Newbie Question: Can I swap dirt and road wheels?

[Kurtains]

Hi all,

I've only been riding a year or so but I haven't done any servicing on a bike (but of course had it serviced) so I don't quite know my way around a bike properly.

I was wondering if I can fit a whole dirt bike wheel (and dirt tyre) onto a road bike? (preferably my GSX250)
I figure there would probably be the complication of the rear sprockets needing to match.
Has anyone done this before or has any advice on it? eg. "don't, that's stupid" or "Yeah, P**s easy mate".

I ask this because I'm keen to go up to Mt Hutt (Canterbury) soon and I'd rather ride up there myself than catch a van. I figure I could just buy a dual-purpose to go up there, but that's more money than I'd like to spend.

Also, yes I would stud the tyres for getting up there in-case the road is a bit icy or there's a bit of snow.

Any advice or suggestions welcomed,
Cheers!

[Akzle]

nah fkn go for i. Buy spare set of rims, and find some knobblies to fit. Maybe not in that order. Keep in mind that the only thing this affects is grippage. Youre still on a road bike with roadbike ground clearance and road bike steering and road bike gearing (unless you change sprockets)
dnt knw what tyres will fit you rims...personally, i suggest round ones.

[russd7]

yeah im with akzle on this, round ones are normally the best bet but keep in mind the clearances in your swing arm and forks, this will limit the size of the knobblys you will be able to fit and they will be shit on those sweeping corners through the mackenzie country

[BMWST?]

you are onto it,the chain line has to be correct and you will have to juggle things around so the brakes lso line up,Most wheel assemblies have different sized spacers to get this right.
you can probably do what you want just by getting more suitable tyres