2.4 inch tyres for cross country on narrow rims?

[reykjavik]

Hi guys

 

I am currently running 2.2 Conti X-Kings on my hardtail Scott scale 920. 

 

I have always wondered what larger volume tyres would feel like (how much more rolling resistance would they be and how much better would the grip be).

 

I heard, however, that for 2.4 in tyres, one needs to get 25mm wide rims instead of the stock 20mm that most XC bikes come with. Is this true or just manufacturer's recommendations that could be looked passed?

 

Do you have 2.4 in tyres on your bike with narrow rims? If so, do they give any problems (e.g. burping etc.)

 

Thanks in advance!

[reykjavik]

By the way, sorry if this is already dealt with in one of the threads. I couldn't seem to find it. If so, please point it to me... ;-)

[awesme]

I fitted a Vitori Goma (2.4) on my Stans Crest (650b/27.5) rims on Friday. Running it at 1.3 -1.4 bar

 

Loving it so far, mostly ride Thaba with this bike, Pyga OneTwenty650b

 

G

[NotSoBigBen]

I use 2.4 Conti's on my standard 29r' rims on my Single Speed Rigid riding Thaba and Rietvlei and have not had any problems - 28PSI rear and 23PSI front (I'm old and Imperial works for me    )

[Jewbacca]

Nobody 'needs' 25mm rims.

 

You will just have slightly more tire roll from them ballooning.

 

Is wider better? Yes, it really is. Is it necessary... no.

 

Guys were riding faster than most of us here with tubes and 20mm rims on their DH bikes a few years ago without any hassle.

 

Fit the tires and enjoy.

[Iwan Kemp]

Wider rims will help, but it's not absolutely crucial. Besides, 2.4 Conti's measure closer to 2.25 in "true" size so it won't be an issue. 

[reykjavik]

Great! Thanks so much for the responses guys!

 

Hypothetically speaking, if I was in the market for a new wheelset, what would you guys recommend:

1. An XC focused wheelset with normal (thinner) rims, but lighter weight etc

2. A more trail (even all-mountain) kind of wheel set with wider rims but heavier weight

 

Basically, I notice the general trend being: wider rims are better but not necessary, but would you sacrifice weight for wider rims if both wheelsets were the same price?

[Martin PJ]

I use the Conti 2.4's on front. Normal rim. I do run high pressures on tubeless. About 2 bar and I am quite light. I like to let loose on the downhills and it bottoms out with less.

 

The Conti 2.4's don't look that wide anyway.

[Wolf Lyle]

Great! Thanks so much for the responses guys!

 

Hypothetically speaking, if I was in the market for a new wheelset, what would you guys recommend:

1. An XC focused wheelset with normal (thinner) rims, but lighter weight etc

2. A more trail (even all-mountain) kind of wheel set with wider rims but heavier weight

I went with wider rims and will never look back!! just feel so much more stable! There are affordable options out there but it does boil down to budget .. Wide lightning's for example are wide and light . bout 8k for a set I believe

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Great! Thanks so much for the responses guys!

 

Hypothetically speaking, if I was in the market for a new wheelset, what would you guys recommend:

1. An XC focused wheelset with normal (thinner) rims, but lighter weight etc

2. A more trail (even all-mountain) kind of wheel set with wider rims but heavier weight

 

Basically, I notice the general trend being: wider rims are better but not necessary, but would you sacrifice weight for wider rims if both wheelsets were the same price?

Every time. 

[Rocket-Boy]

Wider rims will help, but it's not absolutely crucial. Besides, 2.4 Conti's measure closer to 2.25 in "true" size so it won't be an issue. 

This exactly, Contis are much narrower then their sizing suggests.

[Cruz Addict]

Great! Thanks so much for the responses guys!

 

Hypothetically speaking, if I was in the market for a new wheelset, what would you guys recommend:

1. An XC focused wheelset with normal (thinner) rims, but lighter weight etc

2. A more trail (even all-mountain) kind of wheel set with wider rims but heavier weight

 

Basically, I notice the general trend being: wider rims are better but not necessary, but would you sacrifice weight for wider rims if both wheelsets were the same price?

wider rims are the best investment i have ever made on my bike, i am running Easton arc 30's and they have transformed my bike, they are stiff and make the tires grip like sh*t on velcro.  the biggest advantage i have found is not necessarily on descents but on climbing, i am currently running an onza cannis on the back which i struggled to use tubeless on my WTB i23 rims, the sidewalls are like paper(  compared to a vigilante or proper thick casing tire anyway) and at 1.6-1.8 bar would flex to the point of rubbing on my frame on the back, now at 1.6 odd they are perfect, i have found that at lower pressure i have so much more control and that as i said on the climbs where my rear would typically slip when i put down too much power in a climb i find the tires now hold and i am able to maintain momentum much better than before.

 

as for the front i have a vigilante on and am super impressed. i was never fond of it on my i23's because it always felt like it was going to let go but on the arc 30's i am very confident and am pushing the limits more and more with every ride.

 

so to answer your question i think there are a number of very good wide rims available, for me its Easton as they are affordable as an alu and come in several varieties, 24mm, 27mm and 30mm internal width so you can choose how wide you want to go. the cheapest way to do a wheel upgrade would be to use your existing hubs laced to new rims, going from 20mm to 24mm for me wouldn't justify the money as i dont think you will really notice too much of a difference so would suggest looking at the 27mm or better yet the 30mm. all in you are looking at the cost of a decent wheel builders time, the rims and new spokes and nipples, at a guess  i would say 5k to be safe and you will feel like its a new bike.

 

 

i did plenty of research before i bought and found this article all the justification i needed:

http://reviews.mtbr.com/tech-why-wider-rims-will-improve-your-ride

 

sorry for the long winded response but that my 2c worth.

[dirtrider]

Wider rims . WTB I25

[arendoog]

I am used to the conti 2,2 xking  on a stans arch rim .They do the job well ,but i recently rode with a bike that had WTB 125 frequency rims with nobby nic  3,5 inch in front and rear .Totally sold on them .Also on a Hardtail you want a larger volume tyre for comfort .Vittorio Saguaro would be my rear tyre choice on the rims rather than a nobby nic .I have a nobby nic in front o my hard tail and am always surprised at how much extra grip it gives 

[NukeproofPeanut]

To answer the OP, you'll be fine running larger volume tires on narrow rims. you'll likely have to run them harder than you would on a wider rim.

 

I recommend reading: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Tech-Tuesday--Wider-Rims-Are-Better-and-Why-Tubeless-Tires-Burp-.html

 

But basically the wider rims changes the tire profile giving a bigger contact patch, allows you to run lower pressures without burping as pictured below: 

http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p3pb7486955/p3pb7486955.jpg

[droenn]

2.4 contis are a little bit narrower than other 2.4s BUT are very tall tyres. I run them on a 25mm internal rim (Flow EX) which gives them a good profile. I personally wouldn't go any narrower

 

As an aside it is funny how not long ago I used to consider Flow EXs as wide, now they look very narrow compared the i35s I've got on my other bike.