Rene Herse Tire Actual Width

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Oliver Moss

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Dec 13, 2024, 12:34:26 AM12/13/24
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I've picked up a few different widths of RH 650b tires used and noticed that they are consistently under the listed width by about 3-5mm. On the RH website they list the approximate "actual" width with certain given rim IDs, and I've noticed the ones I've gotten to be under.

The two rim IDs i've used are 17mm and 21.6mm

As an example, I'm running a set of Babyshoe Pass 42s on 17mm ID and they are measuring 38mm

None of this is really too much of a deal as they are great tires and I really enjoy riding on them, but I wondered what other's have noticed in terms of actual width. Of course I know it all depends on the rim and tire... ect. but it was something I noticed and thought I'd ask if anyone else had the same experience.

Cheers,

~Oliver

rlti...@gmail.com

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Dec 13, 2024, 1:29:46 AM12/13/24
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I only have one bike with Herse tires and it has Umtanum Ridge on it. They measure 53 and 54 mm and are listed as 55 mm so they are pretty close to what is stated I think.

Robert Tilley
San Diego, CA

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On Dec 12, 2024, at 9:34 PM, Oliver Moss <oliverda...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've picked up a few different widths of RH 650b tires used and noticed that they are consistently under the listed width by about 3-5mm. On the RH website they list the approximate "actual" width with certain given rim IDs, and I've noticed the ones I've gotten to be under.
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Bill Lindsay

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Dec 13, 2024, 7:03:04 AM12/13/24
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It's not totally clear to me what info you are looking for exactly.  If you are looking for general qualitative info, I guess I will offer that I believe you when you claim that the second hand tires you have bought were a touch undersized.  I've seen some Compass and Rene Herse tires a touch undersized, and some over sized, and some spot-on.  If you are asking us to guarantee that all RH tires for all time are always 3-5mm undersized, then my feedback is "No, in my experience that is not the case".  

The oversized tire I can remember was a 40.5mm Barlow Pass, nominally 38mm.  My current Barlow Pass tires (622x38) and Bon Jon Pass tires (622x35) are close enough to each other that I consider them interchangeable, indistinguishable.  The most "spot-on" tires in my current stable are my Umtanum Ridge (584x55) and Switchback Hill (584x48).

Bill Lindsay
El Cerrito, CA

Patrick Moore

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Dec 13, 2024, 10:28:41 AM12/13/24
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Elk Pass, which first came out in 2015, is labeled 32 mm but measures 27 mm on 13 mm IW rims and 29 mm on 15 mm IW rims. I expect it would pass 30 mm on 21 mm rims.

The much later Naches Pass is labeled 42 and measures 41 mm on 15 mm IW rims. Both the EPs are extralight (the EP comes only in an extralight form). My regular casing Oracle Ridges measure 48 to 49 on 27 mm IW rims — again, a later model. I think later models are more accurately labeled, but it’s clear that rim width affects actual tire width as you’d expect it to do for very supple casings.

The 42 mm Naches Pass measured 38 mm+ on those 13 mm IW rims — brand new tires  just after mounting, before any stretching. 

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Oliver Moss

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Dec 13, 2024, 11:20:51 AM12/13/24
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Hey Bill, I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, just wondering other's experience. Certainly not looking for a guarantee, just conversation. 

Thanks all for your responses.

Bob

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Dec 13, 2024, 12:24:53 PM12/13/24
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Oliver,

My experience with RH tires on four bikes (three of which I currently own) differs.
  • Homer, Velocity Dyad rims (18.6 mm inner width, according to Velocity's website): Barlow Pass measured 38 mm. I no longer have this lovely bike.
  • Bantam custom: Pacenti Brevet rims: Babyshoe Pass measure 42 mm.
  • Riv All Rounder, Velocity Cliffhanger rims (25 mm inner width): Humptulips Ridge, endurance casing, measure 54 mm.
  • Surly LHT, Alex Adventurer rims (18.7 mm inner width, according to FreeSpoke): Rat Trap Pass, endurance casing, measure 52 mm.
Measurements done with the same analog caliper.

