In article <
[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> John McDowall <jmcd@nothanks> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> > So, I'm thinking of sticking some heavy(ier) duty tires on my creaky winter road bike so it can
> > handle slightly rougher terrain.
> >
> > I had thought about cyclo-cross tires, but am not sure about clearances. It's a Cannondale CAAD3
> > frame. Do you think I could fit a set of knobblier tires in there?
> >
> > Pictures (60Kb in total) here:
> >
> >
http://www.jmcd.nu/bike/
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > John
>
> You'd probably be better off fitting *fatter* tires, as opposed to *knobby* tires. A larger air
> chamber is what you want to cushion the bumps and blows of rough terrain.
>
> At a guess, you've got 700 x 25C tires mounted now. You *might* be able to fit 700 x 32C tires-
> which is plenty for most hard surfaces. Whether or not you can use 700 x 32C tires can't be
> answered from your pictures- there's also the matter of clearance at the chainstays. You may be
> stuck with 700 x 28C tires.
>
> Someone who actually has a CAAD3 frame will probably have better answers than me.
>
> Jeff
>
My tough old Conti Top Touring 28's are 24mm max width and rise 22mm from the rim, mounted on Mavic
MA2 rims which are about 20mm rim width (brake surface to brake surface). They were probably 23mm
high when new
- they have a beefy tread. You can get them in 32's if you have a bit more room than that and they
will roll over coarse gravel well. The 28's are OK too.
Bruce