[look 171]

Originally Posted by jwasbury

@ look 171, I haven't encountered a road bike from the era of that Trek or earlier that won't accept 28c tires. I have 3 bonded Vitus frames from the 80's through the early 90's. All of them take 28c tires no problem.

My 1979 Guerciotti is on 28c, no problem. While there aren't many available, I am sure I could get 30c tires on there, and possibly 32c.

I considered trying out these 30c tires, but don't know enough about them to drop the coin:

Strada Bianca PRO

This place is a great source for tires and items to turn your old road bike or old thin steel MTB into a mixed surface machine:

https://www.compasscycle.com/product-category/components/tires/

Further, having used the Compass tires, I know they are made by Panaracer. The Panaracer Gravel king tires are virtually identical to what Compass offers, but are less cost.

https://www.thebikesmiths.com/products/panaracer-gravelking-700c?variant=44543411474&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7pm8mYuA2wIVhFqGCh198g6AEAQYBCAB EgLQovD_BwE

These are lightweight and high threadcount fast rolling folding clincher tires that are designed for more rugged use than racing tires.

The old steel road frames had a bit of clearance between the seat stays a wider tire can be fitted, but the real issue is the space between the tire and the down tube. Usually that's really close. The carbon frames are made much tighter. No way I can get a 28 into my Look frame. It was the Laurent Jalaburt special. I can't get a 25mm tire into my old Trek OCLV. I have cramped a different brand in there but at the end of the day, the clearance is less then 1mm. A 25 will rub under the fork crown on my current Time frame.