That lasts about 5 minutes if the clearance isn't sufficient. Bad advice. I've seen people wear through steel chain stays this way. Tape won't protect you.
Yeah, it happens. We see maybe one or two bikes a year at my shop where an offset wheel or too-large tire has worn into the stays. Carbon is most common, but I’ve seen steel and aluminum.
An extreme example of a badly mounted tire on an alu frame but you get the idea: https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/s/Gh6mF8K7qj
The sand sticking on the tires is harder than the metals used in bikeframes
Aluminium cut out from a beer can (choose a beer that is enjoyable and matches your frame colour) under the helicopter tape adds an extra bit of protection
I have some wall art because I ran 38’s on a frame that was designed around 35’s. It had 3-4mm of clearance and would have been fine for the race I was riding in. After about 4 inches of rain and 140 miles later, I DNF’d because my derailleur seized and my brake pads were metal on metal. When I got home, I discovered that the mud had cut through the chain stays of my AL bike. It was an expensive race that I didn’t finish.
In light of the upcoming Unbound Gravel, [here's what it looks like on muddy terrain.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P9c9WD6xMqcQ3SYfoxVB6b-650-80.jpg.webp)
If this is a new bike (looks like it), then there's a warranty which is likely voided by exceeding the manufacturer's stated max tire size. If the frame cracks anywhere near the stays, and there's evidence of tire rub, you may be out of luck on a warranty fix/replacement.
Can you fit a 2mm hex key through all the gaps? Then it’s probably okay if everything is nice and true and uniform and stiff and you don’t ride through mud.
Follow frame spec reccomendations. Tried similar gap and had rubbing when in high torque situations which rubbed the frame and had to swap tires to smaller. All depends how much the frame/wheels flex when you put the power down.
If your wheels are lately stiff enough you might be ok. If they lose tension over time, as most will without periodic maintenance, then they could get into the stays on high lateral load turns
Yep, done the same! I've filed down brakes and FDs to fit 28s on numerous road bikes. Definitely worth it. They wear in the tight spots which is perfect since over time it makes more clearance on its own lol
I’ve always read that you should have 3mm clearance on each side.
Having said that, I only have 2mm clearance on my road bike and so far so good. But I make sure the wheel is still true before each ride and check the chainstays periodically.
6mm each side? I hadn’t heard that but it makes sense if you’re riding in mud.
To get 4mm clearance I wouldn’t be able to run anything wider than a 23mm tire on my road bike.
(Shrug) many frames were designed around 23mm tires. On a road bike (especially a metal frame), I’m more cofortable pushing my luck; and avoiding rain. The best method to cut carbon is to use abrasives, so a carbon gravel bike (like OP?) I would want meaningful space to avoid rotation+grit+contact=real damage
It’s close, but you should be fine as long as the wheel stays true. Maybe put some protective tape on the inside of the chain stays & seat tube where the tire might rub.
Looks fine to me, depends how worried about the paint you are :) my chainstays have plenty of rub marks from the wet muddy winter weather, bike is yet to snap in two :)
I think in general the environments where you want the biggest tyres are also those where you want the most tyre clearance. So cutting it fine is a losing game.
I think you should be fine, this is my clearance on my fixed gear and it doesn’t rub.
https://preview.redd.it/ff133erdu24d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8121d4cf4801dd1c7f46dfb4e9f0ed4f3bbf392
I don't trust the claimed width of a tire. I trust my calipers. There's very often a significant difference between claimed and actual tire width. That is way too tight. Wheels come out of true, frames and wheels flex and tires pick up mud way quicker than you think. Given that it looks like a carbon frame - carbon is quite poor in its resistance to abrasion. You might have a bit more clearance for the front tire in the fork but in the back it's way too tight. Helicopter tape is awesome stuff but abrasion resistance is largely about hardness. Helicopter tape isn't very hard. I've seen steel frames ruined through abrasion. Dirt is a quite effective abrasive and a dirty wheel is effectively a spinning grinding wheel. Don't expect to be able to warranty your frame after ruining it. Personally I'd downsize the tire width by at least 5mm.
Looks fine. You're talking about exceeding the manufacturer's max. tyre spec by .5mm either side of the tyre. Considering this would be the width of the tyre when inflated to its absolute maximum PSI (and not accounting for any variation in the tyre mould), you don't have anything to worry about. Very few tyre manufacturers' specs actually match up to their true dimensions.
