im very happy with the fit its a simple design and very secure. because of this even if the tires were not a tight fit the bikes would still be secure ie im confident the 3" would be just as secure as the two inch.

my mate had some 2.3 tioga (sp) tires which came up quite large, we had to let some air out of them to make them fit. its difficult what to say for the best, an average 2.3 should be a tightish fit but ok, a above average 2.3 and above id say wont fit.

hope this helps!

I managed to get some Michelin Comp 16's in a 2.5" size stylee into mine.

It did bend though.

But saying that, my normal tyres (luvvly Panaracer Cinder 2.2's or thereabouts) drop in fine.   I did find that all the little allen bolts holding it all in position went on strike and then stripped, but that might be more to do with me letting it get wet/salty/muddy then tightening them up with a crap free MBUK allen key............Once modified to take some sodding great R-clips drilled through the lot it's fine though.  It's good and stable, even with 4 bikes (I know, I know) bodged onto it and hung off the back of my estate car doing, er, an (in)decent speed on the M5.

thanks guys, think i'll play safe and go with the wider ones. the deal i had seen has gone now (too much thinking, no enough doing!).

Perhaps you can help with a follow up - do the vertical support bars prevent you getting into the boot on a hatch back, once the bikes have been removed? or do you have to drop the rack off too?