elcyc

My Fuji Absolute 2.0 hybrid bike came stock with size 28-622 (700x28c) tires. I measured the rim with an outer width = 23mm.
What's the maximum tire width that YOU would feel comfortable using on the same rim?

Leisesturm

It's the inside width that matters with tire size. Some Googling brought up specs on your Absolute: Jalco DT21 rims (22mm outside width/16mm inside width) there is huge range of tires that will work and there is no agreement between tire makers. One brand may say nothing bigger than 35mm for that rim, and another might well say nothing bigger than 40mm. However, you may well find that nothing bigger than 32ish even fits under the brake bridge. Isn't customizing fun?

base2 

I'd fit whatever fits between the frame with at least/about 4 or 5 millimeters clearance for mud/rocks/debris/etc...to clear.

You don't want the "light bulb" effect though.

elcyc

Thx for your reply!
Where in Google did you find that Jalco DT21 ref. Maybe here?
Here is the official Fuji page on my 2010 model year Absolute 2.o:
https://archive.fujibikes.com/2010/Fuji/absolute-20-usa
RIMS: Jalco Double Wall Alloy 32H (nothing more specific) And I can find no printed / stamped info on my actual rims.
If they are Jalco 21's here is the "official" specs Jalco page:
DT 21 Rims for X-country, and Trekking bikes - JALCO (MADDUX) Industry Co., Ltd.
23mm out/18mm in.
My brakes are disc.
About reason to change from stock 28 to 32 tires ... want more comfort.

smashndash

I have used 2.1” tires on 15mm rims offroad. On 16 to 18mm rims, you’ll have 0 issues with any road bike tire, so long as you inflate them high enough.

Wider rims have gotten fashionable because, in conjunction with tubeless, they allow you to run lower pressures with fewer bad consequences.

elcyc

This is useful -- thx!
One of the reason I asked was that the quickest/nearest tire resource is Walmart. Their only in-store 700 tires is:

Bell Sports Flat Defense Road Bike Tire, 700c x 32-45c, Black ($21/each)

I have no idea what 32-45c can mean ??? That's a pretty wide range.And does it mean the tire's ideal dimensions are for 45c??

Leisesturm

That sounds more like a description of an inner tube rather than a tire. In any case, you can do better than this for your Fuji. Look to Schwalbe or Bontrager for flat defense 700c tires.

smashndash

So there are two sizes to deal with here. Your rim width (inner), and your tire size. Of course, your rim width is not going to change. It’s 18mm. That’s pretty standard for a road bike.

The sizes being indicated here are tire sizes for sure. Not wheel sizes. Unfortunately, I think it was worded this way because many people don’t know the difference between a wheel, rim, tube and tire.

So I think this tire probably measures something like 35c. But it’s marketed to replace tires from 32c to 45c.

It doesn’t seem to be a very high quality tire. If you can manage it, I’d recommend something like this:
https://planetcyclery.com/continenta...BoCbAwQAvD_BwE

elcyc

Yeah ..I was only toying with the idea of using Walmart. I pass by it on my regular cycle route, so if that now-twice-repaired Kenda failed me again en route, I may just give some biz to Sam Walton.
Usually, I order from Amazon. And Conti's are what I've always gotten for my other bike. It seems, however, that Conti quality has gone down a bit. I purch'd some Top Touring 2000's (26x1.175), back in Jul 2004. Those lasted until Jun. 2014 (~11k miles!!). I replaced with the equivalent Touring model in 2014, biking same routes and miles/week, and I'm starting to see much of the yellow inner tread as well as side wall cracking, and all the reflective sidewall has peeled away. In fact, I actually saved my front 2004 tire because it was not too bad. And I replaced the 2014 rear with the 2004!!
Who knows, maybe the Walmart tire may be COMPARATIVELY okay after all!

Nyah

I had Conti TopTouring 2000 in 32mm back in 2000 and they got replaced with Schwalbe Marathon 35mm. The Schwalbes have a somewhat similar tread pattern but are way better. I recommend ordering them from Universal Cycles and having them shipped via USPS Priority Mail.

elcyc

About that tire width dimension ... how is that actually engineered in the industry?
It's easy to grasp the inner/outer width of a solid component like the rim. But dimensioning the width of a soft, rubbery component like a tire ... ???
In a way, the Bell's ballpark approach (32-45c) makes sense!!

elcyc

The Schwalbe is a GREAT tire. But $84/pair is steep. And I don't like tires that are difficult to install. The Conti's are somewhat difficult to install (need extra strong levers!); Schwalbe are even more difficult ??? from what I've read.

