rim width vs tyre s...
 

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[Closed] rim width vs tyre size

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Im off on a long multiday ride next week.

The terain should be dry with a mix of road, strada bianca and singletrack easy mtb trails.

Im on a rigid 29er and it was my plan to run Gravelking 43s with Mrs B using WTB riddler 45s. However we have just been given some Vittoria Mezcal 2.35 graphene.

Whats the minimum internal rim width that will make these work ok?

thanks

Ian


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 11:17 am
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Based on the terrain and if you'll be carrying luggage (I guess so?) so pressures will be a bit higher, and that we used to use 2.3s on Mavic 717s not that long ago .. maybe 19mm? Rim width minimums are only really a concern if you're trying to lower pressures or ride really hard. For mixed terrain touring I just don't think it's as much of an issue. I'd prefer a 25-30mm rim but wouldn't worry about a 19mm.


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 11:45 am
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Rim width minimums are only really a concern if you’re trying to lower pressures

This. I've ridden open pros (15mm internal IIRC) with 2.1s on them fine.


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 11:48 am
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MA40’s with 2.1’s back in the day.
Apparently the rounded profile gave a better ride back then.

13.5mm internal apparently.


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 12:37 pm
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Ideally the internal width should be 40-55% of the tyre width.

But if it is narrower than that you will get by, just the handling will not be ideal.

Back in the day the fashion was to run rims that were far to narrow on MTB's. The X217/517 (17mm internal width) was popular and although people often ran 1.9-2.1" tyres 2.3" wasn't uncommon.
The narrow rims forced people to run higher than ideal tyre pressures, and the handling was a bit crap, however people got by so you're probably not going to have any problems caused by your rim width unless you try to push things to the limit.


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 1:38 pm
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thank you, thats great!

All have fun riding in this epic weather!


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 1:48 pm
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~10 years ago I used to run 26x2.35" on 19mm internal rim widths, these days I sometimes run 29x2.35" G-One Speeds on the FatNotFat wheelset, which are ~20mm internal rim width...

But I don't run silly low pressures for fear of them unseating, typically 35-50PSI (which is their max), usually ~5+ extra on the the rear.


 
Posted : 20/04/2019 2:54 pm

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