Very helpful video, thanks for providing illustrations with the internal rim measurements along with the strengths and weaknesses of tire sizes. Now I feel I have more reasons to upgrade my wheel!
Super helpful video! I just measured my internal rim widt, and it came out to only 18 mm (running 2.1 tires), always thought it was at least 20 mm. I usually just ride around town and xc, but usually pretty aggressively, so no wonder I feel like my bike wants to oversteer, it's because of all that wheel flex! Now wider rims are on top of my upgrade list
Some of these generalizations are unsubstantiated, and actually disproven in a more scientific comprehensive test, here on CZcams. But still 95% helpful. thanks for the effort.
Just bought a set of DT Swiss XM1501 Spline One 29ers 25mm inner and 30mm outter to be used with 2.4 tires. This video is making me second guess my purchase!
Ghosty haha don’t second guess! That isn’t the worst ratio and there are a lot of factors to consider. I def wouldn’t go any bigger on the tire size, but see how it feels. If you are rolling the tire often, then you either need a wider rim, or a narrower tire.
Fantastic review! I am in scratching my head since yesterday when I encountered my 2nd time blown out tire in the same spot of the local trail in my place. I am running 17mm internal width rim with 2.25 tire and now thinking of replacing to 30mm internal width in order to give way to 2.4 tire size hoping that it would solve the issue.
MARLON JEFFREY S MARQUEZ thanks man! 17mm internal is crazy small, so the upgrade to 30mm should help a ton! You can also run lower pressure, making the riding smoother. Let me know how it goes!
17mm and 2,25" not a good combination, I just went from 19mm (or maybe 21 not sure but it was narrow) on 2,2" to 30mm and it has so much better damping of vibrations and grip that it is more like riding a fat bike lol :) Now the same tires as before is so wide that I am not sure if I can fit anything wider on the bike... I can run a lot lower tire pressure but even with really hard tires it had better damping of vibration then with my old rims with so little air that you had huge chance of pinch flat.
Very informative. Thanks for explaining the meaning of the different numbers on tires and the importance of different tire sizes. Lots of knowledge that is simple to overlook but just as simple once explained in such a direct fashion. Thanks again.
Great info. I’m relatively new to MTB as well and have learned a lot by scouring forums, but you talked about a lot of stuff that usually goes unmentioned in vids on these topics.
Cool vid!👍 I don't race but did a lot of research in wheel widths and went for a 30mm/56 teeth 240's hubs all DT Swiss with 2.4 tires and cushcore and tubeless.
@@MTBTravelReview one thing about Cushcore: you really don't know if it's working until you change your tire and see all of the "would be pinch flats" marks on the thing! Then you appreciate it! At least I do!
I got new rims made in Finland going from 21mm to 30mm (they took about 120 Euro for the job and new spokes as I already had the rims and used the old hubs). The difference was huge on my 25kg heavy fully damped electric mountain baike, now I can drive at full speed over rocks stiking up 5cm that before would give me horrible pain in my wrists (because of they are damaged by arthritis). I am surprised how much better wider rims with the same 2,2" tires was and it also gave much better grip when going in and out of deep tracks in the road and general confidence in the bike. Now riding is fun again and I will have to adjust the suspension stiffer to avoid bottoming that out as I ride a LOT faster now :)
I really don´t know how much width are my rims, bc it was given but i do know the tire width is 2.00, the tire have a ok grip but in future i will choose a 2.40 on front
Weather in UK I have lots of racing and wide tyres in wet/loamy conditions are worse as narrow is better to dig through for grip. 2.35 and stiff side walls. My 2020 e/bike came with 2.6 tyres and it was totally vague.
this is very informative, thank you so much! i have a pair of 27mm 29er rims and planning to put 2.4s on them. Is this set up ok? pls advice...really appreciate it. CHEERS!
Fuzz Fadel glad it helped! You’re welcome! The 2.4s would work, but I wouldn’t go any bigger. I run 2.3s in 30mm. Personally I wouldn’t go higher than with 2.3s on your rims, but that’s just me.
I run 2.5" for my FRONT Arch MK3s with no prob., Stan's say's it's within range and they're 26mm internal width: www.notubes.com/arch-mk3-rims. I run 2.35 on the rear with higher pressure.
Dave Watt nothing wrong with that! Depends a lot on your riding style as well. If you are more xc, than that will be fine. I am a very aggressive rider, so I prefer a wider rim for strength and less of the bulb. I would be likely to rip that 2.5 right off of a 26mm internal rim., but that’s just me!
itz_4dy I have 30mm rims and the largest tire I run is a 2.5 up front. So by pushing it, I mean that a 2.5 is def the widest I would go on a 28mm rim. Again, it’s not like it won’t work, it’s just might not work well if you are an aggressive rider hammering corners and such. I hope that helps.
Any update with what your using now? This is very informative and not a lot talks about this. Maybe you can also add up about tyre pressure with different wheel width and rim width.
What's your opinion of (27.5) 28mm or 30mm internal width rims with 48mm tires? What do you think the final tire width would be? An extra 2-4mm at around 50-52mm tire width? Thanks!
Also, I am considering 48mm Compass Switchback Hill tires. This is a slick tire. So no worries about flattening out knobs causing more rolling resistance.
Personally I wouldn't run anything smaller than a 2.3" tire on a 28-30mm rim. 2.5" would be better. A 1.9" tire will likely be pretty squared out, but its all personal preference.
I thing between 2.35 and 2.5 is the ideal width . The perfect intermediate tire is around 2.35 / 2.4 - on bone dry anything bellow 2.35/ 2.3 is no good , and in reverse - if it's wet or little muddy , anything over 2.4 is no good for the traction as well . IMHO .
What would be the recommended rim width to ride with 2.3 - 2.4 tires? That's the widest I use during winter, and I was just thinking about upgrading my wheels when I found this video, perfect timing from the Universe!
Hello, I currently have 30mm internal width rim. With 30mm internal width what size tyre can i use? Can I run 2.6 inch wide tyres on 30mm internal width (without getting too much of a light bulb effect)?
fernandorat I disagree and think that a 2.3” rear tire is ideal for my 30mm rim, but I do appreciate your opinion! It is all a matter of opinion, as well as the individual tires construction, and riding style at the end of the day. Cheers man!
