Low profile rugged touring tires

[Westinghouse]

I have this older giant road bike. It would make an excellent bicycle for a long distance touring. I mounted a Schwalbe marathon on a 700 wheel. The tires touch the frame front and rear. Does anyone know about a high-quality, rugged, High mileage touring tire that is low profile and would fit the wheel inside the frame without rubbing?

[Pat Lamb]

How about a smaller Marathon?  I think you can get them down to at least 700Cx25.

[DaveB]

Road bikes, particularly those a few years older, often have tight tire clearances and won't clear anything bigger than 700-23 or, at best 700-25.  What size are your current Marathons?  You apparently need a smaller tire or a different bike.

[staehpj1]

What size marathon did you try and what model?  Was it the plain vanilla marathon or some other variation like the marathon plus or something?  I think the plus and others with a thick belt have a higher profile.

I have generally had plenty of room for 25mm Continental Gatorskins on most road bikes that I have owned or worked on and maybe even 28mm or 32mm on older ones depending on the model and how old.  28mm might be iffy on newer models and some older ones.

BTW, width of the rim may have some small effect on how high the tire profile is.

[HGuthertz]

I have toured extensively on very old Trek bikes - from the early 1980s- and vote for the Gatorskins - 700 x 25. There is no problem with clearance; a low profile; and very good endurance. The one problem, however, is keeping them topped off on a tour. I found that it works best if I run the tires at about 110 pound psi - fully loaded with four panniers. That said, I do not have the arm strength to push that much air into the tires with a hand pump - even a Road Morph. So, I have to be on the look out for bike stores that will let me use their floor pump. That has provoked some anxiety while on multi-day tours going through very rural areas. My experience at least.

[Westinghouse]

Road bikes, particularly those a few years older, often have tight tire clearances and won't clear anything bigger than 700-23 or, at best 700-25.  What size are your current Marathons?  You apparently need a smaller tire or a different bike.

700 by 32. The lateral space is good. It is the diameter that is the rub.

[Westinghouse]

What size marathon did you try and what model?  Was it the plain vanilla marathon or some other variation like the marathon plus or something?  I think the plus and others with a thick belt have a higher profile.

I have generally had plenty of room for 25mm Continental Gatorskins on most road bikes that I have owned or worked on and maybe even 28mm or 32mm on older ones depending on the model and how old.  28mm might be iffy on newer models and some older ones.


The Gatorskins work but after some riding I am unconvinced they are so good for long distance loaded touring.

BTW, width of the rim may have some small effect on how high the tire profile is.

The Gatorskins work but after some riding I am unconvinced they are so good for long distance loaded touring.

[HGuthertz]

Like I said before, I have used Gatorskins for over 30 years of loaded touring - four panniers - on early 1980s Treks. I am a small female on a 48 cm frame - so that may be a factor.

I have numerous touring bikes. One is a very fancy Co-Motion with Schwalbe Marathon tires, but truthfully, I prefer the Trek with the skinny 700 x 25 tires. I used this rig to go completely around Lakes Michigan and Erie and across Wisconsin - West to East and North to South. So this is my go-to set up.

Granted, this is not a cushy ride, and the narrow tires are a no-no on gravel roads. But it's proven touring set up, that's for sure. And the tires  are widely available should you need a new one while under way.

I know tires are a lot like saddles. You have to check out different options. Hoping you find something that works and can hit the road this summer.   

[Shaker]

It sounds as though you need to switch to 26" wheels.

Shaker

[froze]

I have toured extensively on very old Trek bikes - from the early 1980s- and vote for the Gatorskins - 700 x 25. There is no problem with clearance; a low profile; and very good endurance. The one problem, however, is keeping them topped off on a tour. I found that it works best if I run the tires at about 110 pound psi - fully loaded with four panniers. That said, I do not have the arm strength to push that much air into the tires with a hand pump - even a Road Morph. So, I have to be on the look out for bike stores that will let me use their floor pump. That has provoked some anxiety while on multi-day tours going through very rural areas. My experience at least.

I have the Topeak Road Morph, and I discovered it's not as good as the Zefal HPX-3 that I now use on my touring bike, which surprised me.  Another portable pump you could try is the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive, but I don't really like the appearance of the hose being external instead of stored inside the pump, this leaves the hose open to accidental abrasion which could render it useless.

Anyway, I can easily get 75 psi into my 700x45 tires with the Zefal, and as a bonus, you could use the pump as a dog billy club it's that toughly made, ask me how I know!

You do have to measure the distance from the inside of the headtube to the inside of the seat tube.  And either on the head tube or on the seat tube there should be a small brazed-on nub that sticks out about 1/8th of an inch, that nub will go inside a small hole on the pump.  If you don't have the nub Zefal sells a nylon frame mount that uses zip ties to secure the mount, then the pump will fasten to that.

[Westinghouse]

quote author=staehpj1 link=topic=16790.msg88266#msg88266 date=1613490064]
[What size marathon did you try and what model?[/quote]  Was it the plain vanilla marathon or some other variation like the marathon plus or something?  I think the plus and others with a thick belt have a higher profile.

I have generally had plenty of room for 25mm Continental Gatorskins on most road bikes that I have owned or worked on and maybe even 28mm or 32mm on older ones depending on the model and how old.  28mm might be iffy on newer models and some older ones.

BTW, width of the rim may have some small effect on how high the tire profile


Schwalbe Marathon 700 by 32. Just Marathon

[Westinghouse]

How about a smaller Marathon?  I think you can get them down to at least 700Cx25.

Diameter is the rub.

[Westinghouse]

It sounds as though you need to switch to 26" wheels.

Shaker

I did that. With 26 the diameter clearance if just fine. But the smallest Marathon for 26 I could get was 1.5. The 1.5 is too wide laterally. So there is front to rear clearance but it rubs against the chain stays. Gatorskins fit but on one short tour they flatted twice in one day. They seem flimsy compared to Marathons. They are a very good tire but I am most sold on Marathons.

[Pat Lamb]

How about a smaller Marathon?  I think you can get them down to at least 700Cx25.

Diameter is the rub.

Height will follow width on any pneumatic tire.  25 should be 25% lower ( => smaller diameter) than a 35.

[Westinghouse]

I only wanted to know if someone could recommend a tire as durable as Schwalbe, 700 by 32, but with a low enough profile to  fit this Giant road bike and not rub the frame.