as something fatter when the going gets rough, but they definitely do the trick and it's actually sort of fun when you to have to be extra careful how your line goes. And they work great on the road.

I haven't flatted in eight months on the bike of mine that has Marathons, which is how long the Marathons have been on that bike.

32c tires without mtb knobbies?