testertips

Have some velocity deep Vs and wondering if anyone has tried running tires bigger than 28. 13mm inner rim width? Looking to covert an old bike to gravel and wondering or is 28 good enough for this purpose?

Koyote

Velocity actually lists the ID as 14mm, which is still pretty narrow. I'd have no problems running 32mm-wide tires, maybe even 35mm. That might work okay, and it gets you into faux-gravel range. Just understand that 35mm tires won't be great on the rough stuff.

veganbikes

As Koyote said you could probably run wider tires but it is pretty narrow and Deep Vs are not my choice for much of anything beyond looks on a fixed gear bicycle. If I wanted a little deep but nothing too heavy Ailerons or Quills depending on braking needs or if I am carrying a bit of weight Dyads and a lot of weight Atlases and if I want low profile roadie stuff for some reason (on a gravel bike) I would go A23 all of which are fantastic rims but some have different purposes.

35s would work but yeah wider is always better especially off road 38s are really the minimum for me these days.

Koyote

I think the OP already has the wheels and wants to know if they'll work for gravel. But I agree with everything you wrote.

bboy314

I’ve used them plenty with 35s with no issue.

veganbikes

Thanks, I figured that but in case they were fans of Velocity I wanted to give them good rim options in case they wanted something different.

TiHabanero

I absolutely love the durability of the Deep V rims. Been using them for rear wheels on commuter bikes whose owners have had issues with wheel true or rim bends. Been doing this for at least the past 15 years. I use one myself on my beater bike as well. Been in service since 2010 and zero issues. Not indestructible like an Aerospoke wheel, but darned close. Often I match them with 38mm tires and make sure the rider knows to keep max pressure in the tire, and if a conti tire, I recommend over inflation of 10psi, which is what I do on my own bike. For gravel use on roads that are not washboard, running lower pressure will be fine, but don't get too crazy with the pressure as you are inviting problems.
Never had any issues running 38mm tires on them. No pinch flats, or other issues everyone warns about, but often have zero experience with. Use good rim tape, Velox is my choice.

Kontact 

You can run them with 55mm tires. There is no limit.

cyccommute 

Same here. I think mine are 38s. No issues but I wouldn’t expect any as I run 17mm rims with 58mm tires and have for decades.

delbiker1 

Yep, I have used up to 35mm. My gravel/offroad riding is of the easier variety. Regarding width, I have found 28mm tires on gravel is certainly doable, depending on type of gravel, definitely not optimal. In my situation 32 is good, 35 is better. That was the widest tire I could use on any of my bikes. If I was going to really get into gravel riding, I would want a wheel/tire combo built for that purpose, with 35 being minimum. For handling and comfort, a wider stance is a lot better, not to mention puncture resistance, even with tubeless.

rumrunn6

FWIW came across this chart recently
https://i.stack.imgur.com/S0Tib.jpg


found that here
https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/q...-on-my-bicycle

testertips

Cool... it's a Kilo TT that's looking lonely in the corner I'll be building up. I typically ride brakeless, but will include a front brake on this one. Suggestions on caliper brakes with 32 - 35mm clearance?

Koyote

This bike? If so, you should've shared this up front. I very much doubt that bike's frame will accomodate 35s, and 32s might not fit. Hell, you might not get a 28mm tire in there. That bike is NOT designed to take wide tires.

testertips

A known issue with that frame is the quality control on the fork. I luckily got one that supports bigger tires. I've run 25 on that fork and there's plenty of space for 32, possibly 35.

ThermionicScott 

In that case, you'll probably need to start by measuring the reach.

testertips

What you mean? I'm looking for recommendations on caliper brakes that support 32mm+ tires.

ThermionicScott 

I know, but the fact that the fork dimensions were not well-controlled means that it's up to you to know the distance between the brake mounting hole and the rim, because caliper brakes are sold with different amounts of reach.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/calipers.html#reach

testertips

Ah right.. thought you meant the other reach - up to 51mm should work. The discrepancy is with the fork width... it's like they used different sized crowns during manufacturing.

Koyote

Don't forget that your tire needs to clear not just the fork legs, but the front needs to fit under the fork crown. You need about as much clearance there as you need on each side of the tire.

What is the clearance in the rear triangle -- between the chain stays and between the seat stays?

Kontact 

This seems like nonsense. A technical and scientific looking chart with no explanation given for its underlying rationale. Yet anyone who had a nicer MTB the '90s have fat tires are super skinny rims, suggesting that these max tire limits are nonsense.

And the maximums are especially vexing as well. Does no one remember the A23 rim and what tires they were intended for?

As a general principle, matching your tires to your rims might make some sort of sense if you could demonstrate a problem in lateral instability with certain ratios. But let's see the testing.

SkinGriz

^ Bike tires are bias ply tires.
You can get away with almost anything as far as width goes. As long as it fits your frame and fork.

Jax Rhapsody

This. A wider tire is usually a taller tire. I was putting together my recent ride to donate at the co-op, and the only matching cruiser wheels were for a 29er, so I ended up using some 32mm tires because they were just short enough to fit the cranbrook.

SkinGriz

I built a Jax Rhapsody inspired cruiser. It’s not finished, I will start a thread on the cruiser section for it.

Jax Rhapsody

I might be honored, sir.