Fork-it Posted July 5, 2021 Share Hi, I am still busy with my single speed commuter project and I need to consider tire options. I don't have old road tire lying around so I am looking at buying a basic set of road tires. My thinking is to rather go with a wider tire for commuting. Does anyone know what is the widest I can go on a steel Hansom road frame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knersboy Posted July 5, 2021 Share On my old Hansom I have 25mm tires, at least for the rear I don’t think I can go wider than that. Fork-it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fork-it Posted July 5, 2021 Share 8 minutes ago, Knersboy said: On my old Hansom I have 25mm tires, at least for the rear I don’t think I can go wider than that. Thank you for the input. Where does the width become a problem on the rear wheel, I suppose where the chainstays start narrowing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knersboy Posted July 5, 2021 Share Yeah with 25mm tires on the rear I only have just less than 5mm space on either side. Removing the rear wheel is a bit of a pain too. Fork-it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MORNE Posted July 5, 2021 Share 14 minutes ago, Fork-it said: Thank you for the input. Where does the width become a problem on the rear wheel, I suppose where the chainstays start narrowing? There, under inside the brake calipers (if you are going to run them) or under the fork crown usually. Fork-it and DJR 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJR Posted July 5, 2021 Share The old steel frames vary a bit, but I have mostly found it possible to fit a 28 mm on the rear and a 32mm on the front. Don't settle for a 25mm until you have tried in a wheel with an inflated 28mm at least. It makes a BIG difference in comfort and handles rough road, potholes and stones much better than a 25mm. It also sticks better in the wet. I run Continental Gatorskins in the above sizes on 3 old classic bikes and a set of Thickslick urban tyres from Rook Cycles on a single speed. They may say 25 mm but definitely have more volume than that. Nothing beats the Contis for toughness though, and they last as well. Edited July 5, 2021 by DJR Fork-it, Hairy, MORNE and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebra Posted July 5, 2021 Share Can confirm I put 28mm tires on for Eroica, on a steel Alpina, no rubbing/touching whatsoever, even under out-of-the-seat climbing, so zero problem on this bike. heve left them on subsequently, done 2 or3 road rides, they work well… IIRC, I need to let air out of tires only to REMOVE the wheels, since my brakes do not have the over-cam opening device. Edited July 5, 2021 by Zebra DJR, Hairy and Fork-it 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MORNE Posted July 5, 2021 Share as DJR mentioned though...25mm is not 25mm is not 25mm. The sizes vary between brands unfortunately. I have a set of tan wall Good Year Eagle 25C on my vintage bike and they are noticeably smaller than the Pirelli 25C that I have as well. The Pirelli 25c measures closer to 28c...so i'm convinced a 28c Pirelli will measure close to 30c +. My point is....if your frame can take a 28c...that doesnt mean EVERY 28c will go in there. DJR and Fork-it 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebra Posted July 6, 2021 Share to ADD to what Morne says, when I put the Roubaix Pro tires on my MTB, they were marked 700X30/32c... I then asked store salesman why they would be 30/32c, and not one, or the other... he replied depends on rim width, which would change effective diameter/profile of the tire... makes sense, I guess! DJR, Hairy and Fork-it 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted July 6, 2021 Share On 7/5/2021 at 5:57 AM, Fork-it said: Hi, I am still busy with my single speed commuter project and I need to consider tire options. I don't have old road tire lying around so I am looking at buying a basic set of road tires. My thinking is to rather go with a wider tire for commuting. Does anyone know what is the widest I can go on a steel Hansom road frame? Let your LBS know your concerns before you buy the larger volume tyre, and ask them before purchase if (a) you can swap them out for a narrower version should they not fit or (b) fit the larger version first in the LBS and swap out right away if they do not fit. Fork-it, Zebra and DJR 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffsVintageBikes Posted July 7, 2021 Share Just to add my 2c worth. It often depends on the tubing used on the Hansom. From Reynolds 501 and upwards the geometry tends to be more race orientated and the clearances less for wider tires, especially if you own a frame that was custom made for a client. The cheaper tubing like 025 can often accommodate up to 32C tires. DJR, Zebra and Fork-it 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fork-it Posted July 7, 2021 Share 7 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said: Just to add my 2c worth. It often depends on the tubing used on the Hansom. From Reynolds 501 and upwards the geometry tends to be more race orientated and the clearances less for wider tires, especially if you own a frame that was custom made for a client. The cheaper tubing like 025 can often accommodate up to 32C tires. This helps, thank you. How do I find out where on the scale this frame fits in? Can I send you a pic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffsVintageBikes Posted July 8, 2021 Share Post the photo's here and let us have a look. See if you can find a tubing decal on the down tube or seat tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fork-it Posted July 8, 2021 Share 3 hours ago, BuffsVintageBikes said: Post the photo's here and let us have a look. See if you can find a tubing decal on the down tube or seat tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddy Posted July 9, 2021 Share A Hansom is not a Hansom is not a Hansom and what fits on one is unlikely to fit on all the others My suggestion is that you try a few borrowed wheels and see how they fit. Front and back are also likely to be different. Maybe your bikeshop can help. Fork-it and DJR 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Never too many bikes Posted July 9, 2021 Share I agree that you should try different size tyres already mounted on a wheel. 25 would be a little light for commuting and so if you can go bigger do so, the other advice about 28 being so much better is correct, I have found that the back of the clamp for the front changer (on the downtube) also rubs, but on the old frames with horizontal rear drop outs you can move the wheel backwards a fair degree. I run 28 on an old Le Turbo (same era as the Hansom - did 2017 Léroica - no punctures or wheel damage) and manage a 34 on a Le Jeune - its a bit "over-tyred" though. I bought it that way and intended it for Léroica and just never downscaled it. Its great on broken tarmac, gravel etc. Fork-it 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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