Slick tyre size for Hybrid bike rims

[Pauluk]

I'm using a spare hybrid bike on a turbo trainer and I want to fit a completely slick tyre on the rear wheel. This means going down to a 700 X 28C from my current 700 X 35C.

According to sheldonbrown.com this should be ok for my inner rim of 17.5mm, but all the bike shops I have spoken to say a 28C is too small/narrow.

I will only be using this bike on a trainer. Does anybody know if a 28C width tyre would be ok.

 

[Peteaud]

Ive looked at going smaller on my hybrid and 28 was the lowest i can go from 35's

 

[Andy_R]

What rims are they?

 

[Pauluk]

Not sure what rims they are but I'm guessing they are nothing too special, alloy with inside rim dimension of17.5mm. The current tyres are 700 X 35

 

[ohnovino]

Continental do a tyre called "SportContact Reflex" that's virtually slick and is available in 700x32c and even 700x37c.

 

[Andy_R]

If your inner rim is 17.5 then you should be able to go down to 28 no problem

 

[HLaB]

Pauluk, If you're existing internal rim width is 19mm or less, 28's will indeed fit according to Sheldon and he admits his figures are on the cautious side; if you are only intending to use it on the turbo, I'd certainly give it a go and see how you get on.

 

[TheDoctor]

I've used 28mm tyres on a hybrid, with a rim of around that size.
If it's too narrow, you'll get a rather hard ride and the cornering will be awful, but neither of those are really a consideration on a turbo...

 

[Pauluk]

Thanks for all your replies. Yes I've seen the Continentals online and I like the look of them but they are not totally smooth. I've seen a 28C slick tyre (Michelin Dynamic Sport Tyre http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=61962) that I like the look of but it says the bead is TR. Could anyone tell me what TR means.

 

[Pauluk]

Just a quick update. I've fitted a Continental Ultrasport 700 X 28C to my back wheel. Seems to fit perfectly well and runs great on the turbo trainer, very quite now