Probably whatever gives the most volume.

You’re bit non specific.

Have you already got a frame?

If not, the possibilities are endless – including proper 26+ with a Surly 1×1 (they have been doing 26+ for almost 20 years, it’s just taken until now for the rest to catch up).

I had 26 x 2.8 Rangers on my (650B) Flare which worked well. I got the tyres from Chain Reaction. The wheels also (just) fit into my 26″ Soul and go in my 26″ Sunn Tzar with room to spare. I reckon both frames would take 650B wheels too.

Hiya – I’ve tried various combinations on a recent Surly 1×1 and on Instigators 1 and 2.

26 inch Sun MTX33 rims work fine with 2.7 Dirt Wizards, but Spank Stiffee rims felt much better at 40mm (external). MTXs are available at Chain Reaction.

The MTXs were too narrow for a 26″ 3.0 inch Knard.

The 1×1 was fine with either combo on the front, but there is lots of mud around here and clearance with the Dirt Wizard wasn’t really adequate at the rear so I used a 2.4 Chunky Monkey out back. This came up pretty large on the 40mm rim, but not too large. This combination wouldn’t fit on the original Instigator, but fits with masses of room on Instigator 2.

A 650b 2.8 WTB Ranger on i29 rim doesn’t fit in an On-One 29er slot dropout frame, but does fit the rear on Insigator 2.

A 26″ Dirt Wizard on a Stiffee rim doesn’t fit with sufficient clearance in the rear of a Cotic BFe 650b frame.

Tyres much over 2.5 on wide rims don’t play well with older (non-boost) chainsets & rear hubs (chain runs too close to the tyre on low gears). For 1×11 run a narrower tyre, like a 2.4″.

Chain reaction do seem to be bringing in WTB 26+ rims and tyres. The tyres are way cheaper than the Surly ones, but the Surlys have lasted me really well and are great in my local mud.

Hope this all helps.

David

I’ve just bought a wheelset for my cotic rocket using alex volar 3.0/chosen probuild from Raleigh and mounted some ranger 2.8’s .Clearance isn’t massive but more than adequate .

got mine from bike components.de £53 each delivered

Tyre shape would be better on 29 internal rim than on the MTXs, but they are about as cheap as you go and still get away with it and are rather borderline. Remember that narrower rims will make the tyre narrower which may help if clearances are tight.

I’ve just ordered some of those 2.8 rangers, going to try them on Arch Mk3 (26mm internal) on a Flare so will report back in a week or so once set up…

The space in the Flare limits the width of the rim and tyre you can use. I had the Rangers on 41mm internal rims and they were fine but the 29mm internal rims are better for clearance – yes, I know they’re (Flares & Rockets) not meant to be 26+.

Old. I knew it wasn’t ideal, it was a bit of a try out before I splurged £200 on a hub, spokes and rim. The tyre worked OK, I was just surprised how little difference there was between a “2.4” and a “2.75” on an identical rim.

Raises the question of whether you can just slap a 2.4 on a Dually/Hugo. I’ve seen it done. Looked good, wasn’t holding the rider up any. Just need to look at tyre profile. Some are going to work better than others.

Lifted from a thread a while ago:

Rear “2.4” X-King on Crest 20 psi
Width – 2.33 in
height from rim hook – 1.91 in
circumference – 6.25 in

Dirt Wizard is 850g in the light weight version and costs £65
X King is 560g in light weight version, costs £35
Admittedly the tread is chunkier and is going to take a lot of that extra weight.

A 39 mm (internal) Velocity Dually is 610g
21mm internal Crest is 340g

Not for the X King, but the DW is 2.83″ on the Hugo, casing and shoulders pretty much the same. Guessing the X King would be not much less, but casing would be wider than shoulder knobs.

Well reporting back after Rangers arrived…. they fit* in a Flare on Arch Mk3s with clearance basically the same as per Kaylas pics, will l them settle for a night and then measure width.

Went for a Tough Fast on the back, and a Light Fast on the front. Will report back on Sunday eve after I’ve given them a battering round Afan.

*Fit on the front too with a 26 inch DT Swiss XMM , fully deflated and checked under bottom out, loads of room all round, Also tried in a 26 inch DT Swiss OPM and same again.

Yup, I’d go with the flows, if I get on with these tyres I’ll be getting some Flows (or similar) as I think the 26mm internal Arch Mk3s are just a smidge too small for 2.8s, will be fine to try them out though 😀

Look forward to hearing how you get on

Also, anyone know of a 26er rim with an internal of ~35mm that doesn’t weigh a ton?

I’ve gone with Flows (29mm) internal as they seem to be the only option near 30mm at sensible weight, I know about the WTB Scraper but at 40mm wide and a bit more heft I think it’s more than I’ll need and probably rules out using normal tyres, I can’t find anything in the middle though that’s not 650B, am I missing an obvious choice?

EDIT – additional requirement of ‘not carbon’ 😉

I’m grumpy enough at having to pay >£40 for a rim let alone £150+

Yup (ex-trials rider and still have some wheels knocking about), but they’re normally 600-700g for anything wide/rear, and the front rims normally top out at 25-30mm internal.

Although…have just spotted the new Inspired V2 26, listed as 34mm but I assumed that was external…will do some digging