jlaw

Just for fun...I mounted a set of 2.3" (58 mm +-) RTPs on Velocity Dually rims (39mm internal width) - and installed the wheel set on my steel 'adventure' bike. The idea was to create a floaty ride for gravel roads.

Not much gravel near me beyond my driveway - so I rode my after-dinner 16 mile paved loop a couple times recently. The first impression is that they are AWESOME for comfort and control on rough asphalt.

When I first started out it felt like I was really doggin' it having to push these big balloons inflated to 20 - 25 psi. But, I realized that the landscape was passing by at about the usual pace, but the difference was that I was hardly getting any feedback from the road - almost zero road buzz through my hands, wrists, shoulders.

I checked my speed on this loop (Ride with GPS) against other times that I've ridden the same loop with my 'faster' bike and found that I was traveling at about the same average speed despite - or because of - these big tires. Yes, a blistering 12.0 mph with 993 ft. of climbing and 15.6 miles - pretty standard for me.

I also rode a short section of sketchy 1" gravel - good traction uphill and full confidence when entering this section at speed from the paved road.

These could be all-around tires for me on any bike that will fit them. It would be really fun to try these on a light Titanium bike - even more fun than the 32 lb. rig pictured.

Has anybody else tried big tires for road riding?

Wileyrat

When I was younger, I used to ride myself back into shape each spring on a Trek 850 rigid frame mtn bike. I put roadish tires on it, and would go until I was strong enough to get back on my Team Fuji roadie.

I'd rather not do that anymore. I'm fine on my 25's.

jlaw

Yes, It's all about personal preference. Eventually I'll ride the same loop on my Spec. Roubaix with 28 mm tires just to compare. But I hardly ride that bike anymore because I've come to prefer the ride of my vintage sport/tour bike with 38 mm Panaracers on it.

ThermionicScott 

How wide do yours actually measure, @jlaw?

I have Compass 1.8" (actually about 42mm) Naches Pass on one bike, and lust after RTPs, but don't want to buy a set and find out I don't have enough clearance.

02Giant 

Mid 80's Mongoose flat bar, converted to drops, Rival 2 x 10, and Kenda Kniption 26 x 2.3's. On a couple of rails to trails routes I ride, they tend to have a lot of debris after storms pass through. This is my go-to ride, or if I want a work out. They roll really good @ 50-55 psi.

HTupolev

I've got them on my gravel bike. I've found them to be a generally phenomenal dry mixed-surface tire.



Pretty darn fast on the road, and competent on just about all the regional gravel. They've got some of the finest road hum of any tire I've used.

According to Heine, Panaracer labeled the tire "2.3 inches" because the casing width is similar to their 2.3" mountain knobbies, and they wanted to avoid mixing up silicon bladders in the tire molds. Rat Trap Pass actual width tends to run around 52-54 millimeters on typical setups. Currently mine (set up with latex tubes) are actually a hair under 52mm, because the Sun Rhyno Lite rims use high brake track walls that constrain the sidewall. Previously I had them mounted on a pair of DM30 rims, with the same tubes, and they were a bit over 53mm.

jlaw

I measured 3 locations front and rear. Tires measured consistently just under 56 mm on a rim with 39 mm internal width. I am running Schwalbe tubes and used 2 wraps of very thin tubeless tape (Orange Seal).

I think the shape of the rim seat, rim internal width, and tube/tubeless set-up could make a difference - I would conservatively assume 58 mm before you drop $140 or more on 2 tires.

Post some info./pics. if you go for it.

jlaw

What is the internal rim width? Your RTP's are a few mm narrower than mine.

jlaw

I'm going to try a somewhat higher pressure than the 20 - 25 psi currently. Even at 25 the tires feel firm and don't flatten much under my weight.

HTupolev

The Rhyno Lites are pretty narrow, 22mm internal. The DM30s are around 25mm.

ThermionicScott 

Aha! Been wondering how they could have gotten the width marking so wrong. This (sorta) makes sense.

I bet I could fit 52-54mm. My rims are only 22-25mm internal.

jlaw

Reading all this I agree that you're probably safe assuming 52 - 54.

ThermionicScott 

Sweet! 42mm tires take a long time to wear out, but that's what I'm gonna try next.

FiftySix

These wide "road" tires really respond well with pressures in the 50s when not off road, in my experience. Off road is still doable, when you don't want to lower the pressure back into the 20s or 30s.

