Tyre Sizes

[tillson]

I am wanting a set of tyres for road use with a mountain bike. The bike currently has Schwalbe Rapid Rob MTB tyres fitted, size 29x2.25, which will be great for off road use, but I will want to use the bike on roads for longish periods as well. I have Schwalbe Big Apples in mind for road use.

Winstanleys are selling Big Apple tyres with dimensions given as 28x2.15, 28x2.0 and 28x2.35. I assume that 28 can mean, 29, which can mean 700, which can mean 622? Which width will I need? Again I am assuming that the Big Apples need a similar frame clearance to an MTB tyre? So would a 28x2.0 be a safe fit on the existing rims of the MTB?

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Schwalbe City Jets have low rolling resistance for road use. They have a very triangular profile so that there's very low contact resistance in a straight line - similar to road-bike tyres, but when you lean over, they present a much wider contact area for better traction. They're not available in 700c though.

 

[Clockwise]

I am wanting a set of tyres for road use with a mountain bike. The bike currently has Schwalbe Rapid Rob MTB tyres fitted, size 29x2.25, which will be great for off road use, but I will want to use the bike on roads for longish periods as well. I have Schwalbe Big Apples in mind for road use.

Winstanleys are selling Big Apple tyres with dimensions given as 28x2.15, 28x2.0 and 28x2.35. I assume that 28 can mean, 29, which can mean 700, which can mean 622? Which width will I need? Again I am assuming that the Big Apples need a similar frame clearance to an MTB tyre? So would a 28x2.0 be a safe fit on the existing rims of the MTB?

Thanks

This has just about all the info you will ever need on sizes.

Tire Sizing Systems

Yes you are right about them all meaning/being the same in that way but they can be wider or more narrow.

 

[steven2002]

Balloonbikes - technology
Also worth a look..
Steven..

 

[tillson]

Schwalbe City Jets have low rolling resistance for road use. They have a very triangular profile so that there's very low contact resistance in a straight line - similar to road-bike tyres, but when you lean over, they present a much wider contact area for better traction.

I've seen the City Jet tyres and like the look of them, but I don't know if they will fit onto my MTB rims which currently carry a 2.25 width tyre. I think the largest City Jet will be too small. My wheel rims are RFR ZX24 whatever that means and it's a 29er so most of slick tyres aimed at MTBs are for 26" wheels.

 

[tillson]

I have finally navigated my way through the tyre and wheel rim sizing system and I have to say that it is a complete chaotic mess. The situation seems to have evolved over the years with different countries adopting their own methods of describing the size.

For anyone else looking to change the tyres on their bikes, these two guides might be useful.

Sheldon Brown

Schwalbe