Depends on the tire design. A lot of 2.3-2.35 tires are not designed for 30mm internal rims. In my experience, going from 30mm down to 25mm for my 2.35 rear was a big improvement as the profile became more rounded, allowing me to lean the bike more, and more easily while still having the knobs biting. It was simply too flat/stretched on the 30mm rims. I think you're generally better off going with a tire and rim size range that is designed for each other.
Less surface contact with the ground=faster roll through/pedal. This isn't true. It's basically common knowledge at this point that a wider/larger tire is faster up to a point. This is true of road tires as well. It's why everyone is running 25's now as a baseline instead of 23's, and usually you don't want to max the pressure on road tires either as it's actually faster if the tire conforms to the uneven road surface, and you have more grip. Similarly, I'd like to see an XC racer who's running 2.0's or 2.1's at this point. They might be lighter and have a smaller contact patch, but they aren't going to roll as fast. I'd send you to Bike Radar's channel to get a reasonably solid test of this, in their video here: czcams.com/video/fGv329v8-vI/video.html
Zach Wagner that being said, the video that you shared is by no means scientific, or proof of anything, as they stated multiple times. This video displays the fact that in most circumstances grip is going to be a huge factor as we don’t normally race super smooth dirt tracks. They by no means state that wider is actually faster based solely off of surface contact, but that there is a sweet spot between traction and speed where a wider tire is better suited. I believe that wider also gives you a bit more confidence which in the end equals speed. Fun to watch and learn a bit more though! Thanks again!
@@MTBTravelReview Absolutely, never said it was. But I think if you do some due diligence around the web, you'll find that it's pretty well a solid conclusion. There are many tests to be found that espouse similar results. I mean if wider tires are faster in a roll-down test on a fire road, and then faster on a fire road climb, then assuming you also get more grip from them on a more technical singletrack trail, I think it's a pretty obvious conclusion. Obviously tire tread/composition/weight and all that plays a part as well. I've also found, just subjectively, that wider tires are faster. Depending on the terrain you ride you can also get away with a lighter, less aggressive tread on a wider tire, and then you get the bonuses of the bigger tire's roll without the weight penalty, and you still have plenty of grip. There's a reason even DH racers have started gravitating toward 29er wheels; bigger rolls faster. A similar width 29er tire is going to have a larger contact patch than a 26er tire (or 650b), but it's going to be faster.
@@dirragon1 agreed on all points! Personally, I have always preferred wider because I race enduro and traction is king, but that being said I think that it remains true in every type of riding as we are at the whim of the course. As for the weight, for faster XC riding I'll run smaller knobs on the rear and for chunkier race courses I'll run meatier knobs. At the end of the day I think that fitness will and technique will always in over bike weight/capability. I know guys that ride 42lb tanks and are insanely fast both up and down. Love these conversations though. Gotta keep the brain churning to improve!
@@MTBTravelReview I hate those guys. The worst is when you're on the road bike, suffering your ass off on a wicked steep climb, and some dude twice your weight and twice your age who looks like he just drank a gallon of Budweiser passes you like you're standing still. Truly humiliating. Lol
I'm building new wheel sets. I weigh between 94kg and 100kg. I ride trails, aggressive XC, hard cornering, and decent/short downhill sections but lots of climbs too I also ride all mountain style on my Giant Anthem alluminium 27.5. I am willing to get me 2 sets of wheels from DT-SWIss but, I'm confused because, I don't know what the difference between 25mm and 30mm inner rim width looks like. The widest tire in my collection is a 2.35 ardent race, the rest are 2.3 and 2.2 and that's about as wide and as thin my tires get. Now, in order not to get that bulb shape or burp tires at low pressure, what inner width should I consider for the anthem both front and rear?
kay poly up to you at the end of the day, but I would go with 30mm internal. Rims will be a bit tougher and last long during those short DH sections. Also fit perfect with your tire sizes
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks for replying even though the answer came after I had already placed the orde. No qualms though, just like I thought, your suggestion matches my choice, I went with the 30mm, even though the 2.2 ish tires might look too square on them but, considering I will be sticking to 2.25 rears and 2.3 and 2.35 front from now on for XC applications and wider tires for my enduro bike that I am about to buy, I think the 30mm rim choice will be the best bet in a long run. Something that I could run on an XC/trail bike like an anthem and whatever enduro I get in the near future without needing new sets of wheels. Thanks.
I have 30mm 29er rims .. Can I run 2.5 front and 2.3 rear ? Is that a good setup for just climbing and riding down fast through my local hiking trails/ few mtb trails
Ketut Rama Wijaya should work fine! That is about as big of a rim as I would go with a 2.3 tire personally though. Def recommend running the 2.5 up front too, but totally up to rider preference and terrain.
So i bought a Bike last year and now i have to buy new tires. I just realize they put maxxis highroller 2.5wt on 25mm rim, and on the back i have 2.4wt. WT are for wider rims. I don't know why they put WT Tires on such small rim. I don't have another option then put 2.3 (non WT) on back and front, or maybe buy a front wheel with 30mm rim and put 2.5wt on that. I feels little awkward riding 2.5wt on 25mm rim, and the tire has strange shape.
That is interesting that they put a 2.5 WT tire on a 25mm trail rim. You are likely getting a little bulb effect, but I’m sure that you won’t really have an issues unless you are schralping corners and berms. Def recommend upgrading to 30mm rims for those tires or downsizing the tire width.
@@pupoje what pressure are you running? You should still be able to run low pressure. If you are worried about low pressure, I highly recommend Cushcore inserts. They are a game changer and provide rim protection, added dampening, and sidewalk stability for cornering.
@@pupoje that’s about 22 psi. A very low pressure, but fine if you aren’t hitting anything too big or bouncing off of big rocks. I run 24-25 psi rear and 27 psi front. You could still run similar pressure on a 2.3 inch tire, but again, I’d recommend trying out a tire insert like cushcore or similar.
