Help with tyre sizing

[harrow1977]

Hi All

I have this bike here:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products...ort-disc-2013-mountain-bike-ec040961#features

If I look at the wheels, they say: ETRO 622 x 20c

I wanted to buy some Schwalbe Marathon Plus, but there seems to some confusion about the size. The Evans Customer Service people told me I should go for a 700 x 23 or 25 max, whereas in the shop they are saying that I should have 700 x 35 as 25 would be too narrow on the bike.

Any ideas?

 

[TheDoctor]

General rule of thumb is that your tyre wants to be between 1.5 and 2.5 times wider than the rim.
I'd say you want a tyre that's 30-50 mm wide, so your bike shop is bang on. I wonder if Evans have got the wrong end of the stick and think that your current tyre is 20mm wide, rather than the rim?
Anyhow, an MTB is going to look silly with a 23mm tyre on it!
EDIT - I see from the specs that your bike came with 2 inch tyres - 50mm - so my earlier diagnosis stands.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Either will fit on your rims - it's up to you whether you want a narrower or a wider tyre, depending on the type of riding you do...

 

[harrow1977]

Hi

Thanks for replying! Ah, starting to make sense now :-)

I actually changed the tyres that came with the bike to the Kenda Happy Medium that are 29" x 2.1" - I like my tyres quite wide :-)

So I can actually go wider in that case? And go for: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_569615_langId_-1_categoryId_242553

Is that correct?

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If you look at the chart on page 7 of this PDF you'll see the tyre widths recommended for the various size rims. The smallest you'll safely be able to fit to 20mm rims is approx 32mm so it's got to be the larger sizes.

I think that @TheDoctor has it right and that the customer service people have got the wrong end of the stick.

 

[harrow1977]

Thanks guys!

In which case, I think I'll go for a 38 (the max I can see Schwalbe doing for that tyre).....To be honest, this is my first bike since childhood days and I'm now used to the wider tyres. I use it for commuting, mainly along a canal path, so I think the wider tyres would be useful here.

 

[sreten]

Hi
Thanks for replying! Ah, starting to make sense now :-)
I actually changed the tyres that came with the bike to the Kenda Happy Medium that are 29" x 2.1" - I like my tyres quite wide :-)
So I can actually go wider in that case? And go for: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_569615_langId_-1_categoryId_242553
Is that correct?

Hi,

Not really as the 38mm marathons are nowhere near as wide as 2.1" / 53mm tyres.
Having paid through the nose for the KHM's (they are not cheap) what is wrong with them ?

rgds, sreten.

 

[harrow1977]

Hi there

The reason I wanted to change to the Marathons was because I've had a couple of punctures on the KHM's which gets frustrating. Unless you know of a wide tyre that is anywhere near as puncture proof as the MT's?

 

[harrow1977]

Just came across these!

http://www.nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/Schwalbe-Marathon-Plus--29/300/949

If I got for the 1.75" (44mm) then I guess that's the best I'm going to get?

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Thing is all my tyres feature puncture protection and I haven't
had a puncture since I started cycling again last Christmas.

£52 for pair of tyres is a bit steep for me and my budget bikes.

But no, I don't know any tyres as puncture proof as Schwalbes,
and 3 of my 4 tyres are budget Schwalbes with Kevlarguard.

YMMV but unless you want bomb proof tyres IMO the Liteskin :
http://www.nextdaytyres.co.uk/details.aspx/SCHWALBE-SILENTO-MTB-29/178
1.75" Schwalbe Silento tyres would be my choice for value.

* Liteskin is thin sidewalls for great rolling. Not as tough as standard
(double thickness, 2 ply) Schwalbe sidewalls, but they roll better,
and Kevlarguard so far has been enough protection for me.
Reflective sidewalls too, not much not to like at the price.

Schwalbe do make some very good cheaper tyres IMO. Sometimes
IMO much better value than tougher / more expensive offerings.

rgds, sreten.

* My folders rear tyre is a Schwalbe liteskin raised centre section slick tyre,
the Tracer, intended for trailers, and as you need two, it retails at a very
budget price, but its a fabulous rear tyre for a folder at the going price.

 

[MrJamie]

For canal paths and stuff like that, I prefer the 'tour' version, same thing just a little more knobbly on the sides.

http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k385/a12469/marathon-plus-tour-28-42-622-reflex.html