Road Rims

[jonassterling]

Depending on my success selling some stuff, I may have to build up my 29" with some road wheels whike I save for some true mtn wheels. I have a set of about 20mm wide rims, and was wondering what that would do to the tire contact patch, roundness, etc.

Anyone try this themselves?

The only mod I need to do is space the rear to 135mm.

[wooglin]

Most people are running road rims on their 29ers. Shouldn't be an issue, although I don't know just how narrow 20mms are. If they're super narrow even for road rims then there might be a problem. Doesn't sound like it though.

[Cloxxki]

Most all road rims are 20mm. Really the under limit of what will work with 2.1" tires, though some lighter tires have good luck with them. You may need a bit extra psi to keep tires from rolling roo much, especially in the rear.
Unless you're 180lb+, the front especially will be good enough to have you enjoy the 29" experience some time before you upgrade to something wider. The heavier the road rims, the better, in terms of stiffness and strength, but that's logical.

[qtip]

Depending on my success selling some stuff, I may have to build up my 29" with some road wheels whike I save for some true mtn wheels. I have a set of about 20mm wide rims, and was wondering what that would do to the tire contact patch, roundness, etc.

Anyone try this themselves?

The only mod I need to do is space the rear to 135mm.

I used 'road' rims for a year on my 29er. I used Mavic MA3s, Open Pros, and a skinny Alex. I think they were all less than 20mm wide. I didn't have any tire related problems with that width rim and 2.1 motos.

I'm now using a 24 mm wide rim (alex td-17) and they look wider and I can tell a difference, but I don't think it's a big enough deal to worry about if you already have some 20 mm rims you can use.

[onespeedesq]

Not surprising, but I am confused. I am having this same question. I have a Surly Cross Check that has been cross, oney commuter and I am thinking of making a back road/off road tourer for the summer. I was wondering what the biggest, most MTB-like tires I can get on it. They are Dur-Ace hubs, with Open Pro rims. The frame says "fifties-fit-fine" on it. Is there really a 2.1" tire that will go on my bike? Any specific tires suggestions?

Thanks.

[Cloxxki]

I heard a report that a Continental Vapor 28x2.1 will indeed fit a Cross-Check. i intend to get some for mine some day. I once managed to get a WTB Motoraptor drag-free in an aftermarket CC fork, but in the frameset I bought, perhaps another sample of Moto, would rub violently.
Schwalbe Little Albert 28x2.1" might fit as well, many complaints in it's size. Not a fast tire, though, just way grippy.
Buy a Conti Vapor, start with one if you will, chance it will fit the fork I rate at 99%.

If you don't wreck a rear Open Pro in CX riding, chances are it will survice riding with a fatter tire as well. My rear Open Pro's can only handle road use at 32h.

Fatties Fit Fine, should be seen as a pre-29" statement I think. Widest tire beofer the '99 Nanoraptor indeed does fit, with room to spare.

Let us know about the Vapor?

Hope this helps,

J

[onespeedesq]

Thanks for the help.

I was going by my LBS at lunch time anyway, so I aksed a guy there. He had his Karate Monkey on hand, and we compared them. He has it set up to commute with a "narrow" Mutanoraptor (44c). We looked it up in a shop manual they had and it looks like it will fit. He said he thought the largest I could go was 45. But, that's still pretty big.

Thanks again.

BTW: I have Michilen Mud 30c's on there now.

[Cloxxki]

IMO, the Mutano's are tiny. Barely 40mm, even on the knobs. Fits with room to spare. Not a cush tire.
Even the 42mm IRC Mythos semislicks on the Fisher at the LBS yesterday looked big in comparison. Popular short track race tire for Fisher team racers also.
If you truly look for the biggest your frame will take, the narrowest 2.1" should be it. The Vapor, maybe the Little Albert, and probably also the rare Maxxis HighRoller, which never made it to production. I'm not talking mud bogs of course, but general dry riding. 44 Mutano's don't qualify for FFF :-)

[onespeedesq]

Cloxxki:

Ok, but here's my dilemma. They don't carry any of these tires and they would have to be ordered. I eyeballed his Mutanos and they look like they will fit. I'm alittle hesitant to order the Vaoprs to find out they don't. Are you pretty sure the Vapors will fit the Cross Check frame? The manual says a 45 is max.

[Cloxxki]

Can't guarantee anything for teh specific Conti and frame you'll be matching, but for sure extra volume is worth it. Depending on how dirty you plan to get, the Conti will or won't have enough breathing space.
The Mutano rolls nicely, but really requires good psi to not bump rims arounde very corner, making it very uncomfortable compared to 29" meats.

If I never special ordered anything, I'd half only half a bike now, in stead of a dozen.

[Thor]

I put a pair of Mutano Raptor 44s on my Cross-check once - they fit but that's the biggest tire that would work on that frame. There was just enough room in case the rim got a little bent. Anything bigger and you'd have to keep your rims perfectly true at all times or risk rubbing on the chainstays.

[onespeedesq]

That's kinda what I'm thinking. But, in mulling this over I have come up with another idea. I have a Kona Project 2 fork with plenty of clearance in front. So, another option is to put something fatter, like the Vapor, on the front (where I want the cush) and the Mutano on the back. Easy enough.