Tell me more ×
Bicycles Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for people who build and repair bicycles, people who train cycling, or commute on bicycles. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

My current bike tyres are 26 x 2.0 (Manufacturer fitted tyres)

Is it possible to fit 26 x 2.1 or 26 x 1.95 on these wheels or is this going to cause an issue?

share|improve this question
Similar to my question here, bicycles.stackexchange.com/questions/1935/… – Kibbee Jun 11 '12 at 17:07

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Slightly smaller is fine

There's really no possible problems going just a wee bit smaller. Even going much smaller would probably be fine.

Slightly larger is probably ok

With the original 26 x 2.0 tires on the bike, check the clearances. Remember that a 2.1 tire will be both wider and "taller". Look at how much space there is around the tire at the fork crown, where the tire is close to the downtube, where the tire passes between the seat stays, where the tire passes between the chainstays, where the tire gets closest to the seat tube... As long as there's room for a wider tire, it'll be fine.

It's really common to change out tires for slightly different sized ones.

share|improve this answer
3  
There isn't an aggreed upon standard of measurement. This means that one brands 2.0 size might be larger than another brands 2.1 size. The tread pattern may also make a difference. A trial fit is the only way to know for sure if you are making drastic changes. – mikes Jun 11 '12 at 20:30
@mikes: Good point! – freiheit♦ Jun 11 '12 at 20:31
while thinking of tread pattern keep in mind your current tread has been worn down a little. After riding for almost 30 years I have come to realize that the frame has a lot more influence on the tire size than anything else. -0.2" is almost always safe, +0.2 will not do much more than rub the frame, but too much will stop the wheel all together. – BillyNair Jun 12 '12 at 2:43

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.