Can You Use 700c Tire On Your Touring Bike?

For long-distance travel, touring a bike is a great option. A touring bike tire is typically wider than other bike tires. Wider tires give better grip and traction on off-road riding. Then what about 700c tires? Can you use 700c tire on Your touring bike? Yes, today I am going to talk about those with you to meet your thirst. Let’s deep dive into it.

What Do 700c Tires Mean?

According to the ‘French system’, 700c is the size of a bike tire. The “700” number indicates the bicycle tire’s diameter in millimeters. When you look at your bike from behind or in front, you will see the width code “C.”.

• Tire widths were classified from “a” (the narrowest) to “d” (the widest).
• The width of a “c” tire is almost the same as the width of one of these.

Benefits Of 700c Tires:

Maintain A Better Speed

Tires with larger diameters are heavier, so they carry more weight. You can’t stop them once they get rolling. Having 700c tires allows you to cruise at a faster average speed.

• When you stop pedaling, you won’t lose speed as quickly as if you had smaller tires. During flat sections, this is also useful.
• And bikes that are kept at a constant speed require less energy.

700c Tires Roll Better

Larger tires are easier to roll over potholes, branches, rocks, and other obstacles. Taking on technical terrain is easier this way. Additionally, it is more comfortable. It is easier to glide over bumps on the road with large tires. Consequently, the ride is more comfortable.

You Can Travel Faster With 700c Tires

You can maintain a higher average speed. For instance, a 700c tire may allow you to average one mph faster than a 26-inch tire. With the same amount of riding time, a month-long tour could cover several hundred miles more.

Globally, 700c Is The Standard

700c is a standard tire size and you can find this anywhere. It is widely available, making them easy to find in most stores.

A 700c Tire May Offer Better Traction

Larger tires provide more contact with the ground, which increases traction. Additionally, you can run larger tires at a lower pressure.

Good Price

700c bicycle tires are relatively inexpensive compared to other sizes of tires. Undoubtedly, it is an affordable option for budget-conscious riders. Furthermore, 700c tires can be easily replaced if necessary.

Drawbacks Of 700c Tire

• Manufacturing 700c tires require more material. So this Tire is quite expensive.
• 700c tires are structurally weaker than 26-inch tires, so they can’t carry heavy loads.
• A 700c tire weighs more. The manufacture of these products uses more materials, so they are heavier.
• Since 700c tires are heavier, they accelerate slower. They require more energy to get rolling. In comparison to 26-inch tires, 700c tires spin up slower. It takes more work to start from a stop. Getting to speed takes longer when coasting down a hill. Stop-and-go city riding becomes more difficult and slower as a result.
• 700c tires reduced maneuverability as larger tires turn slower. Navigation of technical trails becomes more difficult due to less responsive steering.
• Additionally, 700c wheels make the bike physically larger, making it more difficult to handle.

But Can You Use 700c Tire On Your Touring Bike?

Touring bikes require wider tires for long-distance traveling because wider tires give better grip and traction in off-road riding.

• As 700c is a wider tire, you can use it as a touring bike tire.
• It will give you better traction on gravel, stone rocks, potholes, and other obstacles.
• It also gives you a comfortable ride with high-speed riding.

But there are some drawbacks of 700c Tire to use in touring bikes-

• 700c tires can not carry heavy loads.
• These tires are quite heavy, so you need more energy to ride them.
• Sometimes a bit expensive.

So, if you are traveling with a heavy load, it’s better to avoid 700c tires for your touring bike.

Then Which Tire Is Best For A Touring Bike?

26-inch standard-size tires are best for touring bikes. It is a universal mountain bike tire size. You can find this tire anywhere as the size is very popular.

• These wider tires give you a comfortable ride on paved and unpaved surfaces.
• It also gives you a better grip and traction on dry and wet surfaces.
• And most importantly, 26″ tires are structurally strong so you can carry a heavy load with these tires.
• The price of these 26″ tires is quite reasonable.

So if you are going long distances with heavy loads and want a standard and reasonable Tire, 26-inch tires are a good option.

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To Conclude

At the end of this topic, it is clear 700c tires can be used as touring bike tires. But if you need to carry heavy loads and cost is a fact, then there are better choices than 700c tires. In this scenario, you can choose 26 inches standard tires.