@@MTBTravelReview i got new bike today 2019 trek fuel ex 8 . My old rig was a salsa el mariachi single speed. Think the new bike should be good improvement. Thanks for the video 😁
Lautaro Araya 622-13 is a 13mm internal rim primarily used for road bikes, so no. A 2.35 tire is way to big as it is for a much wider mountain bike rim.
Nikolajs Rubaniks if you don’t ride very aggressive you will be fine, but if you hit corners hard you could roll and pull the tire off of the rim. Also easier to slice the tire on a rock if it is very rounded. Sidewalls are more exposed.
@@MTBTravelReview question though, I've seen rims specs where they have inner and outer width. Which one to look for considering the kind of tire to use?
Great video. Been looking for info around this for weeks. Question- I have Spank Vibrocore 24mm internal 28mm external rims and 2.35 Michelin tires. is this ok? Website says Max tire size is 2.30. will the .5 make a difference?
You are definitely going to have some bulb effect there. If it works, it works, but I’d recommend bigger rims next time if you are running that size tire.
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks. I guess i just have to run with this for now. So far so good though. Spank website saya maximum tire size to be used is 2.30. hoping the .5 difference doesnt make much of a nefstive impact. Keep up the great work
Hey man, appreciate the video. Quick questions. I ride a 2.4 up front with a 23mm inner width and I just cased my rear wheel of the same dimension. I took it to the shop and unbeknownst to me they ordered me a much bigger wheel at 32mm and put the same 2.4” on the back. Is it okay to run a 23mm up front and a 32mm in the back? Also is a 2.4 okay on a 32 or should I go up to a 2.5/2.6? And finally should I put the 32 wheel up front or leave it in the back? Thank you ahead of time!!
A few questions there. haha. A lot of this depends a lot on your riding. Generally speaking, 30-35mm internal rims are much more common than the smaller 23mm, so I would lean towards 32mm for durability and stability purposes. Doesn't technically matter if front and back are different sizes. Your rear wheel will take 10x more abuse than the front, so you are fine, but personally having two different rims sizes would annoy the hell out of me. As far as tire size goes - with a 32mm internal rim, i'd recommend tires from 2.3"-2.5", so 2.4 is totally fine, but your call which. I like 2.3 or 2.4 rear and 2.5 front, but thats just me.
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks for the quick reply! I really like the 32mm, and I am a little annoyed with having two different sizes, so maybe ill go ahead and get a 32mm up front as well. Thanks again for your help!
a A rRB b uzU Z yes. You want a larger tire up front because that is your primary traction for cornering and steering, and a narrower tire in the back because that tire does not pick lines, just follows
@@MTBTravelReview 2.3 on 32mm rim :/ I'll stay with this setup till I'll have enough money to change the front rim on smthn wider :P Btw I was joking about the fork cuz it will fit up to 3", but the rim I have is 24mm 🤷♂️
For a XC TRAIL bike like the Marin bobcat trail 3 with 25mm inner width rims and 29x2.25 tires, would you put 2.4 inch tires, for riding uphill and downhill single tracks?
Hi I am going to be buying a new trek fx 2 disc in the next two weeks. I am going to be upgrading my wheels to a set of dt swiss rr421 asymmetric rims. I will be running schwalbe marathon 700x35c tyres. The rr421 has a inner rim width of 20mm . This bike will be used on ashfault roads and city streets 100% of the time. Is the the 20mm inner width the best option I am looking to get the best proformance and ride quality out of these rims and tyres. Or should I be looking for a different rim with a different inner width. Can you please let me know what is the difference between a asymmetric and symmetric rims. Is one better than the other and I don't if I have to pay more for the asymmetric rims if it is worth it. Thanks for reading my questions and thank you for any help you can give me.
Congrats on the new bike. 20mm rims with 35c tires are perfectly fine for street riding as the rims won’t take the beating that they would on the woods. You could go up to 38c wide tires, but not a huge difference, just a little wider. I would stick with what you have. Sounds fine to me!
Also, asymmetric rims basically have off centered spoke holes, which is said to make them stronger. Won’t make a huge difference for you, but doesn’t hurt to have more durable rims.
DANIEL NEYRA sounds like you are listing your tire size. You need to know you internal rim width to know the size tire you can run. Watch the video again. It shows you everything you need to know.
I have two ARC 27mm internal width rims ready to do a wheel build and am hoping to put two Continental Mountain King 2.4'' tyres on them, i will mainly be doing XC/Enduro and not many hard hitting jumps so was wondering if this would be a good choice.
Steven Smith id say the sweet spot for XC riding is 2.1-2.3, but that is just my opinion. 2.4 certainly won’t kill you. I highly recommend the Maxxis aggressors for XC riding if you ever change tires. Would be primo in 2.3. Fast with a ton of grip
Thankyou for the really quick reply, ive only just got back into MTB and just have ideas without seeing the final picture but was only concerned with whether the rims would be a little small in diameter. You have been a great help though regarding tyres as i had been looking at the smaller width aggressors but wasnt sure as i said on the 27mm rims i have already purchased.
HA! 2.8 too much drag ?? nope. I ride surly Edna's and I dont consider that too much drag :- ) And I get a better workout than if I was on a 2.3" I'm pretty sure . I do like the 2.6" though for "skinny" tires !!
What if i bought 2.4 tire what rim should i get or if buy 2.30 tire what rim should i get too please help me choose i dont have much experience so im asking for your help thanks!
I have a Totem Victor E-bike and I just want to know how much wide the rim can fit? My bike have 26 x 1.95 tires, and I want replace it with a wider tire at least 3".