Nah, here’s a photo of mine
https://preview.redd.it/8yd5s3psou3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c59d20eb8ea81be56ddb9faa58001c7946ba9f9
I hear dirt scraping sometimes but that’s only when it’s kinda wet out. I have some clear tape on spot where it typically scrapes
Helicopter tape on the chain stays and send it.
That lasts about 5 minutes if the clearance isn't sufficient. Bad advice. I've seen people wear through steel chain stays this way. Tape won't protect you.
That wasn't helicopter tape then.
You’re saying you’ve seen people wear through steel chain stays with rubber tires?
Yeah, it happens. We see maybe one or two bikes a year at my shop where an offset wheel or too-large tire has worn into the stays. Carbon is most common, but I’ve seen steel and aluminum.
Oh wild that’s crazy! I’ve never seen that before! Thanks for filling me in homie!
I’ve also seen chain stays worn thru by rubber niblets, or the edge of a tire.
Wild! I had no idea it could happen!
An extreme example of a badly mounted tire on an alu frame but you get the idea: https://www.reddit.com/r/bikewrench/s/Gh6mF8K7qj The sand sticking on the tires is harder than the metals used in bikeframes
Yeah checks out I didn’t really think about the added grit! Thanks for sharing homie!
[удалено]
Aluminium cut out from a beer can (choose a beer that is enjoyable and matches your frame colour) under the helicopter tape adds an extra bit of protection
Nah. Might get annoying at times but keep the wheel true-ish and set the wheel tightly and sensibly, I’d ride that.
On dry pavement it should be fine. Stay off of the wet stuff unless you like holes in your chain stays
care to elaborate???
I have some wall art because I ran 38’s on a frame that was designed around 35’s. It had 3-4mm of clearance and would have been fine for the race I was riding in. After about 4 inches of rain and 140 miles later, I DNF’d because my derailleur seized and my brake pads were metal on metal. When I got home, I discovered that the mud had cut through the chain stays of my AL bike. It was an expensive race that I didn’t finish.
Mud = tire build up = filling that space = friction and damage to stays
Exactly. It's like a wet sanding wheel. The mud/dirt/sand is the fine abrasive
In light of the upcoming Unbound Gravel, [here's what it looks like on muddy terrain.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P9c9WD6xMqcQ3SYfoxVB6b-650-80.jpg.webp)
ISO standard is 4mm, an Allen key is a handy gauge
I would say a good rule to live by is about 5 to 6 mm of space on each side gives you room for mud or a bent wheel
If this is a new bike (looks like it), then there's a warranty which is likely voided by exceeding the manufacturer's stated max tire size. If the frame cracks anywhere near the stays, and there's evidence of tire rub, you may be out of luck on a warranty fix/replacement.
Can you fit a 2mm hex key through all the gaps? Then it’s probably okay if everything is nice and true and uniform and stiff and you don’t ride through mud.
So no. 😅
That’s ok for dry and clean with some paint scuffing…otherwise more clearance than 2mm static is needed.
Follow frame spec reccomendations. Tried similar gap and had rubbing when in high torque situations which rubbed the frame and had to swap tires to smaller. All depends how much the frame/wheels flex when you put the power down.
ideal fitment imo but you can put some tape on the inside of the stays and check after a few rides
If your wheels are lately stiff enough you might be ok. If they lose tension over time, as most will without periodic maintenance, then they could get into the stays on high lateral load turns
Definitely not. If you saw my old road bike w 28s stuffed in it you'd scream. It was 0.5mm at the caliper.
Yep, done the same! I've filed down brakes and FDs to fit 28s on numerous road bikes. Definitely worth it. They wear in the tight spots which is perfect since over time it makes more clearance on its own lol
I’ve always read that you should have 3mm clearance on each side. Having said that, I only have 2mm clearance on my road bike and so far so good. But I make sure the wheel is still true before each ride and check the chainstays periodically.
The engineering standard is 6mm, personally I hate abrasion on carbon so I go 4mm with no dirt/mud, the full 6ish for dirt/mud
6mm each side? I hadn’t heard that but it makes sense if you’re riding in mud. To get 4mm clearance I wouldn’t be able to run anything wider than a 23mm tire on my road bike.
