26 x 2.125 wheel/rim question

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VermontCruizer

New Member
I have 26 x 2.125 wheel/rims on my bike and I was just wondering if it's OK to use a narrower tire on this wheel? Like a 26 x 1.5 tire on that wheel or won't that work?
 
VermontCruizer said:
I have 26 x 2.125 wheel/rims on my bike and I was just wondering if it's OK to use a narrower tire on this wheel? Like a 26 x 1.5 tire on that wheel or won't that work?
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You should measure the bead to bead rim width. You may find it is nowhere near 2.125". Matter of fact, most rims that are considered "wide" are around 1.5"
 
@atombikes: you were correct. The bead-to-bead width is 1.5 inches. So does that mean I can use a 26 x 1.5 tire on that rim?

The issue is I don't have a lot of room for the tire to ride between the bike chain and the engine drive chain and sometimes the engine drive chain rubs against the tire and "scores" the rubber. And I have a good chain tensioner on it but the chain still flops a bit sometimes.
 
My bike came with 2.125 width tires, and the chain would rub the tire. I went down to 1.95, and the chain doesn't rub anymore. I wouldn't go any smaller than 1.95, because the smaller the tire width, the more you feel the vibrations from the road, and bumps and whatnot. Just my opinion, though. If you feel comfortable running 1.5, go ahead. But I think 1.95 should give you plenty of clearance with the chains.
 
Agreed, there is also 1.65, 1.75, and 2.0 as well. I went from a 2.10 to a 1.95 and the rubbing issue was resolved.
 
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