Off road tyres?

JonWill
JonWill Posts: 5
edited April 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi there,

Haven't userd this forum or a while, as I've stopped commuting. However, I've moce to the country and want to use my hybrid off road ... it has 700 28C wheel - can I fit wider tyres to it? And has any body any rcommendations - i know I should just buy a mountain bike, but I've covered thoudands of miles on this one and want to keep using it!

Thanks for your help?

Best wishes,

Jon

Comments

  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    have a look on ebay for cyclocross tyres - small knobbles and 32mm wide. Good for mild trails.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The width of tyre your bike can accept is more down to frame clearances and the type of brakes fitted. You can probably fit some 32mm cross tyres on there, but might find it a squeeze for 37mm. For off road you'll need about 5mm mud clearance between tyre and frame / forks otherwise you might find yourself grinding to a halt. For something bombproof, look at Schwalbe Marathon Cross - heavy, pricey but very robust.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • billy whippet
    billy whippet Posts: 171
    be wary that most cross tyres have terrible puncture protection. Also, if it's a hybrid, I doubt you'll be doing more than fire trails, dirt tracks and canal paths - which means you don't need knobblies. You should consider a 32mm touring tyre with good protection - much nicer to ride on than a cross tyre. This should be fine for most of the stuff I imagine you'll be doing.
  • JonWill
    JonWill Posts: 5
    Thanks for all your advice - cloearance shouldn't be a problem - as it's a hybrid it has an odd set up with v-brakes, and no mudgaurds.

    Tossing up between the 700 x 32 CONTINENTAL TOP TOURING 2000 or the continental twister cyclo-cross 700 x32c bike tyre. Any thoughts? Worried about the puncture resitances - I'e been using Specialised Aramdillos for a while with no puncture problems!

    Cheers,

    Jon
  • pottssteve
    pottssteve Posts: 4,069
    I ride 32mm Specialized Borough cx tyres which came with the bike. They are robust, grippy and quite comfortable. I've heard the Schwalbe Marathon ones are very good.
    Head Hands Heart Lungs Legs
  • billy whippet
    billy whippet Posts: 171
    Had twisters for a while on my cross bike, but only for v muddy winter races - on anything other than v slimy mud, they are incredibly slow...
  • Hudster
    Hudster Posts: 142
    Unless you are planning on cycling across muddy fields, then I'd go with touring tyres. I use Schwable Landcruisers as my on/off road tyres. While not the nicest to ride, I rarely get a puncture with these and they seem to provide reasonable grip off-road including mud.

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