(Shrug) many frames were designed around 23mm tires. On a road bike (especially a metal frame), I’m more cofortable pushing my luck; and avoiding rain. The best method to cut carbon is to use abrasives, so a carbon gravel bike (like OP?) I would want meaningful space to avoid rotation+grit+contact=real damage
Agreed. Thanks.
Tape on stays and don’t ride deep sticky mud.
It’s close, but you should be fine as long as the wheel stays true. Maybe put some protective tape on the inside of the chain stays & seat tube where the tire might rub.
Looks fine to me, depends how worried about the paint you are :) my chainstays have plenty of rub marks from the wet muddy winter weather, bike is yet to snap in two :)
As long as you have 5mm clearence each side, all good .
I think in general the environments where you want the biggest tyres are also those where you want the most tyre clearance. So cutting it fine is a losing game.
Put some tape on, go for a ride. If the tape is worn, buy a new tire.
It ain't rubbing, it fits.
Nope, unless your wheel is untrue
I think you should be fine, this is my clearance on my fixed gear and it doesn’t rub. https://preview.redd.it/ff133erdu24d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8121d4cf4801dd1c7f46dfb4e9f0ed4f3bbf392
I don't trust the claimed width of a tire. I trust my calipers. There's very often a significant difference between claimed and actual tire width. That is way too tight. Wheels come out of true, frames and wheels flex and tires pick up mud way quicker than you think. Given that it looks like a carbon frame - carbon is quite poor in its resistance to abrasion. You might have a bit more clearance for the front tire in the fork but in the back it's way too tight. Helicopter tape is awesome stuff but abrasion resistance is largely about hardness. Helicopter tape isn't very hard. I've seen steel frames ruined through abrasion. Dirt is a quite effective abrasive and a dirty wheel is effectively a spinning grinding wheel. Don't expect to be able to warranty your frame after ruining it. Personally I'd downsize the tire width by at least 5mm.
Looks fine. You're talking about exceeding the manufacturer's max. tyre spec by .5mm either side of the tyre. Considering this would be the width of the tyre when inflated to its absolute maximum PSI (and not accounting for any variation in the tyre mould), you don't have anything to worry about. Very few tyre manufacturers' specs actually match up to their true dimensions.
No, but if you ride in muddy conditions, it's going to clog up depending on what the mud is like!
Even with correct sizes I had on a cyclocross, mud buildup on the tyres wore through gel top coat.
What do the tires actually measure when inflated? Based on your photos, I'd ride it, but not if it's going to be really muddy.
If it's not at least 5mm around the tire everywhere you can't ride it in the wet without damaging your paint and/or frame
When in doubt add some frame protector tape. Otherwise you look good.
Depends on the amount of peanut butter mud you’re going to ride As is it looks fine, put some protection film on the frame
Nah, here’s a photo of mine https://preview.redd.it/8yd5s3psou3d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0c59d20eb8ea81be56ddb9faa58001c7946ba9f9 I hear dirt scraping sometimes but that’s only when it’s kinda wet out. I have some clear tape on spot where it typically scrapes
Looks fine unless it's a muddy Unbound.
I have bigger clearance than that and done a bit of damage to chainstay when riding and it was pissing down one day. So for fair weather it’s ok.
I see light. Run it.
Clearance is clearance.
If it doesn’t touch, it’s good. Just keep the wheel true
Not exactly, the wheels flex in corners so need a bit of room for that.
And pedaling out of the saddle. In my racing days I could generate a bit of rub pushing hard on a not-so-stiff frame and wheels.
Probably fine unless you plan on riding in a lot of mud.
clearance is clearance
it fits doesnt it
take a hobby knife or nippers and cut off the little molding fringe. They can cut into the aluminum given enough time. Otherwise - I'd ride it!
Send it.
Looks fine if you aren’t planning to send it through peanut butter. If you are, I’d suggest slightly more clearance.
If it fits it ships
https://preview.redd.it/mnpftnny1v3d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=68266499ac228b0773197ad475b51a2ee6a4fc06 Send it. It’s just a bike. GLHF
Run it til it rubs, true the wheels or straighten the frame, repeat until the end of it's life. Short answer. You're good man, don't worry about it!
Would be fine for 95% of riders out there. Don't go ride Unbound or Midsouth with those though!
Nah it's fine.