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Tyre Rub - Do I need to change for smaller tyres?

Based on wrong tyre clearances for my frame given in a Cyclist.co.uk review, I bought some Schwalbe G-Ones in 35mm flavour. The rear fits fine and dandy, but the front has ~1mm clearance at the top of the fork and when I get out of the saddle or put the power down (if you can call it that!) I can hear a rhythmic tyre buzz from my front fork matched to my pedal strokes. I don't notice any resistance and when spinning normally, seated, there's nothing audible at all.

 

Am I going to stuff the fork if I carry on like this? I love the tyres after setting up tubeless, and it'd be a shame to take the hit for selling nearly new tyres that were expensive to buy. Obviously, selling and replacing those would be cheaper than doing the same for the fork!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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17 comments

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StraelGuy | 7 years ago
1 like

Do you mean HGV tyres? They run at 90-130 ish depending whether they're on the truck or the trailer. If you've ever been sitting in your car when an HGV has a blow-out nearby, you'll need clean underwear  .

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beezus fufoon replied to StraelGuy | 7 years ago
0 likes

guyrwood wrote:

Do you mean HGV tyres? They run at 90-130 ish depending whether they're on the truck or the trailer. If you've ever been sitting in your car when an HGV has a blow-out nearby, you'll need clean underwear  .

ah, you're right - that would explain it - no idea where I got that from!

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kevvjj | 7 years ago
0 likes

So, you need to find another tubeless tyre manufacturer that makes a 35mm tyre true to size (if not a little under). Panaracer, Clement, Hutchinson, Bontrager, Specialized all come to mind. Keep the G-One as a replacement for when the rear wears.

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CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
1 like

You need to be going some to break traction on a Schwalbe 28mm tyre. You could alter the grip by lowering the pressure a bit.

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TypeVertigo replied to CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
0 likes

CXR94Di2 wrote:

You need to be going some to break traction on a Schwalbe 28mm tyre. You could alter the grip by lowering the pressure a bit.

I learned the hard way that running 70 psi in a 28 mm tire will cause a 32 mm tire to grip less effectively. Overinflation tends to do that, in my experience. Make a tire too hard and it will actually lose its ability to deform to the road surface and get grip.

To my astonishment, the 32 mm tires I'm running are actually happiest at 40-50 psi. They're not even tubeless.

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beezus fufoon replied to TypeVertigo | 7 years ago
2 likes

TypeVertigo wrote:

I learned the hard way that running 70 psi in a 28 mm tire will cause a 32 mm tire to grip less effectively.

is it like string theory where the pressure in the 28mm affects the grip of the 32mm?

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TypeVertigo replied to beezus fufoon | 7 years ago
1 like

beezus fufoon wrote:

TypeVertigo wrote:

I learned the hard way that running 70 psi in a 28 mm tire will cause a 32 mm tire to grip less effectively.

is it like string theory where the pressure in the 28mm affects the grip of the 32mm?

Hahaha that came out wrong.  1

I meant 70 psi on 32 mm tire doesn't return the same resulting grip as 70 psi on a 28 mm tire. If anything it's actually worse on the wider tire...so better to run the wider tire with even less pressure to get the same grip.

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beezus fufoon replied to TypeVertigo | 7 years ago
0 likes

TypeVertigo wrote:

beezus fufoon wrote:

TypeVertigo wrote:

I learned the hard way that running 70 psi in a 28 mm tire will cause a 32 mm tire to grip less effectively.

is it like string theory where the pressure in the 28mm affects the grip of the 32mm?

Hahaha that came out wrong.  1

I meant 70 psi on 32 mm tire doesn't return the same resulting grip as 70 psi on a 28 mm tire. If anything it's actually worse on the wider tire...so better to run the wider tire with even less pressure to get the same grip.

yes, that makes sense

those huge truck tyres run at something like 10-15psi, but if they blow they still put out enough force to send you flying - something to do with pressure relative to volume

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MonkeyPuzzle | 7 years ago
0 likes

At the cost of Schwalbe tyres, there should be some resale in them! Seriously though, with less than 40km on them, they are basically new. 

Is having a wider tyre on the back a great idea? If I'm going to lose traction I'd prefer the back to slide before the front.

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Kapelmuur | 7 years ago
3 likes

I didn't realise that there was any resale value in used bike tyres.

Why not replace the front tyre as suggested and keep it for when the rear one wears out? 

 

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MonkeyPuzzle | 7 years ago
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Sorry I've explained that poorly. The ~1mm is to either side of the tyre at the widest point. It's disc brakes so callipers not an issue.

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sparker | 7 years ago
0 likes

Try to see if it is the fork or the caliper causing the rub. I put some 28s on my Trek for Roubaix last year which rubbed the same way you're describing. However, changing my 6800 Ultegra calipers for 6700 Ultegras gave me just enough extra room. The 6800 was narrower due to a more 'bulbous' design, for want of a better word.

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surly_by_name | 7 years ago
3 likes

Lower pressure will help but this is a temporary solution and you need a new (smaller) tyre. Remove current one while its still saleable on ebay as "hardly used".

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peted76 | 7 years ago
0 likes

I had a similar issue on my old TCR, put 25mm schwables on to wide rims and it left very little clearance.. the front was okay, but the rear clearance with the brake caliper was a problem, In the wet I'd pick up debris, which caused rub and scratches, once I had to dig the mud out with a stick it was that clogged. Then at the top of Alp d'huez, the day prior to the marmotte, my rear tyre 'ripped' I'd gone over a very slightly sticky bit of tarmac, picked up a stone which jammed under my caliper and ripped a hole in the tyre casing. 

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kevvjj | 7 years ago
0 likes

That 1mm vertical clearance is a tad small in my opinion - pick up some mud or similar and it will drag through and (repetatively) over time wear away some of the crown. The buzzing is no doubt the side to side movement of the wheel - you must have a very small lateral gap too. Similarly, this is not good for the fork in the long run. You have two choices - always remain seated when cycling or fit a narrower tyre. You can possibly still put a 35mm tyre from another manufacturer which actually measures 35mm. Schwalbe are notorious for coming out wider than stated (my 25mm Pro-One's come out at 27.3mm on Ultegra rims). Running a lower tyre pressure will also help a little.

 

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StraelGuy | 7 years ago
2 likes

Might be worth sticking a 28mm on the front? No rub (and it's a bit more aero, too ).

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kev-s | 7 years ago
0 likes

With only 1mm of clearence any debris the tyre picks up is going to cause scratches or worse to the forks arch

 

Have seen this on bikes before, one even had shavings of alloy taken out the bottom of the caliper due to smallish stones stuck to the tyre being dragged through the top of the fork

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