A bonus is the confidence inspiring amount of tread on the ground when in a hard turn on pavement.

A very versatile type of tire, IMO.

HTupolev

What particular tires are you using? My bike+rider weight is 200lbs, and I tend to do 40r/35f in my Rat Trap Pass ELs even for smooth road rides. Much more PSI than that, and their lively undamped rebound makes them ride like a pair of basketballs. (Much less PSI, and their softness allows pneumatic trail to start affecting the handling in a big way). On the whole, they're very pressure-sensitive, and don't like being at extremes.

For mixed-surface/gravel riding, I tend to use something in the ballpark of 30r/25f. At this pressure the handling on pavement is quite funky, but they still roll well.

I've used fat slicks that behaved well at high PSI, but they were slower than the Rat Traps on the road no matter what pressure was used.

FiftySix

Currently, just a pair of low end Kenda 838 26x2.125 sized tires that measure 54mm wide when mounted. The "basketballs" comment is on the money on some pavement irregularities, but I use that to help bounce over concrete seams that aren't level or potholes. I don't ride the Kendas below 40 psi hardly ever. I've gone lower pressure with other balloon tires, but these Kendas seem to like 40 to 55 psi. That bike and myself are about 225 lbs. total.

DHPflaumer

I think it's been about three years since I rode anything narrower than a 38mm tire regularly and these days all three of the bikes in my profile are rocking 42s, though I do keep meaning to go put the 47mm WTB Horizons on my Soma (they were on my Norther until I got some of those sweet SimWorks/Honjo brass fenders and they don't *quite* clear them).

livedarklions

Caveat on the big tires and grip--if they're slicks, they are not grippy when you corner at speed on wet pavement. I've had the bike fly out from under me a couple times when my traction otherwise felt really good.

I've never ridden the RTPs, so I don't know if the tread pattern they use fights this tendency. I suspect that it does.

FiftySix

Indeed. One has to watch lean angle, paint, steel, botts dots, etc. when it is wet.

mrv 

.... and oil. A little bit of rain will bring the oil to the surface without rinsing it away. Always the sketchiest part of a crit is a dry course that gets just a little wet....

I just picked up some SERFAS Drifters 26x2.0 from my LBS. Riding them for about a month. On smooth pavement the vibration is REALLY noticeable, and I tolerate a lot more junk than most, I think. On dirt roads, I can't tell much difference than my semi-slick CONTIs.
I'm really looking forward to trying some COMPASS / Rene' Herse tires. Maybe end of this year or beginning of next. I think I need to break down and spend the bucks. The OP has me convinced, I think.

ThermionicScott 

Pressures in the 50s, wow. I run my 42mm Naches Pass at 32 psi front, 40 rear as it is, and love that on the roads. The calculator I use would put me at about 20 psi front and 25 psi rear on RTPs at a total system weight of ~200 lbs.

jlaw

The RTP's have a label showing max. inflation of 55 psi. I probably won't go higher than 35 - for pavement. 20 - 25 for gravel.

jlaw

RTPs have a fine file tread - but I would check my speed on wet roads nonetheless.

livedarklions

Last time this happened to me, I happened to be riding on a pair of balloon slicks, and the Minuteman bike path was almost subliminally wet--it had drizzled the night before and there weren't any puddles on the ground. After the bike flew out from under me, I determined that the corner of the path was a slightly different asphalt than the rest of the path--apparently a very big patch--and there was just the faintest coating of water on the top. I've treated that corner with special respect ever since.

jlaw

Do your research.

There are many opinions online re: the RTPs and Rene/Compass tires in general. Most people have found them to be a quality tire that works well with tubes or tubeless (with the right rim). Some have found the tires to be vulnerable to puncture when ridden where there are thorns and/or frequent sharp road debris. But, I wanted a 'light', floaty tire that would absorb road buzz on gravel roads. I think that a tire that is more resistant to puncture (kevlar belt, heavy sidewall, etc.) would not meet my expectations.

I bought the 'Standard' casing - there is an extra light version. I'm willing to risk an occasional puncture to get the quality of ride that I want. I've only ridden them about 40 miles on paved roads with no issues. My long term experience with them is TBD.

I do have a set of Panaracer Gravel Kings (38 mm) - appear to be a similar design and made in the same factory as the RTPs - that I have ridden 1300 miles with no problems.