I recommend reaching out to the manufacturer to see what the largest tire size you can fit is. Any rim size should fit, but there is only so much tire clearance on any bike.
hi man, few questions, i will be quick i’ve got 21mm internal front rim width, i know those stuff with tire bending and all od that what if i put 2.5, does the tire on the top looks the same on 21mm inner, and 35mm inner rim width? is the tire the same width uptop on 21mm rim and 30-35? it looks like its a bit rounder on top with smaller rim width, while lookin at wider rim, it looks like its flat on top (threads) So does 2.5 look like 2.3 on narrower rim, or its just illusion and can a 21mm rim serve a purpose of enduro/freeride bike with 170mm suspension on some races? I have a 36mm rear rim, which is good, but that front rim is giving me headaches. Dunno if i can ride that front wheel to races, + im not really into spending a lot of money
So i have a set of mavic 717 and a set of 519 is this 17mm and 19mm I'm running 2.1 on the 717 and the bike with the 519 rims came new fitted with 2.3 tyres. Could i fit 2.4 on a 519 or will this have less advantage. I'm only really going for looks i don't really ride off road so much any more
From what I understood the answer to your question is 'NO'. The 52 and 57 numbers should be the same and if they are not then your tires will not fit properly leading to malfunction and problems in stability. Your tire could dislodge from its beed and come off the rim at high stress times of riding. That is what I gathered from this video
My current rims are 21mm inner width. I want to put on a new set of tires that are 29" x 2.3, will that be fine, or will it be too big? If needing to get wider rims, how do I know how wide of rims I can put on my bike?
Thank for this video. I refreshed my memory back in many years go about tire and rim selection.
Very helpful video, thanks for providing illustrations with the internal rim measurements along with the strengths and weaknesses of tire sizes. Now I feel I have more reasons to upgrade my wheel!
vg1979 happy to help!!
Super helpful video! I just measured my internal rim widt, and it came out to only 18 mm (running 2.1 tires), always thought it was at least 20 mm. I usually just ride around town and xc, but usually pretty aggressively, so no wonder I feel like my bike wants to oversteer, it's because of all that wheel flex! Now wider rims are on top of my upgrade list
Happy to help!
Some of these generalizations are unsubstantiated, and actually disproven in a more scientific comprehensive test, here on CZcams. But still 95% helpful. thanks for the effort.
Such as?
Do you have a link to the video you are referring to?
Very helpful. Thank you!
No problem!
Im here because I cased my rear wheel and need a new rim. Thanks for an easy to understand and informative video!
Ash Weber-Campbell rims come and go, but I’m glad I could help! Keep riding!
Just bought a set of DT Swiss XM1501 Spline One 29ers 25mm inner and 30mm outter to be used with 2.4 tires. This video is making me second guess my purchase!
Ghosty haha don’t second guess! That isn’t the worst ratio and there are a lot of factors to consider. I def wouldn’t go any bigger on the tire size, but see how it feels. If you are rolling the tire often, then you either need a wider rim, or a narrower tire.
This helped out a lot, now I know what I'm looking for now, thank you
Mark Sepulveda happy to help!
I can't thank you enough for this video.
Fantastic review! I am in scratching my head since yesterday when I encountered my 2nd time blown out tire in the same spot of the local trail in my place. I am running 17mm internal width rim with 2.25 tire and now thinking of replacing to 30mm internal width in order to give way to 2.4 tire size hoping that it would solve the issue.
MARLON JEFFREY S MARQUEZ thanks man! 17mm internal is crazy small, so the upgrade to 30mm should help a ton! You can also run lower pressure, making the riding smoother. Let me know how it goes!
i have 19mm on 2.25 will it be ok? :)
17mm and 2,25" not a good combination, I just went from 19mm (or maybe 21 not sure but it was narrow) on 2,2" to 30mm and it has so much better damping of vibrations and grip that it is more like riding a fat bike lol :) Now the same tires as before is so wide that I am not sure if I can fit anything wider on the bike... I can run a lot lower tire pressure but even with really hard tires it had better damping of vibration then with my old rims with so little air that you had huge chance of pinch flat.
Very informative. Thanks for explaining the meaning of the different numbers on tires and the importance of different tire sizes. Lots of knowledge that is simple to overlook but just as simple once explained in such a direct fashion. Thanks again.
Appreciate the feedback and compliment! Cheers
Man, I live a 3 minute walk from November and I had no idea it even existed!
PJ Halpen one of the best wheel builders around!
MTB Travel Review great to know! Most likely going to be switching hoops this season, so now I know where to go!
Great info. I’m relatively new to MTB as well and have learned a lot by scouring forums, but you talked about a lot of stuff that usually goes unmentioned in vids on these topics.
Adam Meade I appreciate it man! Glad I could help shed some extra light.
Perfect explaination
Suscribed!!!
Thanks!
Great .This was very interesting .Got a montague paratrooper and thinking about hybrid wider tyres .Thanks again.
Thank you very much, very important information
I'm running Stans Arch 26mm rims with Bontager XR4 2.4" tires. Awesome setup
One of the best vids i've watched on this cheers 👍
Thank you!
I run 30mm dt swiss e1900 spline wheels and schwalbe magic mary 27,5"×2,6" tyres front & back
thank you was looking everywhere
before i watch did he say how to find out how big tires i can put on my bike? i got a trek x caliber 7 and im lost F
They say my rims are too wide but you proved them otherwise haha
This info is very helpful, thank you for sharing sir. from Philippines
Happy to help!
Very helpful. Thanks.
Plater glad to hear it!
Cool vid!👍 I don't race but did a lot of research in wheel widths and went for a 30mm/56 teeth 240's hubs all DT Swiss with 2.4 tires and cushcore and tubeless.
Solid set up 👌🏼
@@MTBTravelReview one thing about Cushcore: you really don't know if it's working until you change your tire and see all of the "would be pinch flats" marks on the thing! Then you appreciate it! At least I do!
@@Dano71R very true! Just switched mine over and it looks like it was stabbed to death in a horror film. 🤣
@@MTBTravelReview 🤣🤣🤣
great video buddy , , just the info I needed..subscribed thankyou
Adventure Trails MTB many thanks! Glad I could help
Very informative! Thanks man!
alche che glad I could help man! Thanks!
Thanks 👍 🥂
THANSK FOR THIS VID!!! Helped me a lot!!!
short n sweet! thx 🤙 Good luck for your races ^^
Thank you!
Great explanation!
You already a pro.
