Currently running 25mm tires but as this is a commuting bike I'd like to go wider. I think I have enough clearance from the brakes and the frame, right?
Other concern is the rim. Does anyone have experience with these old Matrix ones? Can they take a 32mm tire or should I only do 28? I see a lot online on rim width – is that measurement taken inside the rim with the tire off?
by outerspace29
9 Comments
There is literally only one way to answer this:
Install a 32mm tire and see if it fits.
It’s not the rim-width that will be the limiting factor. It’ll be the frame clearance.
The tires will fit the rims, the width shouldn’t be an issue in that regard. As for the brake calipers and frame clearance it’s impossible to tell without mounting the tires and putting them on the bike. I think I would be optimistic about 32s fitting but not completely confident
It looks like your frame and fork *probably* have enough clearance, but do your brakes? Measure the distance between the pads. Some brakes have a little quick release you can use to get a little more clearance while putting wheels in and taking them out, I can’t see if yours do.
Probably 25 up front 28 in back
My guess is that the limiting factor is going to be the frame where the bottom bracket and chain stays meet. From the first pic, it looks like 32 may be tight.
Those rims would be fine for 32 road tires. Wider would be more ideal on something going off road. You get more lateral stability at lower pressures.
For the clearance, i think it would pretty tight. To get an idea, you can check your current clearance. See if you can fit an 8mm hex or cylinder like a pen between the current tire and all the potential tight spots, or 6mm/pencil with a bit of room. You’ll lose about 3.5mm of clearance and want to keep 4mm.
Looking at the clearance in your pictures, I reckon 28mm is certainly possible, 30 is probably possible and 32 will be too close to guess.
Got any buddies with a 32 you can test-fit before purchasing?
Please note when you are getting close to too-tight, there are tire brand and model variability and many are not true to stated size, so one “32mm” tire may fit while another one doesn’t…
Looks like a 1987 Trek 400? I have the same bike, actually two identical ones, haha.
I currently have 700 x 28 on one of them and it has a good 8mm of clearance on each side of the rear tire. You could probably do 32s, but it‘ll be tight.
The other one has 650b x 42 tires and there’s maybe 1-2mm clearance on each side, which is far too tight hahaha. Still rideable!
I may have some 700×32 tires lying around, if I do I’ll check if they fit and report back
many comments with similar information here already, but I fit 30mm panaracer gravel kings in my 80s steel peugeot and the frame was not an issue–the brake caliper was. I often travel with my bike in the car and have to remove wheels in order to do so, and I had to deflate the tire to get it out of the brakes. I’m waiting to buy some wide-clearance brakes from velo orange that will hopefully solve the issue. As for now, I put the 25s back on the wheels.