tyre help needed

[lance]

I have a 2012 specialized sirrus hybrid and it came with nimbus flakjacket 700 x 32c tyres.

I am doing a long road cycle so can anyone recommend tyres I can switch to for the bike?

I dont even know what 700 x 32c 32.622 stands for (the size?)

Would a change to the sport armadillo form specialized be worthwhile?

 

[MrJamie]

The 700 is the diameter, 32 the width in mm. 622 and 700 are the same thing, 622 is just the ISO measurement and is also the same as 29" or 29er diameter tyres. Some more info here http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

I have no idea about which tyre would be best suited though

 

[lance]

Great that's helpful thanks. I guess the thinner the tyre and the less tread the faster but less stable. If I was to move form a 32 to a 28 would I need new wheels or can wheels take different width tyres?

Sorry about my ignorance!

 

[lance]

I see on that website it states "A general guideline is that the tire width should be between 1.45/2.0 x the inner rim width" so I'll give it a measure and see.

 

[ianrauk]

Great that's helpful thanks. I guess the thinner the tyre and the less tread the faster but less stable. If I was to move form a 32 to a 28 would I need new wheels or can wheels take different width tyres?

Sorry about my ignorance!

Going from 32 to 28 you really wont notice that much difference.

 

[MattHB]

Great that's helpful thanks. I guess the thinner the tyre and the less tread the faster but less stable. If I was to move form a 32 to a 28 would I need new wheels or can wheels take different width tyres?

Sorry about my ignorance!

You don't want 'tread' on a road tyre anyway the slicker the tyre the easier it cuts through water to make good contact. Only wide tyres like motorised vehicles need tread to allow the water to escape.

If the 32's are stock then a 28 would fit no trouble at all, probably even less. Your main advantage with narrower tyres will be weight and rolling resistance but to notice you'll need to go to 25, although there are some tyres (like my 35mm sammy slick CX) that roll amazingly well despite a wider profile, so it doesn't always follow.

A wider tyre will ride more comfortably too as it has more built in 'suspension' added to the fact they generally run on lower pressures.