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Turning a city bike into a country bike (lemmy.ml)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/bicycles@lemmy.ca
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I've got an old Bianchi SX Sport from the 80s I'm using as a commuter bike. I recently moved from a concrete jungle to a rural area and probably need to get some new tires. Right now I'm riding on some slicks with pretty much no tread and am wanting to get some tires that will be better suited for light gravel and dirt roads. Current tires are 700x23. Will I need a new wheel to accommodate some thicker tires or can I get away with some all condition tires on gravel and dirt?

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[–] [S] 1 point 7 months ago (2 children)

I thought about that but the longest stretch of non paved roads I'd be riding is like a 6 mile stretch of a multi use path between my town and the next town over. Pretty much everywhere else is paved so I don't think I'd need fat mtb tires.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago

    Road tires are much wider than they used to be. Professional road racers are running 28mm or even 30mm tires for lower suspension losses and reduced fatigue. The days of high pressure, thin tires are over. Absolutely go with the largest size tire that fits in your frame. You'll be more comfortable and have better traction on dirt surfaces.

    You'll probably not be able to fit them, but IMHO, ~40mm tires are the sweet spot for commuting. They're wide enough to tackle just about any dirt/gravel path but not so bulky as to make it feel like you're spinning a tractor. 584-700 x 40 widely available with many models aiming for that commute / touring crowd with features like puncture resistance and aggressive tread only along the edge of the tire.

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