Narrowest Tyre for CX Rims
Discussion
My 700CC CX wheels measure 23mm across the outside of the rims and 19mm across the inside.
What is the narrowest section tyre I can run on these rims? I have been using my CX tyres on the road and they are wearing very quickly. I always planned on running the bike through the winter as a wet bike and so I'm looking at Conti 4 seasons which come in 23, 25 and 28mm sizes.
Thanks in advance!
Steve
What is the narrowest section tyre I can run on these rims? I have been using my CX tyres on the road and they are wearing very quickly. I always planned on running the bike through the winter as a wet bike and so I'm looking at Conti 4 seasons which come in 23, 25 and 28mm sizes.
Thanks in advance!
Steve
The conti 4 seasons come up quite narrow, noticeable on my "winter" bike when they are 25c, wouldn't want to go any smaller and will probably go up to 28c in future
Great tyre, but I have found the top layer which gives the tyre a great ride is soft and can wear through quickly on the back wheel, any locking or spinning on gravel obviously accelerates the wear .
Great tyre on greasy /wet roads and all year round, just didn't last the longest and whilst not really expensive £35 is a lot for a tyre that lasted 4 months.
Great tyre, but I have found the top layer which gives the tyre a great ride is soft and can wear through quickly on the back wheel, any locking or spinning on gravel obviously accelerates the wear .
Great tyre on greasy /wet roads and all year round, just didn't last the longest and whilst not really expensive £35 is a lot for a tyre that lasted 4 months.
I've got 23mm wide rims on my CX.
The reviews for my wheels said they were tested on a variety of tyres including 23c but getting those on would be a nightmare (and defeat one of the points of having a CX bike with massive tyre clearance on the road).
I ran on 25c 4seasons last winter, this year I'll be going up to 30c. Extra comfort, minimal extra speed loss.
Going from 23c to 25c is pretty much a no brainer and if you've got the clearance there's no real speed loss from correctly inflated 28c tyres either - and a lot of gain from not backing off through the really crap bits of road.
The reviews for my wheels said they were tested on a variety of tyres including 23c but getting those on would be a nightmare (and defeat one of the points of having a CX bike with massive tyre clearance on the road).
I ran on 25c 4seasons last winter, this year I'll be going up to 30c. Extra comfort, minimal extra speed loss.
Going from 23c to 25c is pretty much a no brainer and if you've got the clearance there's no real speed loss from correctly inflated 28c tyres either - and a lot of gain from not backing off through the really crap bits of road.
Steve vRS said:
I had Gatorskins on my road bike for a while and had 2 punctures and broke my thumbs changing the tyres as they were that stiff and hard. Sold them both for £5 to a bloke at work.
Steve
Yeah, they are a pig to put on the rim, especially when they are new. I recommend the Schwalbe tyre levers. They are wider than normal tyre levers and make putting stiffer tyres on much easier. However in contrast to that, I had four seasons on my bike for a while and suffered countless punctures. I got truly fed up, so switched back to Gatorskins.Steve
I had some problem tyres to go on over the weekend, was feeling lazy so flipped em on using tyre levers and got 2 pinch punctures , second time I lubbed the rim and tyre up with fairy liquid and it made them a piece of piss , so would recommend .
OP no offence, but why are you worried about a few mm between tyres, when the geo, gearing and weight of a CX bike hold back the outright speed more that width of tyre. If it was me I would have 32 Marathons or 32 Vittoria Randomers on to make the most of the ability of the bike
OP no offence, but why are you worried about a few mm between tyres, when the geo, gearing and weight of a CX bike hold back the outright speed more that width of tyre. If it was me I would have 32 Marathons or 32 Vittoria Randomers on to make the most of the ability of the bike
The geo is quite similar to my road bike but the frame is a bit heavier. In fact, I think I'll get the bathroom scales out tonight to compare the two!
Maybe in hindsight, the thread title should have been 'best width for road tyres on a CX bike'!
Steve
Maybe in hindsight, the thread title should have been 'best width for road tyres on a CX bike'!
Steve
Edited by Steve vRS on Monday 21st July 15:45
I bought the 28mm tyres - I like the compliance in the chunky CX tyres over the rougher roads round here so I will sacrifice the odd OM for a comfier ride.
Question though, will a 20-25mm inner tube fit these tyres? It will allow me to carry around my road bike saddle bag without swapping over all the stuff. My CX bike currently has a single larger tube in for the knobbly tyres but if I am going to do longer distances on the more vulnerable tyres I want to have 2 tubes and more tools (that are in the road bag).
Steve
Question though, will a 20-25mm inner tube fit these tyres? It will allow me to carry around my road bike saddle bag without swapping over all the stuff. My CX bike currently has a single larger tube in for the knobbly tyres but if I am going to do longer distances on the more vulnerable tyres I want to have 2 tubes and more tools (that are in the road bag).
Steve
Should be fine
I had a flat a few weeeks ago and put in a 20-25 into a 32c 700 tyre, 3 weeks on it is fine
I have the same issue my road bikes are 23 & 25, yet my commuter is 32! I just carry a 25c
When I got my commuter I noticed the tyre was coming off the rim slightly , I whipped the tyre off and realised the original owner had put 23c inner tube in 37c 700 tyres!! Was fine for 2 months
If it is 4seasons, be careful not to lock up the back wheel, I did once or twice and it ruined the tyre with a bald patch, the soft top layer which gives the great ride while puncture proof was prone to ripping due to skidding
I had a flat a few weeeks ago and put in a 20-25 into a 32c 700 tyre, 3 weeks on it is fine
I have the same issue my road bikes are 23 & 25, yet my commuter is 32! I just carry a 25c
When I got my commuter I noticed the tyre was coming off the rim slightly , I whipped the tyre off and realised the original owner had put 23c inner tube in 37c 700 tyres!! Was fine for 2 months
If it is 4seasons, be careful not to lock up the back wheel, I did once or twice and it ruined the tyre with a bald patch, the soft top layer which gives the great ride while puncture proof was prone to ripping due to skidding
Steve vRS said:
Question though, will a 20-25mm inner tube fit these tyres?
I'd also like to know this. I've got a few spare Continental tubes that say 700x20c > 700x25c from when I had 23c or 25c tyres.
I'd have thought they'd be fine but if the inner was stretched more to fill the bigger tyre then maybe they'd be more prone to punctures once fitted?
I don't think there is hardly in it putting an inner tube 20-25 in a 28, plus some 28 tyres are nearer 26 anyway
The only thing I noticed that once you go further out of spec say a 20-25 in a 35 is that there is a chance the inner tube "fills" the tyre less meaning it can appear like the wheel is slightly buckled, or is harder to perfectly align on the rim . WOuld still be fine to get you home.
The only thing I noticed that once you go further out of spec say a 20-25 in a 35 is that there is a chance the inner tube "fills" the tyre less meaning it can appear like the wheel is slightly buckled, or is harder to perfectly align on the rim . WOuld still be fine to get you home.
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