Tyre Terminology

jimcameron
jimcameron Posts: 199
edited April 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi Guys,

I'm looking to get some tough road tyres for touring. I'm going through Labania this summer so i'm thinking i might have to sacridfice a little bit of speed for 'puncturefreeness'.

Can anyone recommend some decent hardgoing touring tyres.
Also could someone tell me what the numbers mean in tyre terminiolgy..

i.e 700 x 28c , 700x32c is the 28 and 32 the height or the width? And what is the c all about?

Cheers
Jim

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Its the width in mm.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    700 is the wheel size - the standard road bike size is 700

    28 is the tyre width, in mm, as cougie says.

    your choice depends on:

    - how tough you want them
    - how heavy you can go (tyre weight)
    - what terrain you are riding on (road or offroad)
    - (and to some extent) what rims you current have

    Schwalbe Marathons are very tough, but they are pretty heavy too. Conti do some good touring tyres too.

    For lighter road work, have a look at the 28mm Conti 4Season.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I couldn't possibly comment, I have no idea what the roads are like in Labania. Sounds exotic though.
  • jimcameron
    jimcameron Posts: 199
    sorry it was meant to say Albania. I think alot of the road will be pretty poor, mostly gravelly tracks with patchy tarmac going on.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Sorry, just me being facile. Sounds like the kind of roads I learned to ride on round a farm. Smooth tarmac onto marble sized gravel with a sharp left hand bend and a ditch full of triffid-sized nettles courtesy of the effluent from the pigs. I'd want at least 28mm tyres for that kind of stuff if you have clearance.

    Not wishing to tempt fate, but my 25mm Conti GP 4 seasons have proved pretty tough on Suffolk lanes through the winter
  • Poulsy
    Poulsy Posts: 155
    If you arent in a hurry and want to enjoy yourself, I would sacrifice the weight penalty and go for the security of the Schwalbe Marathons.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Marathons
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Schwa ... 360007834/

    Marathons Smartgaurd
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Schwa ... 360007837/

    Conti Contact Touring
    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle ... tact.shtml

    and Touring Plus
    http://www.conti-tyres.co.uk/conticycle ... plus.shtml

    all different weights, 28mm should be fine unless you are carrying lots of stuff, then you might want a bigger air pocket.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • jimcameron
    jimcameron Posts: 199
    Conti contacts look like the best option then weight wise. Balancing between protection and weight of tyre.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Another recommendation for Schwalbe Marathons - I have a pair that are 4+ years old and spend most of the time on gravel, towpaths and the like and I've not had a puncture on them yet. They're the basic, wire version that I got on e-bay for £8 each. Conti touring tyres aren't tough enough IME.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..

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