JohnDThompson 

Whatever fits through your frame and fork.

Nyah

Schwalbe Marathon classics aka Marathon w/Greenguard aka Marathon originals aka Marathons are priced more like $70/pair, one of Schwalbe's lesser-priced tires but rated very good on BicycleRollingResistance .com for a touring tire. It sounds like you read about some other tire because this model was very easy for me to change, even as the first tire I ever did. I just used run-o-the-mill plastic Trek-branded levers.

Ironfish653

Tire width is a nominal measurement, and there’s a number of things that can change the actual measured size from wheel to wheel and tire (brand) to tire.
Usually, a road tire is based on a 17mm rim, although wider rims will make the same tire measure wider, and at the extreme, not quite as tall.
Also, some tire brands and models measure more true to size than others, but really it’s +/- 1~2 mm in most cases.
There’s really no such thing as a 32-45mm tire. Tires don’t stretch. I agree with the above, that it sounds a lot more like an inner tube size (tubes do stretch) unless they are offering the same tire in both 32mm and 40mm on the same listing, and you select the size when you order it.

The Bell / Wmart tires are probably rebranded CST’s (Cheng Shin) which is what you would find on a typical department store bike. Wmart doesn’t really need the business, and you could do a lot better for your Fuji, for just a couple dollars more, somewhere like biketiresdirect.com

Reynolds 

Don't know about max width, but I use 40mm tires on 17mm inner width rims, zero problems.

sweeks

Another "theoretical" possibility with excessively wide tires on narrow rims is that tensile stress can predispose the rim to failure. I've had this happen on 3 consecutive 406-16 rims (Kinetix) on my folding commuter bike. Tires were 406-47, and this only happened on the rear wheel. The first sign of trouble was a "thumping" sensation on application of the rear brake. I initially thought this problem started with brake track wear that propagated into the center web of the rim, but one rim that failed this way had minimal brake track wear. I showed the failed rims to Bill Mould and he advised a wider rim. I took this advice and the current wheel has passed the mileage the others failed at, and appears to be trouble-free.

Tangential view

Radial view

Leisesturm

Exactly right. It does sound like a tube was being described. Except for the price! Still, it is hard to imagine that the same model tire could be sold in all sizes between 32mm and 45mm for the same (low) price. The larger sizes use quite a bit more of everything that goes into a tire. So nothing really can be learned from that product description. A pair of Schwalbe anythings will last for years and years. Well worth the $70 to $80 and more that they cost. But cheaper tires are available and will still be better than Bell: Kenda, Bontrager, Continental ...

Ironfish653

Seems to be pretty common practice for bike tires.
Conti TourRide comes in 28mm to 47mm (and 27 x 1-1/4" lol) Currently on sale for $19.96 for all sizes. The Michelin Protek 700c for $19.99 for a similar range of sizes.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...ride-tour-700c

Granted, these are inexpensive 'commuter' tires, although it seems to hold true for the more expensive rubber, too. Those just come in a narrower range of sizes.

smashndash

You misunderstood. One specific tire is actually labeled as 700 x 32c-45c

Ironfish653

Well, you made me go to WMart.com to have a look, dang it.

You would be correct, but that's still bizzare. I noticed their 26" MTB 'Comfort tire' is also a 'Multi-fit': 1.75"-2.25"

More than likely, it's just the smallest size, ie 700x32 since, if a bike will fit 40's, it'll definitely fit 32's, but not the other way around.

Unless those tires are so cheap, that they can actually stretch 10mm when you inflate them

Miele Man

One thing to watch out for with really wide tires on narrow rims is what happens if the tire flats. I had 30mm Schwalbe CXPro cyclo-cross tires on narrow rims and every time a front tire went soft or punctured control was IMMEDIATELY lost.

Cheers

elcyc

I just replaced the orig Kenda 28-622's with Continental Ride Tour City/Trekking 700x32.
Nice tire and an improved ride. However, at full inflation, I see absolutely no difference in tire width between the Kenda and new Conti's. I checked both tires printed sidewall dimensions. And, indeed, Kenda 28-622 (ie 700x28) and Conti 700x32.
What gives??

elcyc

With a caliper, I just measured the new Conti's, fully inflated, at its widest spot. ~28mm !!!!!!!!!!!
I checked the packaging label and the tire's sidewall. Both say: 700x32.
So could it be the rim that's limiting the tire from expanding further?

The tire was purch'd from Amazon and was shipped from: Sold by: Northern Toy