Plus Size Tires vs Rim Width. Not fat, just big bones.

I am looking to put 26+ tires on hardtail and I am wondering what combos people are using. 

I hear some complaints about plus size tires being "squirmy". I would think that would be from running rims that are two narrow for the tire width. What width of rim are you running and how does it work for you?

I got 35mm rims and I hope to run Maxxis Minion DHF 2.8.

You should be fine.

Specialized at one point was shipping 3.0 tires on 30mm width rims.

I'm running 3.0's on 40mm rims (650b+).

Squirmy is because mid fat is a bag idea for experienced/aggressive riders. Great for beginners and folks looking to build a little confidence.

There's a very small window of air pressure where the tire doesn't flop about on the rim, but still has enough compliance to get a benefit from lugging the big carcass around.

5 years and it will be relegated to weird niche bikes. Tops.

Posted by: nouseforaname

Squirmy is because mid fat is a bag idea for experienced/aggressive riders. Great for beginners and folks looking to build a little confidence.

There's a very small window of air pressure where the tire doesn't flop about on the rim, but still has enough compliance to get a benefit from lugging the big carcass around.

5 years and it will be relegated to weird niche bikes. Tops.

Hardtails

Posted by: rnayel

You should be fine.

Specialized at one point was shipping 3.0 tires on 30mm width rims.

I'm running 3.0's on 40mm rims (650b+).

What tire are you running?

2.8s on 35mm internal is perfect IMO.

Posted by: nouseforaname

Great for beginners and folks looking to build a little confidence.

5 years and it will be relegated to weird niche bikes. Tops.

Pretty bold statements, I beg to differ. 

Plus tires get squirmy because their sidewalls are typically thinner to keep the tire in a reasonable weight. If we accepted a 1200g + tire it would be fine. There IS a narrower sweet spot in terms of absolute air pressure in PSI, but in overall air volume its not a big deal in real life. 

I'm currently running a Nobby Nic 2.8 in the rear on a i38 rim at between 14-15psi, but the Schwalbe 2.8s I find are succeptible to sidewall cuts because they are so thin. Love the gobs of traction and bit of give on my hardtail, and I don't push the rear end enough to notice tire squirm. I much prefer a normal tire up front because that is where I find there isn't enough feedback/precision in steering with +

Anyone have 26x2.8 minions? I am wondering the overall height.

Posted by: nouseforaname

Squirmy is because mid fat is a bag idea for experienced/aggressive riders. Great for beginners and folks looking to build a little confidence.

There's a very small window of air pressure where the tire doesn't flop about on the rim, but still has enough compliance to get a benefit from lugging the big carcass around.

5 years and it will be relegated to weird niche bikes. Tops.

Agreed although on a wide enough rim for a given tire width you should have enough support. I tried a Maxxis 2.8 on a 30 mm rim on my hardtail. Too squishy for me at 140 pounds and 13 psi. I was washing out on some corners I think because the tire was folding over. Went 2.4 and it’s all good. I run those at around 15 or 16 psi.

Posted by: heathen

Posted by: rnayel

You should be fine.

Specialized at one point was shipping 3.0 tires on 30mm width rims.

I'm running 3.0's on 40mm rims (650b+).

What tire are you running?

Specialized purgatory, sidewalls are a bit thin though. Aggressive riding isn't highly recommended.

Posted by: UFO

Posted by: nouseforaname

Great for beginners and folks looking to build a little confidence.

5 years and it will be relegated to weird niche bikes. Tops.

Pretty bold statements, I beg to differ.

Plus tires get squirmy because their sidewalls are typically thinner to keep the tire in a reasonable weight. If we accepted a 1200g + tire it would be fine. There IS a narrower sweet spot in terms of absolute air pressure in PSI, but in overall air volume its not a big deal in real life.

I'm currently running a Nobby Nic 2.8 in the rear on a i38 rim at between 14-15psi, but the Schwalbe 2.8s I find are succeptible to sidewall cuts because they are so thin. Love the gobs of traction and bit of give on my hardtail, and I don't push the rear end enough to notice tire squirm. I much prefer a normal tire up front because that is where I find there isn't enough feedback/precision in steering with +

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

Hardtails are weird niche bikes already so plus tires are the right choice for the rear at least. You're going slower than an FS bike so less loading on the tire during cornering?

^ Weren’t all the Top Dawgs of EWS supposed to be running 275+ tyres on the gnar EWS stops by now? 

I will say that 275+ rear tyre with 29er front makes the most sense.

Posted by: nouseforaname

Hardtails are weird niche bikes already so plus tires are the right choice for the rear at least. You're going slower than an FS bike so less loading on the tire during cornering?

No, its just me going slower in general

All 'kidding' aside, the popular 2.6" tires of today aren't really much different dimensionally than the 2.8's back when Plus was being pushed hard--especially when you consider all rims these days are 30+mm ID. So I would argue we're basically there today already, just for some reason 2.8's are a mental roadblock for consumers.