If tyre clearance is tight on a disc brake-equipped bike, swapping to a 650b wheel could increase the tyre size potential. That said, all tyres and wheels are different and going beyond the recommended manufacturer widths runs the risk of injury, tyre failure, a voided warranty and is at your own risk. These charts are generally pretty conservative and we have had no problems running 35mm tyres on rims as small as 14mm. Many rim tyre compatibility charts will not recommend a 35mm tyre on a rim smaller than 17mm. The problem with a narrow rim is that it makes a larger tyre form a light bulb shape and reduce ride quality and grip. It is worth checking your inner rim diameter (IRD) as older rims are a lot narrower than modern road rims and tiny compared to the huge IRDs of the gravel bike rims that are now available. If you are using rim brakes, the clearance between the calipers must also be considered. Measuring around the seat stays, chainstays and fork should indicate how much clearance you have, remember to account for mud clearance and variables in tyre sizes between brands.

Touring bikes and cyclocross bikes may not even require a tyre change although modern gravel tyres will be better suited for the task in hand.

This will exclude racy frames that were designed around 23mm tyres however endurance, touring and cyclocross frames generally have girthier spacing to fit bigger rubber. Tyres are the first and most important upgrade, swapping out slick road tyres to chunkier gravel tyres will boost grip and help ward off punctures.

Trifox gravel frame