I am planing to rebuild my Surly Wednesday to make it more suitable for bikepacking/ gravel. I am going to fit 29+ wheels with a carbon fork that I already have. What experience do members have of rim and tyre widths. I am thinking of 2.8 tyres but am tempted by Crox duro which is 3.25, which maybe too much for my purposes. This bike does not need to do 'gnar' as I have another for that. Looking forward to your reccomendations.
I’ve got Teravail Coronado 2.8’s on my 29+ bike and they’re great. Roll nice and quick, tough enough casing, and nice volume to them too for riding fully rigid. Would recommend.
I currently have Nextie NXT29AM35 (35mm) rims in Combo with some 2.6 Vittoria Barzo's
Rims are great - will happily take larger tyres. The tyres are good for general riding, and work well with the rims. But I'll probably get some alternatives that are a little more gnar at some point as the wheels get used for uplifts etc.
Crux duro are quite hard work ..I used them on tarmac ( draggy) as well as off road . Lets just say for a rigid bike they have superb volume and comfort while not being full fat. They also have a great tread and I intend/ed to use them during the winter when swopping wheels on my Pugsley from Full fat 4.8 x 26 to 29 X 3.25. They are also a great price.
I have used Maxxis chronicles ( no longer available but I have 3 pairs) all year round and they are so much lighter /faster feeling which is what you'd expect but struggle traction wise in soggy winter conditions.
Bonty XR4 are great all round tyre have them on my Full-suss stache 29x3.0
Thanks everyone.
I've got 29x3" DHF/DHR on my Canyon Dude. I'm running it with 120mm suspension so it's a bit of a trail bike and is a lot of fun too. I've been impressed with how well they roll even though they look very draggy.
Liking Bontrager 29x3.0 XR4s on 50mm rims https://www.flickr.com/photos/cojacal/51289276769
4" Jims! Keep it fat, great for loaded bikepacking.
If you insist on 29+ skinnies then 3" 120tpi Knards.
Knards, Chronicles & Coronado's all very good and capable.
The Crox is fine and mahoosive but probably best for the trails and the front!
Moar is betterer though ...... non of this 2.6'' nonsense 😉
