Tire size preference on your mountain bike
 

The new trend in bicycling is the 27.5 tire size as the best compromise between a 26 and 29. I'm considering buying new rims and tires this year and down sizing from 29ers to the 27.5 mostly for trail handling. What is your preference ?

Old school 26ers!

You cannot just change wheel size as wheel size is frame specific.

Smaller
 

Does handle better, but you lose efficiency.

You may be able to get 27.5s on your bike, but check it carefully. May have other issues.

You will have issues. Frame geometry is wheel diameter specific.

I am still old school on 26" wheels as well. They aren't as fast, but I prefer the handling of the smaller wheels.

A friend of mine put the 27 on his spec 29 and was concerned about the frame geometry, after his second season with this set up he is still happy with it. It is a different bike than mine so I'm not sure I would get the same positive result. I found the main area I had ridden last season to be a bit much for fast and tight terrain and my acceleration was lagging some what. I'm not a racer but it would be nice to keep up in this terrain.

Lets be honest, a different wheel diameter is not going to make you able to keep up. work on your engine..

26", only Mtn bike I ever owned. Trek fuel 100. Good bike, fast. Want faster work on your engine as stated.

What do you ride? Shuttle? If you ride up as well as down, you'll miss the 29er. 29" climbs much easier than 27.5.
Imho, stick with what you got. Unless you're Brendan semenuk, I highly doubt you'll notice a difference.

29". I'm a bigger guy.

I've got a 26" and my wife has a 29".

When I'm doing something that involves picking my way downhill or thrashing through some bull**** 'trail', I love my bike. However, anything that involves a fire road, or a long stretch of up/down trail, or anything with some reasonable distance, the 29er kills it.

I find myself taking her bike quite often (if she isn't coming on that trip).

As a side benefit, it pull the chariot better as well.

This will be for my all mountain enduro full suspension bike. What I'm kind of thinking on is similar to what Danny hart did to his bike to win the 2011 down hill championship. Basically he took a bike designed with the geometry of a 29 and put the 650b or 27.5 wheel on with amazing results. This was pretty much the birth place of the 27.5 wheel. After this win manufacturers made the move

Danny harts 2011 down hill championship win.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSqj8c8LaBQ&sns=em

You don't think that was just to try and sell more bikes? I am surprised there isn't another new "standard" out this year!! Just the bike industry trying to reinvent the wheel. For me 26 works fine, always has and always will!!!

i've had a Specialized with 29" for 3 summers now and i love it. it seems easier to go faster. I'll be leisurely pedaling along and my wife is giving 'er to keep up with her 26".

I've always ridden 26 for mountain Bikes in the past and I tested my friends bike that had the 27 and the bike did feel different and we both run the same gear systems. Having put on several klms on a 26 and 29 I'm still interested in what the 27.5 has to offer. The wheels need to be replaced regardless from a prior beat down but I will have a 50pound pack and a rifle with me most of the time.

I have a couple of 29" now, have a downhill 26" and an old one in the shed.
I like the 29" for rough lumpy ground, I find it easier, to ride over tree roots holes, ruts etc, I think, this has to do with the slightly changed, entrance/exit angle from the larger tire,
fat bike next.

Always rode 26in but I want my next bike to be a 650b wheel.... Currently wheel less:(

Ah the wheel size debate, I thought I was on Pinkbike for a second :lol: