Three points to keep in mind when changing the size and thickness of your bicycle tires
Posted at: Aug. 27, 2021
Tire customization is a fun way to change the riding experience for a cost of about $100. When replacing tires, there are three points to keep in mind when changing the size and thickness of your bicycle tires.
Table of contents
Sponsored Link
Check the clearance of the frame and fork!
The most important thing to consider when changing tire size and thickness is clearance.
Clearance is the space between the frame or fork and the wheel, and if this space does not match the tire size, the tire will hit the brakes or interfere with the fork.
With rim brakes, tire clearance is small.
Be especially careful with rim brake type bicycles, because in many cases, tire clearance is taken to be small due to caliper brake standards. On the other hand, disc brake type bicycles, which are becoming more common in road bikes and MTBs, may have wider tire clearance, so you have a wider choice of tires.
Also, if you have a mudguard on your bike, you need to take into account that the larger tire may interfere with the mudguard in some cases.
If the tire interferes with the frame or other parts of the bike, you will not be able to ride on the bike, and the tire will not be usable. Check the tire clearance of the frame and fork beforehand to avoid buying the wrong tire and wasting it.
Let’s check the compatible size of the wheel.
Bicycle wheels have a set of tire sizes that they can fit.
For example, Shimano’s WH-RS010 entry grade wheel for road bikes has a recommended tire size of “23-622 to 32-622”, which means 23C to 32C.
It is unlikely that you will be equipped with tires thinner than 23C, but tires thicker than 32C can be a good option, as the recently popular gravel tires are available in 35C and 38C.
It is only a recommendation, so it may not be completely useless, but keep in mind that it may not work.
Check the compatible size of the tube!
As the tire size changes, the size of the inside of the tire also changes, and so does the compatible tire tube. In the case of tubes for road use, the tube standard often changes around the 28C mark.
In terms of lineup, the following are the standard cases.
18C-28C
28C-32C
28C-40C
28C-45C
Tubes for 23C and 25C, which are standard for road bikes, are not compatible with larger gravel tires such as 28C and 32C.
When replacing tires, keep in mind that the tube needs to be replaced depending on the tire size.
Here is a list of things to keep in mind when changing the size and thickness of your bicycle tires.
It turns out that there are a lot more things to be careful about than you might think, even just changing the tire size. Tire replacement is an affordable upgrade that can be done for a few thousand yen, but make sure to check carefully beforehand if the tire is compatible with your bike so that you don’t end up buying the wrong tire for nothing.
The booster simplifies bead raising, which is the most difficult part of tubeless installation. We have compiled a list of air pumps with booster(boost functions) that are reassuring to have one.
Many "hookless rim" wheels are lightweight and cost-effective. What is hookless? We have compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of hookless, as well as points to keep in mind when choosing.
Tubeless tires have seen a dramatic increase in the number of users over the past few years. Even with tubeless and tubeless ready tires, punctures cannot be reduced to zero. The following is a summary of the causes of punctures and how to deal with them.
When trying to change tire thickness on a road bike or other sport bicycle, it is important to know what tire size the wheel will allow. In this article, we will show you how to find out which tires are compatible with your wheel based on its specifications.
We have compiled a list of 12-speed chains that can be used with Shimano road bike and MTB components. Also about chain compatibility with chains from manufacturers other than Shimano.
Mounting adapters for bicycle disc brakes are essential when changing calipers with different standards or rotor sizes. This section explains the types of mount adapters, how to recognize them, and the model numbers of Shimano's mount adapters.
There are two types of lock rings for center locking disc brakes, inner serration and outer serration. The following is a summary of the differences and how to select the right one.
Mechanical (mechanical) disc brake calipers are ideal for ease of maintenance and as an upgrade from rim brake components. Models from major manufacturers are listed below.
With the popularity of gravel road bikes and the spread of disc brakes, the choice of road bike wheel size has become not only the standard 700C, but also 650B. In this issue, we will look at the differences between 700C and 650B, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Disc brake rotors are an unassuming part, but they have a significant impact on the effectiveness of disc brakes. We have compiled a list of the different types of rotors, how to select one, and the lineup of rotors from major manufacturers.
Brake pads are installed on the calipers of disc brakes. In fact, there are multiple types in terms of material and shape. The following is a summary of disc brake pad types and how to select the right one.
For those who will be servicing their road bikes, we have compiled a list of hex wrench sizes that are commonly used for road bike maintenance and that you should have available.
There are two types of bicycle tire tubes, latex tubing and butyl tubing. The following is a summary of the differences between the two and which one you should choose.
Binding pedals allow you to ride faster and more efficiently on your road bike. In this article, we will thoroughly explain what to look for when choosing binding pedals.
Cleats are the parts that connect binding pedals to shoes. Cleats are only one part, but each manufacturer has its own characteristics and differences. They are actually important parts that are linked to usability and their merits and demerits.