Which tyres

[maarten]

I think this question must have been asked before but I can't find the information I am after.

I have a Specialized Globe bike and am very happy with it. I bought this instead of a road bike because I thought I would be going on paths etc. The reality is I have only stayed on the roads. I now want to alter the bike so that I can get a bit faster and think I should start with the tyres. I have 700x35c tyres on Alex Z-1000 700c alloy wheels. If I wanted to go to the narrowest tyres possible without causing myself any problems what size should I be looking at? Also which type would be best to avoid thorns and stones giving me a flatty on these country lanes?

 

[dantheman]

i have no idea which are best, or which are the thinnest you can get away with, however, if you can manage to get some of these:-

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...yId_31420_crumb_33980_parentcategoryrn_31420#

then get them, they were a bargain when i got them for 9 pound each, now theyre a fiver, its a no-brainer!!!

but availability is scarse!!!!

 

[ASC1951]

Most people reckon that 700c x 23 is as narrow as you want to go and certainly that is by far the most popular choice on decent roads. 25s might be better if the roads round you are very rough.

Opinions on puncture-resistance are almost as varied as on saddles. More important than the make is keeping out of the gutter, avoiding those stupid 20' "cycle lanes" which are never swept and keeping them at the right pressure. People new to road bikes generally don't put enough air in. You should be only just able to deflect them with firm thumb pressure.

 

[rich p]

I use Marathon Stelvios for maximum puncture resistance on the grtitty dirty winter roads.

 

[4F]

I have found schwalbe marathon plus's or continental sports contacts to be the best for puncture protection however they can both be a bit of a pain to fit on certain wheels.

 

[DLB]

i have just ordered another pair of 700x28 continenta contacts from wiggle (£18 a tyre with a free inner tube). Been riding with them for nearly 2 years and only had 2 punct@@@s. Would recommend them very much.

Even after 2 years they stil have a reasonable amount of tread left but with a puncure on Saturday they might be losing some of their puncture protection.

Some people have reported difficulties with getting some tyres on but i've never had a problem with the contacts.

 

[maarten]

Thanks for all of your recomendations. I am going to have a look at wiggle but I am a bit concerned about the width of the tyres I can fit on my rims.

 

[maarten]

Thanks User, that is just what I needed to hear. 28's it is then. I have my eye on the Continental Sport Contact Hybrid Tyre from Wiggle. They are usually very good so if I order tomorrow I might have them for the weekend.

 

[Gary D]

maarten,
According to Sheldon Brown's guidelines, the tyre width you should be considering for those rims is 1.45/2.0 x inner rim width.

If you search on the Alexrims website http://alexrims.com/for those rims (type in Z1000), it shows the inner rim width as 19,9mm.

Therefore, the tyre range would be 28,86mm minimum to 39,8mm maximum. I would guess that you should be OK with 28's at a push but 30's would be better.

Hope this helps,
Gary.

 

[maarten]

Thanks Gary, that is brilliant. I will try the 28's and see how I get on. I will keep you updated when I get them.

 

[Gary D]

Like I said, 28s are fine. I've used them for a few years. 30s are harder to come by, and 32s too big IMO.

User,
Sorry to be pedantic, but your bike is different to the OP's is it not. That's why I posted that info. What wheels does your bike have on it?

A quick google shows the crossroads were fitted with Alex DH-19 rims. These are a narrower rim than the Z1000 at 18mm inner rim width. Therefore the 28's you are running would definitely be OK.

Gary.

Gary.