J_Climacus 

EDIT/UPDATE: Thanks y'all, I decided to go with 32s, at least for now. I already have 28s and 35s on other bikes, so if I buy 32s, I can try all three out and decide for myself, with 32s being the starting point. I have decided that 35s will look a bit out of place on this bike. I am slightly worried I'll feel the same way about the 32s, but we'll see when they arrive and are mounted. 28s look very nice on there, so if nothing else, I'll have a nice fallback.

Original post below:

I'm choosing tires to use as my "rider" set on a René Herse I restored. I'm going to use Herse tires with their extralight casing, and my options are 28mm, 32mm, and 35mm.

I've included a photo of the bike with a 28mm tire and a 35mm. I don't have a 32 so you'll have to use your imagination for that one. I also attached a photo of the full bike with the original wheels so you can get a sense of what the build itself looks like. My clincher set for this build looks very similar to the original tubulars.

Don't pay attention to the wheels themselves in the 28mm and 35mm photos - they are of different wheels I have which currently have the relevant tires mounted, so they made for good comparison shots.

I'm inclined to go with 32s, because while I have room for 35s and as a general rule I'd like to go large, the 35s look kind of disproportionate to me. And on this bike, aesthetics matter. Then again, the bike has a rear rack, so fat tires wouldn't be too outlandish, but it was also built around Campy components, and is not a heavy touring bike.

I'm curious for other folks thoughts and opinions. What would you put on?

Side note: this bike was found via a bikeforums post. It was bought at auction for way too little money because it looked to be in pretty rough shape, but as you can tell from the current photos, it was mostly just dirt and grime.



28s

35s

Full build

AdventureManCO 

A Copake bike? Or the one that went for like 500 smackers somewhere on the East Coast...Maryland, maybe?

Robvolz 

As goldilocks said……

The 28s are too small. They look puny on such a large frame

The 35s are too big. They look out of place.

The 32s are prolly just right.

Classtime 

I’d be inclined to ride a bike with such a pedigree with the tires it was designed for—At least for several thousands of miles. And then if you must ignore the builder’s intensions, 28s.

Nice Bike.

mpetry912 

maybe a 35 Rear and 32 front?

larger frames tend to have more of the weight distribution on the rear wheel.

yes, very nice bike

/markp

rccardr 

If your intended use is around DC and environs, a 32 would be pretty much perfect. Would even be good for the C&O.
I’d go fatter for touring, though.
I’m in NoVA and ride into DC frequently. We should get together some time!

veganbikes

If it were my bike and a 35 could fit fine, it would be 35 all the way. Plusher is better, ATMO!

squirtdad

don't know it this will help but here is what 32 look like on my kirk. Rims are H+Son archetypes

polymorphself 

Agreed, and I would usually say 35, they do just look too big here and probably not a noticeable enough gain. I agree that aesthetics matter on this bike.

gugie 

I like to ride my bikes, not stare at the tires. 35's ride a lot nicer than 32's, IMO.

El Chaba

Without knowing the geometry, I am guessing that it is “competition” geometry or a slightly relaxed version. If that is the case, the bike is supposed to be a bit snappy and I would be inclined toward 28 or even 25’s….especially if the tubes are very light gauge…

pnwgopher

If it fits 35s, ride 35s!

Polaris OBark

If it fits 35s, try to cram in 38s.

Piff 

I really like 28mm tires for road riding. A bit of extra cushion without feeling heavy like wider tires can feel. Though iff your roads are rough, opt for 32mm probably.

The Golden Boy 

I say 35s. Especially if you can fit the 35s under fenders for that bike.

For whatever it's worth, I recently picked up some Jack Brown 33.3 tires to replace some Herse 35s that were tight under the front fender. I just replaced the front and I really kind of like it- so right now it's rolling with a Herse 35 Bon Jon Pass in the rear and a Jack Brown 33.3 in the front.

by https://www.flickr.com/photos/151917295@N05/, on Flickr

bwilli88 

I like the widest tires I can fit.
go with the 38s

USAZorro

I voted 32s - with the presumption being that the bike should have mud guards, and 35s would give dicey clearance. If 35s and mud guards are not mutually exclusive, go for it.

gaucho777 

With 32s, you may also be able to fit fenders (if you ever decide to take that beauty in the rain). How much clearance in the rear? Are you able to remove the rear wheel with the 35mm tire without deflating the tire? That's another consideration. Normally I'm in the "fit as large as you can" camp, but there's a point when minimal clearance can pose its own problems. I find 32mm tires to be plenty comfortable (though I haven't much experience with 35mm tires).

nlerner

I've put a fair number of miles on both 32 and 35mm RH tires. I really like them both, but I understand that aesthetics are important and "skinnier" might look more proportional. Really, you can't go wrong with either (I have no experience with the 28mm version).

Kabuki12

I can’t understand how anyone else can recommend tire size for someone based on a picture of the bike. All the sizes you mention are fine , choose the one YOU like!

Classtime 

I have no problem recommending tire size (or chainring and cog sizes, or handlebar orientation, or saddle height, or saddle to bar drop, or even colors).

J_Climacus 

While I understand the sentiment, I'm not convinced that if Herse were alive and building today, he'd be using tubulars. But I'll be using latex tubes and very nice clinchers, so in my view I am doing justice to the builder's intentions (use good rubber). Besides, I can't find any road-worthy Clement Paris Roubaixs, which is what was mounted on this bike when I found it! (I have tried to source a display pair with no luck - if anyone reading this has an old set, let me know).

I'm curious what your thought process on 28s is. Is it just that the bike was designed for a snappier feel than 30+ tires can provide? That thought crossed my mind.

I tend to agree, but the tubes are not light gauge, at least as far as I can tell. The bike is noticeably heavier than my similarly-size gran criterium with a Nuovo Record group, and that has to be due to more than the rack and saddle. That, and the rear rack, has allowed me to consider bigger ties than I would otherwise.

I do not plan to use fenders on this bike. It was not designed for it, and I want to keep it as close to the spirit of the original as possible.

Sir, this is the internet. All we do here is give opinions, oftentimes bad ones!

El Chaba

I have one more opinion….absolutely gorgeous machine….

bikingshearer 

My guess is that the builder's intentions were that the bike be ridden, taken care of and loved. I'd say you are doing just fine in the "doing justice to the builder's intentions" department regardless which size tire you ultimately choose. Pick the one that fits and feels best to you.

MB33 

What year is that bike? It's a stunner.