I got new rims made in Finland going from 21mm to 30mm (they took about 120 Euro for the job and new spokes as I already had the rims and used the old hubs). The difference was huge on my 25kg heavy fully damped electric mountain baike, now I can drive at full speed over rocks stiking up 5cm that before would give me horrible pain in my wrists (because of they are damaged by arthritis). I am surprised how much better wider rims with the same 2,2" tires was and it also gave much better grip when going in and out of deep tracks in the road and general confidence in the bike. Now riding is fun again and I will have to adjust the suspension stiffer to avoid bottoming that out as I ride a LOT faster now :)
Great video!
Jake Braaps thanks man!
Cooool 😎👍👍👍
Great video and well presented
I have 29 inch HM mountain bike. With 2.10 swalable and I ordered 2.25 gladiator tires. Will it fit.
did it fit?
Very educative video. Thank you!
Luis Madrid happy to help!
Dude, I have the exact same wheel set up. This was my personal hypothesis and always get grief. But looks like you are doing the same thing. Thank you
nice video.....you with bike and I am with motor bike.
As a reference 19mm = 3/4" 14mm=9/16, 13mm=1/2"
I really don´t know how much width are my rims, bc it was given but i do know the tire width is 2.00, the tire have a ok grip but in future i will choose a 2.40 on front
very informative.. thanks dude
Thanks for the support man!
For weinman 32mm rims. Can i use maxxis assegai 2.5?
Weather in UK I have lots of racing and wide tyres in wet/loamy conditions are worse as narrow is better to dig through for grip. 2.35 and stiff side walls. My 2020 e/bike came with 2.6 tyres and it was totally vague.
this is very informative, thank you so much! i have a pair of 27mm 29er rims and planning to put 2.4s on them. Is this set up ok? pls advice...really appreciate it. CHEERS!
Fuzz Fadel glad it helped! You’re welcome! The 2.4s would work, but I wouldn’t go any bigger. I run 2.3s in 30mm. Personally I wouldn’t go higher than with 2.3s on your rims, but that’s just me.
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks so much. I'd probably run 2.35s on those rims then. 😊👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾 Cheers!!!
I run 2.5" for my FRONT Arch MK3s with no prob., Stan's say's it's within range and they're 26mm internal width: www.notubes.com/arch-mk3-rims. I run 2.35 on the rear with higher pressure.
Dave Watt nothing wrong with that! Depends a lot on your riding style as well. If you are more xc, than that will be fine. I am a very aggressive rider, so I prefer a wider rim for strength and less of the bulb. I would be likely to rip that 2.5 right off of a 26mm internal rim., but that’s just me!
cheers
Your the man ty for the info
2.5 and 2.4 tires to 28/33 inner and outer width rims, does it works ?
Abner Torres 2.5” tire on. 28mm internal rim is pushing it, but should work in theory. All depends on type of tire and rim + trial and error.
@@MTBTravelReview by pushing it do you mean the 28mm is too big or too small for 2.5inch tires. Thanks.
itz_4dy I have 30mm rims and the largest tire I run is a 2.5 up front. So by pushing it, I mean that a 2.5 is def the widest I would go on a 28mm rim. Again, it’s not like it won’t work, it’s just might not work well if you are an aggressive rider hammering corners and such. I hope that helps.
Any update with what your using now? This is very informative and not a lot talks about this. Maybe you can also add up about tyre pressure with different wheel width and rim width.
Check out my latest video on Cushcore. Shows you my full wheel set up as of today.
thanks for sharing! nice review
What's your opinion of (27.5) 28mm or 30mm internal width rims with 48mm tires? What do you think the final tire width would be? An extra 2-4mm at around 50-52mm tire width? Thanks!
Also, I am considering 48mm Compass Switchback Hill tires. This is a slick tire. So no worries about flattening out knobs causing more rolling resistance.
Personally I wouldn't run anything smaller than a 2.3" tire on a 28-30mm rim. 2.5" would be better. A 1.9" tire will likely be pretty squared out, but its all personal preference.
I thing between 2.35 and 2.5 is the ideal width . The perfect intermediate tire is around 2.35 / 2.4 - on bone dry anything bellow 2.35/ 2.3 is no good , and in reverse - if it's wet or little muddy , anything over 2.4 is no good for the traction as well . IMHO .
What would be the recommended rim width to ride with 2.3 - 2.4 tires? That's the widest I use during winter, and I was just thinking about upgrading my wheels when I found this video, perfect timing from the Universe!
Juan Carlos Alpízar 30mm is what I run. 2.3 rear - 2.5 front. It’s a great combo
Hello,
I currently have 30mm internal width rim. With 30mm internal width what size tyre can i use? Can I run 2.6 inch wide tyres on 30mm internal width (without getting too much of a light bulb effect)?
lDEXTOR I I run 2.3 rear (faster rolling, 2.5 front. 2.6 is overkill IMO and would have some bulb, but it could work depending on the tire/rim.
Your rear rim is also 30mm? For an 2.3 ideally by Maxxis should be 25mm.
fernandorat I disagree and think that a 2.3” rear tire is ideal for my 30mm rim, but I do appreciate your opinion! It is all a matter of opinion, as well as the individual tires construction, and riding style at the end of the day. Cheers man!
Depends on the tire design. A lot of 2.3-2.35 tires are not designed for 30mm internal rims. In my experience, going from 30mm down to 25mm for my 2.35 rear was a big improvement as the profile became more rounded, allowing me to lean the bike more, and more easily while still having the knobs biting. It was simply too flat/stretched on the 30mm rims. I think you're generally better off going with a tire and rim size range that is designed for each other.
Less surface contact with the ground=faster roll through/pedal. This isn't true. It's basically common knowledge at this point that a wider/larger tire is faster up to a point. This is true of road tires as well. It's why everyone is running 25's now as a baseline instead of 23's, and usually you don't want to max the pressure on road tires either as it's actually faster if the tire conforms to the uneven road surface, and you have more grip.
Similarly, I'd like to see an XC racer who's running 2.0's or 2.1's at this point. They might be lighter and have a smaller contact patch, but they aren't going to roll as fast.
I'd send you to Bike Radar's channel to get a reasonably solid test of this, in their video here:
czcams.com/video/fGv329v8-vI/video.html
Zach Wagner I appreciate the insight and video link man!
