I am getting ready to do some riding in Belgium on some of the cobbled climbs in Flanders. The bike I’ll have with me is a 2017 Tarmac SL5. I am pretty sure it can handle 28mm, but am wondering if I could use 30mm. Specialized does not seem to list the max tire width for this frame. Does anyone have an idea of where I could get this information, and are there any recommendations for the tires to use? The wheels are Roval CLX 32s.
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The problem may be the brakes. Most rim brakes can’t fit a tire larger than a 28.
Hi Scot, I have a rim brake SL5, and had this issue firsthand when I upgraded to 25mm rims and 28 tires. I originally used specialized roubaix 28s but the rubbed the frame and top of the rim brake housing. They were incredibly comfy though…
Then I switched to bontrager r2 28s and they fit way better, with perfect clearance. They are sadly not as comfortable, but better than 25/26 tires.
I would try the r2 or r3 28s and run 75-80 psi. Safe travels!