Bicycle tire sizes tutorial and what tire and wheel size ranges fit each Cruzbike recumbent road bike model
Let's talk tires! In this post Robert answers some common questions about wheels, tires and fit on each Cruzbike recumbent road bike model:
- Why are some tire sizes measured in inches while others are measured in millimeters?
- What size tire can each Cruzbike model accommodate?
- Which Cruzbike models can accommodate wider tires with a smaller wheel set?
Why are some bicycle tire sizes measured in inches while others are measured in millimeters?
Some bicycle tires are indeed typically measured in inches while others are typically measured in millimeters but all bicycles tires have both an imperial (inches) and metric measurement. The industry tends to use one or the other, depending on the type of tire.
For example 26-inch wheels and tires are also known as 559 size. 650b tires (650 being the metric) are also sometimes called 27.5-inch tires. 700c is sometimes called 29-inch in the mountain bike world. There are two different 20-inch tires. They are 406 and 451. The 406 is typical for BMX and popular in the USA and the 451 is skinnier, more typically popular in Europe and with smaller velo racer and folding bikes that need skinny tires.
What size tire can each Cruzbike recumbent road bike model accommodate?
Below are the tire width ranges for each of our bikes using the stock wheels:
- Cruzbike T50 Cruiser - 26" wheels can go to 2" wide
- Cruzbike Q45 Adventure Bike - 650b stock wheels and can go to 40c
- Cruzbike S40 Endurance Road - 700c wheels and can go to 38c
- Cruzbike V20c Racing Bike - 700c wheels and can probably go to 32c (not sure why anyone would do that though I would say 28c is typical max for a bike meant for speed/racing)
Which Cruzbike models can accommodate wider tires with a smaller wheel set?
If owners drop to a smaller wheel size, the max tire size can go bigger, but you will need to "try on your own" to see what fits. Generally a size wider can be accommodated. Note: if you choose to change your wheel size, be sure to choose a wheel that is compatible with your fork (thru-axle or quick release).
Here is a great site as a reference - but even this site is incomplete (for example they only go over 507 (24") wheels but there are also other 24" wheels like 541...
Robert
Some of us still have SilvioS30!!!!! Want to upgrade soon!!! Also the T-50E!!!!
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