Zach Wagner that being said, the video that you shared is by no means scientific, or proof of anything, as they stated multiple times. This video displays the fact that in most circumstances grip is going to be a huge factor as we don’t normally race super smooth dirt tracks. They by no means state that wider is actually faster based solely off of surface contact, but that there is a sweet spot between traction and speed where a wider tire is better suited. I believe that wider also gives you a bit more confidence which in the end equals speed. Fun to watch and learn a bit more though! Thanks again!
@@MTBTravelReview Absolutely, never said it was. But I think if you do some due diligence around the web, you'll find that it's pretty well a solid conclusion. There are many tests to be found that espouse similar results. I mean if wider tires are faster in a roll-down test on a fire road, and then faster on a fire road climb, then assuming you also get more grip from them on a more technical singletrack trail, I think it's a pretty obvious conclusion. Obviously tire tread/composition/weight and all that plays a part as well.
I've also found, just subjectively, that wider tires are faster. Depending on the terrain you ride you can also get away with a lighter, less aggressive tread on a wider tire, and then you get the bonuses of the bigger tire's roll without the weight penalty, and you still have plenty of grip. There's a reason even DH racers have started gravitating toward 29er wheels; bigger rolls faster. A similar width 29er tire is going to have a larger contact patch than a 26er tire (or 650b), but it's going to be faster.
@@dirragon1 agreed on all points! Personally, I have always preferred wider because I race enduro and traction is king, but that being said I think that it remains true in every type of riding as we are at the whim of the course. As for the weight, for faster XC riding I'll run smaller knobs on the rear and for chunkier race courses I'll run meatier knobs. At the end of the day I think that fitness will and technique will always in over bike weight/capability. I know guys that ride 42lb tanks and are insanely fast both up and down. Love these conversations though. Gotta keep the brain churning to improve!
@@MTBTravelReview I hate those guys. The worst is when you're on the road bike, suffering your ass off on a wicked steep climb, and some dude twice your weight and twice your age who looks like he just drank a gallon of Budweiser passes you like you're standing still. Truly humiliating. Lol
My Front tyre is thicker than my back one because I got different tyres. How this will end up ?
Kevin Mazur that’s actually a good thing. Front tire is your traction, back tire is smaller which equals faster
@@MTBTravelReview *_Oh wow thx for the answer_* . I thought I would never get any answers.
I'm building new wheel sets. I weigh between 94kg and 100kg. I ride trails, aggressive XC, hard cornering, and decent/short downhill sections but lots of climbs too I also ride all mountain style on my Giant Anthem alluminium 27.5.
I am willing to get me 2 sets of wheels from DT-SWIss but, I'm confused because, I don't know what the difference between 25mm and 30mm inner rim width looks like.
The widest tire in my collection is a 2.35 ardent race, the rest are 2.3 and 2.2 and that's about as wide and as thin my tires get. Now, in order not to get that bulb shape or burp tires at low pressure, what inner width should I consider for the anthem both front and rear?
kay poly up to you at the end of the day, but I would go with 30mm internal. Rims will be a bit tougher and last long during those short DH sections. Also fit perfect with your tire sizes
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks for replying even though the answer came after I had already placed the orde. No qualms though, just like I thought, your suggestion matches my choice, I went with the 30mm, even though the 2.2 ish tires might look too square on them but, considering I will be sticking to 2.25 rears and 2.3 and 2.35 front from now on for XC applications and wider tires for my enduro bike that I am about to buy, I think the 30mm rim choice will be the best bet in a long run. Something that I could run on an XC/trail bike like an anthem and whatever enduro I get in the near future without needing new sets of wheels. Thanks.
I have 30mm 29er rims .. Can I run 2.5 front and 2.3 rear ? Is that a good setup for just climbing and riding down fast through my local hiking trails/ few mtb trails
Jesus Cardona that is exactly what I run. It’s primo
Great thorough review 👍👍👍
Meri height 7 futt hai to mere liye konse tyre ki cycle sahi rahegi
my old rim from 26 1.95 can be use on 26 2.35???? NEED ASAP
REPLY ASAO
Hi Lois, my Best advice is to get up to 2.2 the most. Belueve me, you,ll be just fine. 👍
Been looking this kind of information. I am planning to put 2.3mm tire on a 35mm rim. Will that work? Thanks before.
Ketut Rama Wijaya should work fine! That is about as big of a rim as I would go with a 2.3 tire personally though. Def recommend running the 2.5 up front too, but totally up to rider preference and terrain.
@@MTBTravelReview wow, thanks for the quick reply. I think i will click the order button on the ARC 35. Will consider the 2.5 for the front also 👍👍👍
So i bought a Bike last year and now i have to buy new tires. I just realize they put maxxis highroller 2.5wt on 25mm rim, and on the back i have 2.4wt. WT are for wider rims. I don't know why they put WT Tires on such small rim. I don't have another option then put 2.3 (non WT) on back and front, or maybe buy a front wheel with 30mm rim and put 2.5wt on that. I feels little awkward riding 2.5wt on 25mm rim, and the tire has strange shape.
That is interesting that they put a 2.5 WT tire on a 25mm trail rim. You are likely getting a little bulb effect, but I’m sure that you won’t really have an issues unless you are schralping corners and berms. Def recommend upgrading to 30mm rims for those tires or downsizing the tire width.
@@MTBTravelReview I probably won’t be able to ride 2.3 with such low pressure like 2.5.
@@pupoje what pressure are you running? You should still be able to run low pressure. If you are worried about low pressure, I highly recommend Cushcore inserts. They are a game changer and provide rim protection, added dampening, and sidewalk stability for cornering.
@@MTBTravelReview usually i run 1.5 Bar pressure
@@pupoje that’s about 22 psi. A very low pressure, but fine if you aren’t hitting anything too big or bouncing off of big rocks. I run 24-25 psi rear and 27 psi front. You could still run similar pressure on a 2.3 inch tire, but again, I’d recommend trying out a tire insert like cushcore or similar.
I have old xc rims that are really narrow i got tubless 2.3 and the tires fold like crazy on corners.
Joe Mckenzie yup... time to get wider rims!