In each case (well, I think this is what I did with my Homer back in 2016), I mounted the tires on the rims, inflated to the stated maximum pressure, and left them for a couple days.

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Bob

Oliver Moss

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Dec 13, 2024, 1:25:34 PM12/13/24
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Hey Bob, interesting thanks for all this great info. I don't inflate them up very high at all, so maybe what they need is to be pressurized that high for a bit to get to break in. 

As I said in my first post, I love the ride and have no issues at all with the tires, just found in interesting when I noticed that they were all skinnier than I thought they'd be. 

DavidP

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Dec 13, 2024, 3:06:46 PM12/13/24
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RH lists the following for the Babyshoe Pass
  • Actual width on 20 mm rim (internal): approx. 40 mm
  • Actual width on 23 mm rim (internal): approx. 41 mm
Your measurement of 38mm on 17mm internal seems in line.

My experience with RH tires (Fleecer Ridge, Juniper Ridge, Rat Trap Pass) has also been in line with the guidance.

-Dave

Father of Sam

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Dec 14, 2024, 12:11:36 AM12/14/24
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Hi Oliver,

You may have heard enough already, but I thought I'd throw my 2 cents in:  

I've had 4 different models of RH tires mounted solely on Velocity Cliffhanger rims (700c and 650B with an IW of 25mm), and all have measured exactly as the label on their sidewalls indicate.  Cliffhangers are about as wide a rimbrake capable rim as you'll find. My guess is that the manufacturer would rather overshoot on the label than undershoot, as ultimately the width of the rim dictates the actual mounted tire width.  If RH were labeling their widths according to a median instead of a maximum rim width (say, 19 or 20mm), then the Hatcher Pass might be labeled 700 x 44 instead of 700 x 48.  If they're labeled as 44mm wide, and I've carefully measured the clearance between my chainstays as 48mm, then I would buy these Hatcher Pass tires expecting that they would have as perfect (IMO) 2mm of clearance on each side.  But then, lo and behold, I mount them on my Cliffhanger rims, and I'm left with a wheel whose tire rubs the chainstays and I'm mumbling curses under my breath.  

Makes sense to me that stated width errs on the larger side. Hopefully that lends a little peace of mind.

FWIW,
Peter


On Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 9:34:26 PM UTC-8 Oliver Moss wrote:

Bernard Duhon

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Dec 14, 2024, 8:30:28 PM12/14/24
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I Have RH 38 MM Barlow pass & 35 mm Bon Jovi pass endurance casing on Campy proton rims 18 mm wide

They measure spot on

 

RH 32 mm measure 29 mm on campy neutrons,  but RH tells you on the website they will measure 29mm

 

 

BTW the only tires I have ever had that measure as advertised

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Oliver Moss

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Dec 14, 2024, 11:08:57 PM12/14/24
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Thanks again all

Bob Walicki

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Dec 24, 2024, 12:27:05 AM12/24/24
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Adding to this, just for more data in case it gets searched at some point.

I'm running Snoqualmies, Endurance Plus. 700x44 at about 40 psi (tubeless). They're at just under 43mm.

Not too shabby.

Spencer Robinson

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Dec 24, 2024, 7:47:11 PM12/24/24
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Barlow Pass, endurance casing, mounted on Velocity A23 rims, tubeless, 40 psi and about 2 seasons on them. I measure just a cat whisker under 40mm, 
I did attempt to measure the cat’s whisker but the cat was having none of the caliper in the face

Nick Payne

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Dec 27, 2024, 7:16:13 PM12/27/24
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I have RH Antelope Hill standard casing (55mm nominal width) mounted on H Plus Son Todestrieb 25mm internal width rims, and after several months of use they measure 53mm.

Nick Payne
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