Author Topic: What size tyres for touring?  (Read 8032 times)

Dave Whittle Thorn Workshop

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Re: What size tyres for touring?
« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2014, 04:36:38 PM »
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Thats interesting.
I too usually run my tyres at max, but never over.

Maybe thats where I'm going wrong.

Maybe, maybe not, always check the rim manufacturers recomended max pressure too.

mickeg

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Re: What size tyres for touring?
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2014, 08:06:06 PM »
The 40mm 26 inch tires are the plain Schwalbe Marathons (with GreenGard), wire bead.  They rolled well because of the high pressure I was running.  The photo has my Sherpa with those tires.  Note, I was running pressures slightly higher than Thorn currently recommends as a maximum pressure.

Thanks, Mike, that's helpful.  You're in line with Schwalbe's N/America website, which shows a range of 55 - 100 psi for the 26 x 40 mm wire Marathon.

Thats interesting.
I too usually run my tyres at max, but never over.
Maybe thats where I'm going wrong.

Maybe, maybe not, always check the rim manufacturers recomended max pressure too.

When I made the point above about Thorn recommended max pressure, perhaps I should have cited my source.  The Winter 2013/2014 Nomad sales brochure lists several tire sizes and recommended maximum pressures based on rim, not tire strength.  Dave also reinforced that point above.

I mentioned that I ran my rear 40mm tires (Schwalbe calls them X1.5 for width) at 80 psi, Thorn maximum recommendation for that size is 77 psi.  I do not recall what the sidewall states for maximum pressure, but I was several psi below the sidewall listing.  (I have different tires on that bike right now, I can't easily check it.)  I never trust website tire pressures from manufacturers, they often change their tire design and you can't rely on having the same tires that the web site refers to. 

On my Sherpa, I am using Salsa Gordo rims.  To the best of my knowledge, I have the only Thorn that uses the Gordo, I built up the wheels myself with that rim.  I suspect that the rim is stronger than any tire I will ever run on it, so I am not too worried.  And since I laced up the wheels, it is not a Thorn warranty issue.

On my LHT, I am running Mavic A719 rims, that rim actually has a max pressure rating listed on the rim.  (See photo.)  Unfortunately, most rims do not provide such a rating.  And even if they did, the pressure rating would vary for different size tires, such as shown in the photo.