V20 max tire size

ed72

Zen MBB Master
Hi....I am new to recumbent bikes and am looking to purchase one for PBP 2019. Tire volume is a critical consideration in my purchase. I cannot find any published data on tire fitment for the V20. thank you very much for any data.

Can anyone share the max size they have on their V20 along with rim model and actual clearance (measured or estimated)

For instance, HED Belgium Plus 25 mm Continental GP 4000 sii with latex tubes measureing 29 mm wide fit with 2 mm clearance to the fork and 2 mm clearance to fork crown. Or Flo 60 with 28 mm Continental GP 4000 sii with latex tubes measuring 31 mm wide fit with 2 mm clearance to the fork and 2 mm clearance to fork crown.

Thanks
 
My V20 is outfitted with SRAM Rail 50 with Compass 650Bx38 on front, 42 on rear. Discussed here. At 40-50 psi the ride is smooth and secure. Aerodynamics are improved with bladed spokes, but I plan to get a set of aero wheels so i can keep up in higher speed group rides. (Also working on the engine.)
 
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ed72

Zen MBB Master
Thank you Matthew. The picture of the V20 on the website shows caliper brakes. What kind of brakes are you using to run 650B tires on a V20? The Tekro long reach? Your profile picture looks like disc brakes? Is the V20 setup for disc brakes? I am not sure if I want another 650B bike as tire choice is very limited. Maybe.

Anyone run 700x32 tires successfully on a V20? Hutchinson sectors 28 mm run pretty narrow for me (27 mm) and are more inline with a 25 mm tire. 25mm Conti GP4kSII tires measure close to 28 mm on my rims.....this is absolutely the smallest volume tire that I would consider and would prefer 28 mm Conti GP4kSIIs or something like it.

Thanks
 

trapdoor2

Zen MBB Master
I'm currently running "Thickslick" 700c X 28 tires. Actual width (inflated to 95psi) is almost exactly 30mm. Clearance to the fork crown is 2mm. Clearance to the forks is a much more substantial 5mm (estimated) per side.

Rims are Velocity "Deep V".

I also have a pair of Vittorio Rubino 700c X 28 tires on my V2/k. They measure 27mm wide inflated to the same 95psi spec. Same rim for both bikes. They fit my V20, no problem.

I run disc brakes front and back. TRP HY/RD. 160 front X 140 rear.
 

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Bill K

Guru
On my V20 I'm using Hed Belgium Plus rims with Schwalbe Pro One 700 x 28 on the front and Maxxis Re-Fuse 700 x 32 on the back.
Clearance to the fork crown is 2.5mm front and 2.0mm to the brake bridge on the back.
Disk brakes with 160mm rotors.

Last year I ran 26 x 1.5 front and rear (Mavic A719 rims and Compass McClure pass tires). With these there is room for fenders. I used
Planet bike SpeedEX XL 700c 45mm but using 26" rims is disk-brake only as far as I know.
I'm pretty sure 26 x 1.8 would not fit in the front but would fit in the back.

PBP 2019 ... Cool!
 

ed72

Zen MBB Master
Thanks Bill......this is exactly what I needed to know. I can run modern wide rims with 700x28 mm tires. Schwalbe pro one tubeless get puffy.
 

ratz

Wielder of the Rubber Mallet
Hi Ed72,

Welcome to the forums. The standard guidance is that with old school RIM with an inner rim with of 13mm=15mm you can mount a typical 7000x25c tire with a tube. With rims in the 17mm-19mm you can definitely mount a 700x28c if you go tubeless on a proper rim you might be able to squeak in something bigger. If you ad fenders always assume you have to drop down 1 tire size. Obviously, every wheelset is different but that's pretty much what people have reported here over the last few years. A 36c Schwalbe G-One won't' fit, but a 32c just might just fit on the back, haven't had time to try it this year.
 

velaksap

Member
Does anyone run a 28 Conti GP4000S II on the standard Velocity Deep rim and the V20 black frame? I've read that those tires tend to measure much higher than 28 when inflated.
 

Kenneth Jessett

Well-Known Member
Hi....I am new to recumbent bikes and am looking to purchase one for PBP 2019.

