Author Topic: Best tire width for TransAmerica (middle) route  (Read 15381 times)

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Offline Nyimbo

Re: Best tire width for TransAmerica (middle) route
« Reply #15 on: January 22, 2019, 01:22:15 am »
I don't remember if you said in another post what bike you were riding, but make sure you have room for you fenders.  I ride a REI Randonee which came stock with continental touring 32s.  I was going to finish my cross country on the GAP and C&O so wanted the widest tire that I could use especially for the C&O.  I ended up getting the Marathon 38's and just barely had room to get the fenders put back on with the new wider tires.


Keith

Offline Symmachus

Re: Best tire width for TransAmerica (middle) route
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2019, 10:04:08 am »
Keith, thanks for the heads up on fender fit. I do have fenders on my Soma and will have to test fit the wheels with the new tires for evaluation. Hop they fit!
Eric


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Offline dim

Re: Best tire width for TransAmerica (middle) route
« Reply #17 on: June 11, 2019, 09:23:07 am »
I'm planning a solo tour (wild camping/fishing) along the coast of Ireland, and I'm looking at using Panaracer Gravel King SK (38's) and will use them tubeless

Offline staehpj1

Re: Best tire width for TransAmerica (middle) route
« Reply #18 on: June 11, 2019, 09:51:54 am »
When choosing Marathon Plus be aware that you are talking extra pounds not extra ounces.  Also be aware that the sidewalls are quite stiff.  All that may or may not matter to you.  For me they were quite unpleasant, both due to the weight and the ride feel.  Others love them.  Just be aware of what the differences are and whether they matter to you.  I found them unpleasant enough that I took them off and sold them.

My preference for the kind of riding you specify would be something like the kevlar bead 32mm continental gatorskin.  Depending on which size Marathon Plus you chose what bead style and what tubes.  The difference for two tires and tubes will at least three pounds and maybe four pounds or more.

Some people don't find the lack of a supple sidewall to be a big deal but for me it was a real deal breaker even when I decided to bite the bullet on the weight.

I have since become more and more weight conscious in my packing style so I now feel like it makes more and more sense to ride a lighter bike setup.  I rode a road bike setup on the Southern Tier starting out with 23mm gatorskins because they were on the bike and I decided to wear them out before replacing them.  I put 25mm gatorskins on in Texas and they were much nicer on the TX chipseal, but I really didn't want for wider.  I was carrying only a base load of 14 pounds of ultralight backpacking gear though.  I'd run at least 28mm and maybe 32mm for heavier touring.

Offline dim

Re: Best tire width for TransAmerica (middle) route
« Reply #19 on: June 29, 2019, 01:31:24 pm »
Panaracer Gravel Kings SK in 38mm wide (tubeless if your rims allow, if not, clinchers are fine aswell)