@@MTBTravelReview i got new bike today 2019 trek fuel ex 8 .
My old rig was a salsa el mariachi single speed. Think the new bike should be good improvement. Thanks for the video 😁
Joe Mckenzie hell ya! That thing will rip!
@@MTBTravelReview thanks man got a good deal to 2500 bucks
@@MTBTravelReview waiting for Michigan winter to stop..... maybe by may trails will be dry lol
In Rin 622-13 enters a tire 29x2.35?
Lautaro Araya 622-13 is a 13mm internal rim primarily used for road bikes, so no. A 2.35 tire is way to big as it is for a much wider mountain bike rim.
@@MTBTravelReview what about 19mm for a tire above 2.25, more precisely from 2.3 to 2.4 range?
I have 2.4 on 25 mm rim for touring and adventure riding is ok
Probably ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Could i run 2.3 inch tyres with a 21mm internal rim width? If not would 2.25 inch tyres fit?
R0CKHARDB0BBY123 ! Technically you could, but I’d recommend at least a 25mm rim to avoid tire roll and increase performance
I can't afford I new rim sadly and I want an aggressive tred tyre like high roller or minnin but they only come in 2.3
What about 2.25 inch
R0CKHARDB0BBY123 ! Understandable. I would not run a 2.5” tire on a 21mm rim. 2.3 is pushing it.
@@MTBTravelReviewsorry I made a mistake I meant to say 2.25
i have 22,5mm rim and i run 2,3 tyre
Nikolajs Rubaniks that’s a tiny rim and a big tire! I’d look into a bigger rim, but that’s just my opinion. Tire must be a bit rounded on that rim.
@@MTBTravelReview what problems can it cause?
Nikolajs Rubaniks if you don’t ride very aggressive you will be fine, but if you hit corners hard you could roll and pull the tire off of the rim. Also easier to slice the tire on a rock if it is very rounded. Sidewalls are more exposed.
hi. im using 2.4 in front and 2.25 rear . xc driver. which rim width will be good for me? excellent video.
Many factors to rim width. I can’t just pick a size out of the air, but between 28 - 35mm would be a good place to start
Could i replace a 1.75 tire with a slightly larger 2.1 tire?
Sorry, the rim is 28mm
Larry Grimshaw 2.4” tires should be totally fine on a 28mm internal rim. 2.5 might be a stretch.
great video
twakskawt thank you!
@@MTBTravelReview question though, I've seen rims specs where they have inner and outer width. Which one to look for considering the kind of tire to use?
twakskawt usually inner width is the primary measurement used
@@MTBTravelReview thanks. Any advice for rim inner width for 2.25 tire size?
@@twakskawt I'd say 25-30mm internal would be perfect for that size tire. I run 30mm with 2.3 or 2.5s.
Great video. Been looking for info around this for weeks.
Question- I have Spank Vibrocore 24mm internal 28mm external rims and 2.35 Michelin tires. is this ok?
Website says Max tire size is 2.30. will the .5 make a difference?
You are definitely going to have some bulb effect there. If it works, it works, but I’d recommend bigger rims next time if you are running that size tire.
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks. I guess i just have to run with this for now. So far so good though. Spank website saya maximum tire size to be used is 2.30. hoping the .5 difference doesnt make much of a nefstive impact. Keep up the great work
@@markpahilanga9461 appreciate the support! 🤘🏼
Hey man, appreciate the video. Quick questions. I ride a 2.4 up front with a 23mm inner width and I just cased my rear wheel of the same dimension. I took it to the shop and unbeknownst to me they ordered me a much bigger wheel at 32mm and put the same 2.4” on the back. Is it okay to run a 23mm up front and a 32mm in the back? Also is a 2.4 okay on a 32 or should I go up to a 2.5/2.6? And finally should I put the 32 wheel up front or leave it in the back? Thank you ahead of time!!
A few questions there. haha. A lot of this depends a lot on your riding. Generally speaking, 30-35mm internal rims are much more common than the smaller 23mm, so I would lean towards 32mm for durability and stability purposes. Doesn't technically matter if front and back are different sizes. Your rear wheel will take 10x more abuse than the front, so you are fine, but personally having two different rims sizes would annoy the hell out of me. As far as tire size goes - with a 32mm internal rim, i'd recommend tires from 2.3"-2.5", so 2.4 is totally fine, but your call which. I like 2.3 or 2.4 rear and 2.5 front, but thats just me.
@@MTBTravelReview Thanks for the quick reply! I really like the 32mm, and I am a little annoyed with having two different sizes, so maybe ill go ahead and get a 32mm up front as well. Thanks again for your help!
Kevin Walder no prob man. Good luck!
So would it make any difference if I'd have a wider (2.6) tire on the rear and narrower (2.3) on the front ?
a A rRB b uzU Z yes. You want a larger tire up front because that is your primary traction for cornering and steering, and a narrower tire in the back because that tire does not pick lines, just follows
@@MTBTravelReview well, guess I'll have to ride backwards 🤷♂️
Cuz my fork won't fit tire larger than 2.4" lol
a A rRB b uzU Z lol. Just run a 2.4 up front and 2.3 rear
@@MTBTravelReview 2.3 on 32mm rim :/ I'll stay with this setup till I'll have enough money to change the front rim on smthn wider :P
Btw I was joking about the fork cuz it will fit up to 3", but the rim I have is 24mm 🤷♂️
What rim width (internal width) would you recommend for 29x2.25 tires XC bike
Fattie there are a million variables here, but generally speaking 30-35mm internal time width.
Hi sir
Please give me a advice
My rims flow mk3
Inner 29mm
What is your opinion for my tires wide?
adi hidayat I have 30mm internal and prefer 2.3 rear, 2.5 front. I cannot say what you prefer, but I love my set up
For a XC TRAIL bike like the Marin bobcat trail 3 with 25mm inner width rims and 29x2.25 tires, would you put 2.4 inch tires, for riding uphill and downhill single tracks?
