Another hello and question re 29' MTB tyers on 700c wheels

lovepasty

Hi all, great forum and far friendlier and less bitchy than the angling forums I normally frequent!

Like many others I recently bought a bike on the C2W scheme, a hybrid Gary Fisher Kaitai (2010 model).

I'm living in Somerset on the levels with close access to the mendips, quantocks and exmore, having got plenty of road miles under my belt recently i'm ready for something more challanging and have reserched and ear marked a few easy trails to try out.

I realise my bike is not a full on mountain bike but should be OK for the easier stuff (? comment welcome), but my question is that I have read that I can put 29' MTB tyres on the 700c wheels that are on my bike...it this right and if so any recommendations for good general purpose off road tyres to get?

Cheers

Mike

Paul 8v

29" is just the new fancy way of saying 700c when it comes to mountain bikes so a 29" tyre should fit in theory just check the width of the tyre againt maximum reccomended for the size of the rim, always best to go to your local bike shop and check it out just in case. The bike looks fine for light off road duties, I'm not sure what the trails your talking about are like, there's bound to be someone on here that does though...

lovepasty

Thanks Paul, very helpful

Went for my first off road skirmish in the quantocks yesterday,great fun and the bike is more capable than me at the moment which is reassuring, although some chunkier tyres would help a little

wheezee

Also bear in mind the clearances between tyre and forks and stays. Just because they fit the rims, doesn't necessarily mean they'll squeeze through the frame.

Paul 8v

Allow a certain amount of clearance for mud as the tyre will increase in size quite a bit when it's clogged up, as it's a hybrid I doubt it would have a massive clearance and it's a real pain when your wheel gets so uch mud on it that it won't spin (Trust me!)

lovepasty

Cheers guys, looks like I have at the moment at least 3/4' clearance everywhere with the 700x38 tyres I have on now...should be OK for 2.2' MTB tyres?

Paul 8v

I'd check it with a mates wheels with the same size of tyre, 2.2 is pretty chunky my Caldera only just manages a 2.3, it'd be nice if they did fit as having a load more air underneath you does make a difference

Shaggy_Dog

Good choice of bike, the Dual Sport range by Fisher is essentially their 29er hardtail frame modified slightly to make it a practical hybrid. The changes are rack and mudguard mounts, moving the rear brake calliper inside the rear triangle to allow easier fitment of said rack/guards, a shorter travel fork and shorter headtube to put you in a more aerodynamic position and the fitment of cyclocross tyres instead of 2.1" 29er tyres. The issue with fitting 29er tyres is indeed mud clearance, we struggled to fit a 2.2" tyre into the dualsports with adequate mud clearance so I'd recommend sticking to 1.9 or 2.0"

lovepasty

Cheers SD, I'd measured up and thought 2.2 might be OK so I must be underestimating how muddy this game can get!!

Thanks for the advice though...very helpful

Paul 8v

If you live somewhere with a high clay content in the soil then it gets pretty muddy! A lot of american bikes haven't got great clearance for mud unfortunately

Shaggy_Dog

If you're willing to remove the mudguard bridge by the seatstays it will take 2.3" tyres, it's not structural but will leave a mark

lovepasty

Thanks for the advice on this one guys, fitted some 2' MTB tyres today, feels more sure footed but its loads harder on the road! Still it'll be worth it in hills on Saturday