Wider tyres for a road bike to go off road a little

chris19802

Hello, I'm just getting into cycling, so my question is very probably very basic, but I haven't been able to find an answer on Google...

I am doing an Edinburgh to Newcastle ride in a few weeks, which I am told will include some off-road sections such as loose gravel paths, etc. The problem I have is that I only have two bikes, one of which is a courier bike with only 8 gears, which I think will be too hard work! The other is a Giant SCR 3 road bike, which I don't think will cope with the off-road sections. I have been advised that if I put wider tyres on my road bike (if there is enough clearance) it might be able to cope with the rougher stuff. Does anybody have any experience with this? I don't want to damage my rims by taking it off road. I was told that armadillo tyres with a 28C width might be okay... any opinions? I would try 32C tyres but I don't think they will fit between the forks.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

desweller

It's a long ride (~100 miles?) so chances are the unmetalled bits will still be either very short or smoother than you're expecting or both . I regularly take my 23c-shod bike down the local canal towpaths. I wouldn't worry about it much unless you're running soft race tyres. Just keep your tyre pressures high to avoid pinch flats.

EDIT: Although, having seen this perhaps 28s would be in order!

chris19802

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, after looking at that link I'm even more worried now! Although it does look like some of the bikes on the pics there have thinnish tyres on.

Still think that 28's would do the job? Or should I be looking to bite the bullet and take the courier bike?

cougie

Road tyres can do amazingly well really. What about a half way house of 25mms ?
Good for road and a bit more air for the offroad too.

Are you carrying any luggage with you ? If not I reckon 25mms will be fine.

Monty Dog

FWIW 25mm tyres have 60% more volume than 23mm so are certainly worth trying - the clearances on Giants can be tight so certainly try before you buy.

skyblue337

If you want a compromise between 25 and 28 prevailing opinion from people who've measured tyres once inflated seems to suggest that Continental 28's come up a little small and Michelin 25s are a little larger than 25mm. I've got Micehlin Pro Optimums on my commuter and I haven't measured them but they do look a decent bit larger than the 24mm Open Paves on my good bike

Butterd2

25mm Conti 4 Seasons were the biggest tyre I could fit and handled the cobbles of Flanders in Feb very impressively given a 16st rider and at times luggage too.

chris19802

I will not have luggage as we have a van with us for the luggage. I'd gotten it into my head that I would need 28s or bigger for anything even slightly off-road, but it sounds like I might be thinking too cautiosly.

The bike has 25s on at the moment, but they are the cheap tyres that it came fitted with, so taking into account what everyone has said I might buy some 28s with puncture protection, continentals if they tend to measure a little small. Sounds like that should do the trick.

I might just pay for the shop to fit them this time too, just so that they can check the clearance for me before fitting.

Thanks again for all the help, I feel much less worried about it now!

unixnerd

A chunky 28mm tyre such as the Schwalbe Marathons I run on my tourer will take almost anything. They're a lot heavier than most other 28mm tyres (about 450g) but ride wonderfully and are pretty robust. On something like that I'd run around 80psi for your route. IF they'll fit your frame....