imi

Hi, I'm looking into an all round on/off road tire for my Volpe (non disc) bike. No fenders.
After measuring, I think a 40-42 mm tire might fit, but real world measurements don't always match specs.
I'm pretty loyal to Continental - sorry Cycco! so can any Volpe owners help me out?

Contact Travel/Contact Travel Plus/Top Contact II come in 37 and 42 mm (622)

I've had Schwalbe Marathon Pluses on another bike and found them to roll like a tank. Any other suggestions, though?

Thanks

Flatforkcrown

Subscribing because I’d like to know also. I use mine almost exclusively on mtb trails and sometime feel the 35s I have now are a little small. It looks like 40 will fit but I haven’t tried.

fishboat

I gave my Volpe away last year, but if memory serves..I think 38mm is going to be about it. Again, if memory serves I think Doug64 had or has a Volpe..maybe he'll chime in.

Doug64

Sorry, I can't help. The widest tires I've used are 35 mm. I have been pretty much using 32 mm. I would also be interested in knowing the maximum size tire that will fit a Volpe.

fishboat

I ran Vittoria Voyager Hypers on my Volpe. They were 700x35mm tires, but the measured out at 37mm. They fit fine, though close at the chainstays. I now run Panaracer Gravelking Slicks on a few bikes in 700x38. They measure out 37-38mm. While the Hypers are no longer available the GKs are and I know they fit on a 2006 Volpe. You might get 40s on there..if you did, it would be closest at the chainstays..narrowest point. Of course..it depends on how the 40mm tire measures out when mounted.

Doug..maybe you can measure the distance between the chainstays at about the point where your 32s or 35s sit..

djb

as noted, tires will have a given width on a given rim, and unfortunately it really depends on the specific rim as to how wide a tire can be in real life. My experience overall is that tires tend to be narrower than stated, and the various rims I have experienced this generally have been kinda standard width rims, so not way out there of being narrower or wider.

I believe its generally accepted that a tire will get a bit wider as its ridden more, but probably only a small amount.

you're always going to be better off with a reasonable amount of spare room anyway, as a busted spoke will pretty much end up with frame rub, which could be a real pain in the keester, not to mention mud buildup etc.

indyfabz

Wouldn’t the model year make a difference? I rode across the country in ‘99 with someone who rode a Volpe. Things may have changed since then.

BTW…I‘ve only toured on Conti Top Contact II or its predecessor.

Doug64

I just measured the distance between the rear tire and the chainstay. I did not want to pull the wheel off tonight. It looks like there is 8 mm clearance between the tire and the chainstay. I'm running 32 mm Schwalbe Marathon tires on Velocity Dyad rims. It seems like I could get a 40 mm tire on with 4 mm clearance. My Volpe has a 2013 frame, a replacement for my 2006 frame.

imi

Thanks for all the responses. Good point djb about different rims. I have Mavic A719's on my Volpe (2019 frame I believe)
The Continental 42mm tires might be pushing it, so I think I'll order a Schwalbe Marathon Mondial 40mm and try it out (unless someone can put me off this idea!). I have 50mm Mondials on a MTB but that riding experience is not so comparable, I imagine.
I'll report back as to how it works out.

Tourist in MSN

I have heard that the folding bead Mondials roll much better than the wire bead. Not sure if the threads per inch or rubber compounds differ from one to the other, but they might.

imi

Cheers! 🙏

Anyone out there ridden 37mm Mondials on ”really bad” roads or trails (washboard, sandy, stony etc)?

Flatforkcrown

Ok, measurements of my 91 volpe.done with a steel tape, not calipers, but should give a rough idea of clearance.


Chainstays look close to 50mm

Seatstays seem to be the tight point, around 45mm

now, I’m not sure how the frames changed thru the years, so your experience may vary.

Flatforkcrown

The bike in question, since it’s never bad to have more bike pics.

scottbencohe

Did anyone try the 40mm tires with the Volpe? I'm thinking of doing the same for a 2005 Volpe

scottbencohe

Well I went ahead and did it. very, very tight fit. They may be rubbing ever so slightly. Holler if you want me to post pics.

Doug64

Do you have fenders? Which wheel was rubbing?

You will need 10 posts to post picture.

scottbencohe

The rear tire is close to the chain stays. Not rubbing but as someone mentioned earlier, a busted spoke would create some issues.

I removed the full fenders fenders and installed the PDW Origami for some wet protection.

All seems to be working well, but I've yet to do anything beyond a neighborhood pavement ride.

scottbencohe

A few miles of gravel presented no problems. I think the Mondial 40mm are as wide as the Volpe can handle, but they do fit