Need help with tyre sizes!

[crookedmouth]

okay so i'm using 26x1.6 continental sport contact tyres, They are great for on the road but I would like to take the bike out into the woods so will need some tyres with bigger threads, but when i look for tyres in that size (26x1.6) it only shows me sport contact ones, what exactly is the 1.6 about? i'm guessing its the rim size, could I used any other size or would it have to be 1.6's? Anyway any help at all will be much appreciated! thanks in advance guys!

 

[Kestevan]

Have a read of this:

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/wheels-and-tyres-a-beginners-guide.117272/

 

[crookedmouth]

okay thanks for the link, I read it and it says that I can increase/decrease by a little bit, but would anyone have any advice on how far I could go? - I looked at 1.50's but most of them are still smooth tyres, would 1.95 be pushing it?! Sorry <---complete noob

 

[Cyclist33]

Exactly what make, model, year and size bike have you got?

 

[crookedmouth]

I have a Marin Novato 2010 Hybrid, it has a 19'' frame.
http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/marin/novato-2009
Any idea?

 

[MrJamie]

Marins website suggests the rims are WTB 24 http://www.marin.co.uk/2010/bikepage.php?ModNo=10NO#spec whatever that means.

When I was recently replacing my wheels, I read that disc rims dont follow the ratio of rim to tyre that people refer to because the rims are differently shaped as they dont need flat braking surfaces on them. For example Sheldon Brown suggests my 17mm ("29er") rim would take at max 37mm tyres, but the manufacturer states theyll take 50mm+ tyres. Also I think you need to consider frame clearance if going much wider and knobbly.

Id probably just check that the tyres have plenty of clearance and buy some knobbly ones around the 1.75-2.00 mark, but someone cleverer might be along to offer expert advice The tread pattern much more important on mud than the tyre width though IMHO.

 

[Cyclist33]

probably wtb sx24 which is the second model up in their budget mtb range. ive got the cheaper dx23 on my marin mountain bike. they should be fine for at least 2.2" tyres. but you dont need them that wide.

generally speaking the narrowest proper knobby tyres would be 1.8"... something like the panaracer fire xc comes in a 1.8 and served me well in the past. have a look around.

 

[crookedmouth]

Ahh okay, i am looking at a pair of panaracer fire xc's on ebay going quite cheap so will probably take your advice on them, and yeah sorry my bad they are 24'' rims I wrote 26'' at the beginning.
Thanks to everyone for your help, really appreciated!!!!

 

[MrJamie]

Ahh okay, i am looking at a pair of panaracer fire xc's on ebay going quite cheap so will probably take your advice on them, and yeah sorry my bad they are 24'' rims I wrote 26'' at the beginning.
Thanks to everyone for your help, really appreciated!!!!

I think you were right the first time

I could be wrong but i think the 24 is the external width in mm of the rim, but a 26" wheel. It's nice of wheel and tyre sizes to mix up metric and imperial to make things more exciting!