Best to ask the bike or wheel manufacturer…
hello sir, I have 21mm internal 29'' . Can I put 3.0" tire or How much I can put the biggest in a 21mm. ty.
j hello sir, you cannot put a 3.0” tire on a 21mm internal rim. WAY to big. Highest I would go is 2.3”, and that is pushing it for my riding style.
@@MTBTravelReviewCopy. thats what I have now 2.3. ty :-)
Hi I am going to be buying a new trek fx 2 disc in the next two weeks. I am going to be upgrading my wheels to a set of dt swiss rr421 asymmetric rims. I will be running schwalbe marathon 700x35c tyres. The rr421 has a inner rim width of 20mm . This bike will be used on ashfault roads and city streets 100% of the time. Is the the 20mm inner width the best option I am looking to get the best proformance and ride quality out of these rims and tyres. Or should I be looking for a different rim with a different inner width. Can you please let me know what is the difference between a asymmetric and symmetric rims. Is one better than the other and I don't if I have to pay more for the asymmetric rims if it is worth it. Thanks for reading my questions and thank you for any help you can give me.
Congrats on the new bike. 20mm rims with 35c tires are perfectly fine for street riding as the rims won’t take the beating that they would on the woods. You could go up to 38c wide tires, but not a huge difference, just a little wider. I would stick with what you have. Sounds fine to me!
Also, asymmetric rims basically have off centered spoke holes, which is said to make them stronger. Won’t make a huge difference for you, but doesn’t hurt to have more durable rims.
Thank you so very much for the information and fast response. Thank you again
I currently have 29x2.20 front and 29x2.00 back. When buying new tires do I need to match those numbers ? Or can I do up on the width ?
DANIEL NEYRA sounds like you are listing your tire size. You need to know you internal rim width to know the size tire you can run. Watch the video again. It shows you everything you need to know.
@@MTBTravelReview thanks !
I have 28mm rims.
Does it fit on 2.10?
SURE
I have two ARC 27mm internal width rims ready to do a wheel build and am hoping to put two Continental Mountain King 2.4'' tyres on them, i will mainly be doing XC/Enduro and not many hard hitting jumps so was wondering if this would be a good choice.
Steven Smith id say the sweet spot for XC riding is 2.1-2.3, but that is just my opinion. 2.4 certainly won’t kill you. I highly recommend the Maxxis aggressors for XC riding if you ever change tires. Would be primo in 2.3. Fast with a ton of grip
Thankyou for the really quick reply, ive only just got back into MTB and just have ideas without seeing the final picture but was only concerned with whether the rims would be a little small in diameter. You have been a great help though regarding tyres as i had been looking at the smaller width aggressors but wasnt sure as i said on the 27mm rims i have already purchased.
Steven Smith no problem at all. The 2.3 aggressors would be primo on a 27mm rim. I used to run that set up myself. Best of luck!
Hi, if i have a 26mm wide rim how wide of a tyre would be the max? could i fir 2.30 do you think. My current tyre width is 2.20 thanks
What size rim for 2.4s
HA! 2.8 too much drag ?? nope. I ride surly Edna's and I dont consider that too much drag :- ) And I get a better workout than if I was on a 2.3" I'm pretty sure . I do like the 2.6" though for "skinny" tires !!
I have a 20mm inter width for a Continental mountain king 2.3 is it okay?
What if i bought 2.4 tire what rim should i get or if buy 2.30 tire what rim should i get too please help me choose i dont have much experience so im asking for your help thanks!
I'd recommend Stans Arch rims for cross country trail riding with 2.3-2.4" tires
I have a Totem Victor E-bike and I just want to know how much wide the rim can fit? My bike have 26 x 1.95 tires, and I want replace it with a wider tire at least 3".
I recommend reaching out to the manufacturer to see what the largest tire size you can fit is. Any rim size should fit, but there is only so much tire clearance on any bike.
hi man, few questions, i will be quick
i’ve got 21mm internal front rim width, i know those stuff with tire bending and all od that
what if i put 2.5, does the tire on the top looks the same on 21mm inner, and 35mm inner rim width?
is the tire the same width uptop on 21mm rim and 30-35? it looks like its a bit rounder on top with smaller rim width, while lookin at wider rim, it looks like its flat on top (threads)
So does 2.5 look like 2.3 on narrower rim, or its just illusion
and can a 21mm rim serve a purpose of enduro/freeride bike with 170mm suspension on some races? I have a 36mm rear rim, which is good, but that front rim is giving me headaches. Dunno if i can ride that front wheel to races, + im not really into spending a lot of money
Sorry, I can’t help you. I’d recommend finding a local bike shop. They are very helpful.
So i have a set of mavic 717 and a set of 519 is this 17mm and 19mm I'm running 2.1 on the 717 and the bike with the 519 rims came new fitted with 2.3 tyres. Could i fit 2.4 on a 519 or will this have less advantage. I'm only really going for looks i don't really ride off road so much any more
Ask your local bike shop
Hi, how wide is your rear tire.. im planning to build a wheelset around 30mm rims and 2.3 tires.. would it fit into a 3 inch frame clearance? Thanks!
Does the lightbulb effect also makes the tire taller?
my next tire (2.5 front) (2.4 rear) what rim width reccommended?
Lalokera0629 30mm - 35mm interval
Great vid, but I'm still a little confused. can a 52 - 622 tyre replace a 57 - 622 one?
Cheers!
From what I understood the answer to your question is 'NO'. The 52 and 57 numbers should be the same and if they are not then your tires will not fit properly leading to malfunction and problems in stability. Your tire could dislodge from its beed and come off the rim at high stress times of riding. That is what I gathered from this video
My current rims are 21mm inner width. I want to put on a new set of tires that are 29" x 2.3, will that be fine, or will it be too big?
If needing to get wider rims, how do I know how wide of rims I can put on my bike?
Um… I bought 2.0 mtb tyres because I wanted more agility, are them too narrow or should I be just fine? They have really big treads tho
sir asking if there effect if i use 30mm OD rim for front and 29 OD rim in rear
Can I put a more slimmer tire on my bike? My original tire is 2.10 but I want a 1.95
whats your thought on 30mm ID rim with schwalbe Racing ralph 27.5 x 2.25?
I have no opinion on this. Sorry