swapping tires
05-19-24, 01:27 PM
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swapping tires
I purchased an el-cheapo e-pedal assist bike for my partner. She likes it ok, except that the tires on it are too narrow to her. We are not avid riders, in our late 60's and normally want to tool around in the campgrounds and back roads. There is a lot of sandy dirt along these roads, and she tends to slip and slide all over the place, so she is not comfortable and is afraid she's going to wreck. Is it possible to put a little wider tire and tube on the existing rims? The tires are 27.5 x 1.5 and the rims are 1 inch wide. She would like to go to the fat tires, but I don't think the bike's forks will have the clearance. My thoought is to possibly get a little wider rims and with it wider tires and tubes. Any bike servicers or mechanics have any advice?
05-19-24, 01:51 PM
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The internal width is the most appropriate dimension AFAIK. If it's 20mm or so, you should be able to fit at least a 2.0 tire (but check the frame and fork widths first). Also, don't overinflate the tires; if she's only 125 pounds or so, you should be able to get away with 25 psi (maybe lower; you can experiment).
05-19-24, 03:19 PM
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Given that you're not avid riders, try some cheap tires and see if they fit. I (totally guessing) think you would be fine with a 2" tire. Also, a super aggressive knobby tread would help as much or more than the extra width on sand.
05-19-24, 04:30 PM
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What bike do you have? In the end you just need to do some measurement and make sure you have at the very least 3mm of clearance on each side but probably ideally 6mm. I probably wouldn't get wider wheels unless you need it but just get a wider tire assuming one will fit. Someone might know what sort of clearance you have if you give us some useful info on what you have.
In terms of riding on sand if it is a lot of sand then you would be wanting a fat bike but if just going through a little sand once and a while just air down and that will help out.
In terms of riding on sand if it is a lot of sand then you would be wanting a fat bike but if just going through a little sand once and a while just air down and that will help out.
05-19-24, 09:09 PM
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If a 1 inch wide rim refers to the interior of the rim, then the sizing chart in Sheldon Brown’s tire sizing dissertation at
https://biketrain.net/tireSizingChart.png
might be useful.
One inch is 25.400 mm and the max rim size in Sheldon’s chart is 25mm. (I guess the chart was created before ebikes became popular). Using 25 mm, tires between 44 and 57 mm should be safe. That’s 1.7323 in to 2.2441 in.
At least according to this chart, 1.5 in tires are too skinny.
https://biketrain.net/tireSizingChart.png
might be useful.
One inch is 25.400 mm and the max rim size in Sheldon’s chart is 25mm. (I guess the chart was created before ebikes became popular). Using 25 mm, tires between 44 and 57 mm should be safe. That’s 1.7323 in to 2.2441 in.
At least according to this chart, 1.5 in tires are too skinny.