Thanks
I will say you have two years to get the most out of your V before the PBP and like most you will find it is a long learning curve, so you are starting at the right time. No doubt there are those who hop on a Vendetta and rip away immediately, but that wasn't me and riding on your back is so counter intuitive that your brain will fight you all the way.

However, I've had a number of Vendettas racing at my event the past couple of years to witness they are a thing of beauty when ridden competently and fast, so it's worth persevering with it.

I signed up the the LEL - which starts in two weeks - thinking that I would ride it if I could do it on my V because I knew that riding 840 miles in 100 hours or less on my standard bike was not going to be any fun at all. As it is, as I've said elsewhere on the forum, I'm still riding parking lots. Sufficient to say I will not be flying to London at the end of the month and no doubt will regret I didn't practice enough on the Vendetta to go to Britain to ride the LEL for a very long time. :(

Maybe we will see each other at the PBP in two years. :)
 

Leif

Active Member
Does anyone run a 28 Conti GP4000S II on the standard Velocity Deep rim and the V20 black frame? I've read that those tires tend to measure much higher than 28 when inflated.
I know I'm a little late to this thread, but I just finished removing a 28 conti gp 4000S II from the rear wheel of my new V20. It barely had enough clearance (less than a mm!) and the tire would rub the frame after rolling over any sticky debris (mud, sand, etc.). Had a very scary moment when a twig got jammed between the frame and tire bringing me to an unexpected stop at speed.
Replaced with conti 4 season 25's but might leave the 28 up front for now--- but even it has very little brake clearance.
Anyway, I'd also heard these tires run a little big. Interested if anyone else runs 28's if a different brand.

-Leif
 

Bill K

Guru
I used to have a Maxis Refuse 700c x 32 (tubeless) on the back of my V20. It was on a wide rim (HED Belgium Plus). On a narrower rim that tire was too tall and would contact the brake bridge. Clearance was tight, less than 2mm from the brake bridge. Always made me nervous when riding over leaves and twigs.
When it wore out I replaced it with a 700c x 28 Schwalbe pro One.
 

snilard

Guru of hot glue gun
I know I'm a little late to this thread, but I just finished removing a 28 conti gp 4000S II from the rear wheel of my new V20. It barely had enough clearance (less than a mm!) and the tire would rub the frame after rolling over any sticky debris (mud, sand, etc.). Had a very scary moment when a twig got jammed between the frame and tire bringing me to an unexpected stop at speed.
Replaced with conti 4 season 25's but might leave the 28 up front for now--- but even it has very little brake clearance.
Anyway, I'd also heard these tires run a little big. Interested if anyone else runs 28's if a different brand.

-Leif
Schwalbe Pro One on DT Swiss R460 rims is fine.
 

jond

Zen MBB Master
Does anyone run a 28 Conti GP4000S II on the standard Velocity Deep rim and the V20 black frame? I've read that those tires tend to measure much higher than 28 when inflated.

Yes with ultegra caliper brakes new model 11 speed. 2017. Close but comfy no discernible issues so far rough roads local There are no rub marks at 80 psiThe closest tolerance limit seems to be calipers arms 1.5 mm approx and front crown 2 mm. Everywhere else is 2.5 to 3 mm.

Confident enough to attempt 500 klm weekend this week. Fingers crossed and 25 mm tyres in bag lol

Note my rims are standard velocity rim as supplied by powertap etc.
 

super slim

Zen MBB Master
Yes with ultegra caliper brakes new model 11 speed. 2017. Close but comfy no discernible issues so far rough roads local There are no rub marks at 80 psiThe closest tolerance limit seems to be calipers arms 1.5 mm approx and front crown 2 mm. Everywhere else is 2.5 to 3 mm.

Confident enough to attempt 500 klm weekend this week. Fingers crossed and 25 mm tyres in bag lol

Note my rims are standard velocity rim as supplied by powertap etc.
Could you get a wider rim fitted that has the same ERD (effective rim diameter), so the same spokes could be used!

So 250 km each day,and staying in a motel???
 

velaksap

Member
I got a new front Rolf Vigor rim, which is wider than my old one, I think 20 mm internal width, so now I can fit a 32 Conti GP 5000 inflated to 95 psi and still have about 3mm to spare. I'll likely ride at much lower pressure, so even better!
 

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