451 Tire Choices ... there are more than you think!

[moalani]

Hi all,

As I was looking for suitable tires for a very light-weight travel/race carbon road folding bike with 451 wheels, I soon realized that tire choices are A LOT more limited than for 406 wheels. But I really wanted the larger wheels!

My goals were:

• 451 wheels
• As light-weight as possible
• Low rolling resistance
• Somewhat skinny and slick in the front (minimum 28 mm, better 30 or 32 mm)
• Wider (meaning: a bit more comfort) and grippier in the back (minimum 35 mm, better 37 mm)

Initially, it seemed like 451 tire choices are extremely limited, especially for wider tires. And indeed, there are a lot of 28-451 mm and a lot of 37-451 tires and very little to nothing between.

Also, I soon learned that you need to look a lot on BMX and recumbent bike websites. And: I learned that "20x1-1/8" is the same as 28-451 and "20x1-3/8" is the same as 37-451.

After A TON of research, I found a reasonable amount of options. Some of them are really hard to come by, so you will need patience when trying to find them available online. And some are leftover stock and aren't even being produced anymore.

Anyway, here's my list, so YOU don't have to do the research anymore.

Schwalbe SX-R (30-451, 220 gr)
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Schwalbe-SX-R-11654618

Schwalbe One (28-451, 280 gr)
https://www.schwalbe.com/en/Schwalbe-One-11158993

Answer Carve Folding Tire (37-451, 230 gr | 28-451, 192 gr)
https://answerbmx.com/product/answer-carve-tires/

Box One 120 TPI Folding (37-451, 234 gr)
https://eu.boxcomponents.com/products/box-one-tires-2

Box Two 60 TPI Wired (37-451, 295 gr)
https://eu.boxcomponents.com/products/box-two-60-tpi-wire?variant=43140137746645

Compass Tire (37-451, 464 gr)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005905765852.html

Panaracer Minits Lite (23-451, 165 gr | 28-451, 190 gr)
https://panaracer.com/en/products/compact_en/minits_en/minits-lite-en/

Maxxis Torch (28-451, 296 gr | 37-451, 349 gr)
https://www.maxxis.com/us/tire/torch/

Maxxis DTH (28-451, 262 gr | 37-451, 350 gr)
https://www.maxxis.com/us/tire/dth/

Maxxis Holy Roller with knobs (37-451, 343 gr)
https://www.maxxis.com/us/tire/holy-roller/

Maxxis Detonator (37-451, 345 gr) - AliExpress
https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005007486353975.html

Michelin Pilot SX (37-451, 400 gr)
https://www.michelin.co.uk/bicycle/tyres/michelin-pilot-sx-racing-line-wire-bead#sizes

Michelin City J (37-451, 530 gr)
https://www.amazon.es/MICHELIN-Cubierta-Rennradreifen-Schwarz-FA003466039/dp/B007924NQO

Tioga Comp III with Knobs (28-451, 245 gr)
https://www.internet-bikes.com/en/188218-tioga-outer-band-comp-iii-20-x-1-1-8-28-451/

Tioga PowerBlock (35-451, 355 gr)
https://hollandbikeshop.com/en-gb/bicycle-parts-bmx/bmx-tires/bmx-tire-20-inch/tioga-powerblock-tire-20-x-1-3-8-black-775858/

Vee Speedster BMX (37-451, 440 gr | 28-451, 400 gr)
https://www.alltricks.com/F-176916-pneus-bmx/P-1859598-vee_tire_speedster_20___bmx_tire_wired_black

Sunlite Street Wire Bead Tire (37-451, 400 gr)
https://www.modernbike.com/sunlite-street-wire-bead-tire-20-x-1-3-8-black?srsltid=AfmBOopv-5_6FJJPhFM1krwYupSlrGZBHuEBgjTvYChZj3WBxCC7WTyI

IRC Jetty Plus (28-451) - AliExpress
https://www.aliexpress.com/i/1005005081434101.html

Kenda (37-451, 335 gr) - AliExpress
https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005008837313807.html

Kenda Kompact (37-451, 290 gr)
https://shop.kendatire.com/collections/bmx-dirt-jump/products/kompact-pro?variant=46650628079907

FYI: I ended up getting the Schwalbe SX-R (30-451) for the front and the Box One 120 TPI (37-451) for the rear. Both very hard to come by, but I did find and got them eventually.

Best,
Martin

[jhearrtot]

i recall i during my foldie days way back 2015 i think, i ran 451 rims with Schwalbe Kojak on it and the thinner Schwalbe Durano but not sure if those still exists for 20in

[moalani]

i recall i during my foldie days way back 2015 i think, i ran 451 rims with Schwalbe Kojak on it and the thinner Schwalbe Durano but not sure if those still exists for 20in

Yeah, no more 451s for the Kojak, only 406s and other sizes.

The Schwalbe Durano can still be found online for sale by a few 3rd party vendors, but afaik was also discontinued ... or rather, I think it's now basically the Schwalbe One.

[Greenred]

Thanks for putting this together. It's a pity there's not more official rolling resistance data. Ok it's a weird niche, but I'd pay for the data

[klindsey00]

now do this for 650C haha, they are even more nonexistent from my research.

[biceryder]

Thank you so much! I just built a 2019 Tern Surge for my daily commute.  Had a hard time sourcing the correct tires.  Nice to see options.

[moalani]

Thanks for putting this together. It's a pity there's not more official rolling resistance data. Ok it's a weird niche, but I'd pay for the data

After a few long rides on the Schwalbe SX-R 30-451, I can say with certainty that they are very fast.