michaelm101

After reading about the benefits of the 650B, I'm thinking of simply swapping out the tires on my bike that came with 650B x 2.2s to a more suitable all-rounder, say a 35-37mm (BTW, I Just bought a pair of Conti Travel Contact Reflectives for my other tourer/shopper, aka the "TANK.")

The bike in question accommodates both 650B and also 700c rims. Swapping out the tires will save me from having to get an entirely new wheelset, AND tires...

The bike looks great and handles well with the filled out knobby wheels right now, but the tires are simply not suitable for my riding which is 75% road/urban 20% dirt path/gravel/road shoulder, 5% mountain.

My question is: While going with say, a 35-37mm touring tire, will the wheel well /diameter space be filled up with the prospective tire setup? If not, what course of action could provide a solution.

Again, thanks very much for all your help!

Spoonrobot 

The common 650b all-rounder is 42mm or 48mm. 35-37 is often not recommended due to bottom bracket height drop as well as not feeling very good to most riders. Going from 650bx2.2 to a much smaller tire will leave you with an excess of space around the stays and fork blades. This is often filled/hidden by using fenders, there is no other solution as it's often seen as a non-problem.

In your shoes I would get the Schwalbe Big One or G-One in 2.35 or 2.00. Will fill the bike nicely and ride very well compared to knobbies.

chas58

Know what your BB drop is? Agreed, that is probably the biggest issue.

Open UP has some reading on this: https://opencycle.com/UP


I was in your situation, and got the Schwalbe G-One 2.35. Amazing tire - super low rolling resistance. Great on all kinds of surfaces - as long as I'm not going off road in the wet (they are horrible on mud or wet grass).

Clem von Jones

The fatter lower-pressure 650b tires would be highly desirable for tubeless setup in puncture-prone areas. 2.1 tubeless tires are also no heavier, and often lighter than skinnier higher pressure tires. MTB rims also weigh less because skinny higher pressure road rims have to be more sturdy. It seems to me that 2.1 is the ideal tire for gravel and 40c x 700 is just an inheritance from cx bikes, less than ideal unless you intend to run lightweight fat tubeless slicks like the new Gravel Kings. The idea situation would be two separate wheelsets, one for 38mm tubeless slicks and the other for 2.1 tubeless Schwalbes. The prospect of running comfortable 40c-ish tubeless lightweight slicks on roads is a new and very exciting development but there is still a small weight penalty compared to normal road tires. Maybe that will eventually change.

biggus duckus

WTB is absolutely killing it with their Road-Plus lineup. I have the Byways and and I love them.

Facanh

I wish I could fit that big of a tyre!

If I was you I would probably get something in 650x47. Small knobs or slicks.

For example WTB Horizons, Panaracer GravelKing SK or slicks, Schwalbe G-One Speed in 50mm.

If you have knobby MTB tyres right now these should feel quicker but still provide plenty of comfort. 35-37mm would be a bit too small, the tyre selection in that width in 650b is not the best either, and big tyres are fun.