cyclocross tyres & wheels

Bigdod
Bigdod Posts: 108
edited May 2008 in Workshop
I have a Planet-X Uncle John flat bar . It came with 700x23 tyres .The rim interior is ( I think )13-14mm .I would like to fit chunkier tyres eg 700x35 cyclocross tyres for light off road use .However , the rim appears to be too narrow to take this size of tyre .Any suggestions for a reasonably priced set of wheels which could take this size of tyre ?

Comments

  • yogi
    yogi Posts: 456
    I think you'll find the wheels will take 35 mm tyres. I'm using Mavic Reflex's with 38c tyres no problem.
    http://yogi.terapad.com
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    A regular road rim will take a cross tyre up to 38mm no problem
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Bigdod
    Bigdod Posts: 108
    thanks guys . Unfortunately I tried fitting a 700x35 Continental Speed King today to the Planet-X wheels on my bike but they are just too wide for the rim . When I inflated the tyre , it ballooned out where the inner tube valve sits .It reaaly does look like a wider rim is required . I had a look on Sheldon Brown's site and this suggested that a 700x35 on a 13.5mm rim would not work .Any other thoughts ?
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    Just at the valve? That sounds more like you've not seated the tube or the tyre properly than that it's a mismatch in size. I'm sure in theory normal narrow road rims are too narrow for cross tyres, but in practice a lot of people use them given the alternatives are limited and heavy - plenty of cross riders on factory wheels for instance.
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    HI there.

    Did you buy wider tubes as well? That may be your problem.

    I run 35mm cross tyres on open pro road rims with no problems.

    Cheers, Andy
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • Bigdod
    Bigdod Posts: 108
    thanks for the comments . I did buy the larger tubes - should I have stuck to the previous narrower ones ?
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    13.5mm does sound like a very narrow rim, the Open Pro is 19.6mm wide (18mm interior) and I have other road wheels at 20.8mm.

    Open Pros are only specced to go to 28 but I have run 35 without difficulty.

    I could understand how you might have issues with 35 on a 13.5mm wide rim- are you sure though that it is this narrow? Rims are generally measured from edge to edge although you also need the interior dimensions to choose the rim tape.

    You would need wider tubes for 35 definately.
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    Interior widths are conventionally measured between the hooks, blorg - hence an OP is actually ~13.5mm.
  • blorg
    blorg Posts: 1,169
    Fair enough, well as I said I ran 35s on an Open Pro and a Richey Road wheel and they were fine- so if your wheels are comprable dimensioned you should be OK.

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