What is the widest tyre you can add on a 23mm rim and why?

[bkulacs0410]

I had a bicycle with a 700c x 37c wheel with a 23mm wide rim and I always felt the roads were quite rough. After reading a lot online I realised that there's no point in having a suspension for London commuting. At the moment I am using a rental bike with a 700c x 47c wheels and the roads are a lot more comfortable. I was wondering if I end up buying the same bike I had before that comes with 700c x 37c wheels with a 23mm rim, what would be the widest tire I could possibly add to it?

 

[ColinJ]

If you were finding 37c too rough on London roads then your tyre pressures were too high!

That is a big tyre to use on the road. The 35C tyres on my CAADX feel incredibly comfortable.

 

[bkulacs0410]

If you were finding 37c too rough on London roads then your tyre pressures were too high!

That is a big tyre to use on the road. The 35C tyres on my CAADX feel incredibly comfortable.

Well, I always pump it to the maximum so it rolls well

 

[fossyant]

37c is a tractor tyre.

 

[fossyant]

Well, I always pump it to the maximum so it rolls well

That's not the answer though.

 

[bkulacs0410]

37c is a tractor tyre.

nooooooo. 37c is still pretty slim. As I said on the rental one is 47c and it feels a lot better

 

[fossyant]

nooooooo. 37c is still pretty slim. As I said on the rental one is 47c and it feels a lot better

Try 23/25c - I find them comfy on my road bikes. You've got a lot of factors - some tyres aren't very compliant, tyre pressure too. You can go bigger, what ever will fit in the frame, but bigger may not be better. May roll worse, may roll better. Depends on the tyre.

 

[ColinJ]

Well, obviously we know nothing then - that's us told!

 

[fossyant]

I don't think my MTB rims are much wider than 23mm and I run 2.35" tyres on them. If I run them on too high a pressure, even with 130mm suspension travel each end, they are way too harsh. Running at under 30 PSI allows comfort and grip - 40 PSI, oh no.... far too harsh.

Easy how the other extreme can be too harsh too.

 

[All uphill]

Well, I always pump it to the maximum so it rolls well

There's your problem then, as @vickster says. Higher pressure does not always equal less rolling resistance, but does reduce comfort.

I have 35c tyres on my daily ride. Lovely and comfy.

47c will almost certainly add a fair bit of weight.

 

[rockyroller]

if it doesn't fall off, it fits! ;-)

 

[keithmac]

I run 38c at 30psi for commuting, max is 75psi and it would be like riding on concrete tyres (or Tannus Hard..).

 

[Ming the Merciless]

When I have 37mm width fitted I run at 40 psi. Drop your pressures.

 

[Sittingduck]

Just keep the rental bike…

 

[rockyroller]

Drop your pressures.

keep saying that to my boss but he refuses to retire