Q: Fitting bigger tires on Sam Hillborne

[Will Stratton]

I have put a set of Soma Shikoro 700c x 42 tires on my 2025 54 cm Sam Hillborne, and they feel nice, but I'd like to take this bike on some occasionally choppy mud and gravel around the Hudson Valley (not doing any real mountain biking, I promise). I also miss the feel of the Rene Herse Umtanum Ridge knobby tires that I had been riding on my Clem. Does anyone know if the Sam will fit a set of 700C x 44 Rene Herse Manastash Ridge tires, with their standard casing? Kind of a shot in the dark--mostly wondering about anyone's experience going any bigger than 700c x 42 with their recent Sam Hillbornes.

Thanks,

Will in Beacon

[Franco Rinaldi]

I have fit Rene herse 48 knobbies on mine. 

Franco Rinaldi 

c:  646.403.0661 

-Pardon any typos, Siri typed this message-

On Mar 31, 2026, at 2:14 PM, Will Stratton <wstr...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have put a set of Soma Shikoro 700c x 42 tires on my 2025 54 cm Sam Hillborne, and they feel nice, but I'd like to take this bike on some occasionally choppy mud and gravel around the Hudson Valley (not doing any real mountain biking, I promise). I also miss the feel of the Rene Herse Umtanum Ridge knobby tires that I had been riding on my Clem. Does anyone know if the Sam will fit a set of 700C x 44 Rene Herse Manastash Ridge tires, with their standard casing? Kind of a shot in the dark--mostly wondering about anyone's experience going any bigger than 700c x 42 with their recent Sam Hillbornes.

Thanks,

Will in Beacon

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[Brian Turner]

Will, isn't one of the main changes to the 2025 Hillborne models the ability to take up to a 48mm tire? There's a photo on the Sam page showing them measuring a 50mm tire that looks like it fits pretty well.

Brian

Lexington KY

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[Steve]

Will, I'm running 650b 47mm WTB Byways on my '25 Sam on Alex DM21 rims.   They measure out right on the button, excluding their shallow side knobs, with room to spare (though I'd guess not quite enough for fenders with the 47s).  

Steve in AVL

[kw]

I also have a 2025 Sam Hillborne in 54 and have 48mm Soma Shikoros on Dyad rims. I also have managed to fit sks P50 fenders too.

Ken

Brooklyn, NY

[Andy Beichler]

This is a helpful conversation for me.  Working part time and being in school means I am not in the place to pick up a Rivendell bike right now. But, I am planning on what I want to do after I finish (August) and return to the full time working world. I know I want a roadish bike that can handle a 700cX45 tire and fenders.  The Sam and the Charlie fit the bill.  I like the Charlie but I weigh about 235 and doubt I will be consistently under 205 ever. The Sam is a better bet, I think.  I would also like to look at the Homer (love the Homer blue) because of the long chainstays but it looks as though it is out of the rotation for now.