29+ tyres (and 40/45mm rims) for touring?

[Cider]

I just treated myself to a rigid 29+ as a bikepacker and comfortable cruiser for dry terrain, particularly the local hardpack clay, corrugations, fire trails and sandy tracks.

I always intended to replace the knobbies with something less aggressive, easier rolling, and hopefully more puncture resistant - I'm after the comfort, rollover and flotation of the plus size, I don't need a ton of soft surface traction. Of course, I'm finding that there aren't many 29+ tyres in non-aggressive treads. The Vee Speedster in 29x2.8 looks interesting, but it isn't tubeless, which I'd prefer:



I'm looking at the Vittoria Mezcal, but now we're down to 29x2.6. My Bombtrack has 40mm rear and 45mm front rims. How far off of ideal is this?



I'm prepared to get new rims if necessary, assuming I like the Mezcals (or some other tyre) enough to justify it - but I'm curious to hear other opinions and tyre/rim suggestions?

[RonK]

Why do you want 29+ tyres for touring? I use 29x2.1 Mezcals on my bikepacker and wouldn't want or need anything wider.
I have 27.5x 2.6 Mezcals on my MTB and they are much heavier and harder to push.

[Cider]

Why do you want 29+ tyres for touring?

Corrugations, primarily, and forest trails with lots of sticks.

[Thoglette]

The n’est plus ultra for big tyres are Rene Herse who do 55s in both treaded and smooth.

Your call as to whether the price is right.

[Andy01]

I have some Continental Contact City Plus in 27.5" which are much faster rolling than typical MTB tyres, but they don't do 29".

Perhaps;
https://www.continental-tires.com/bicyc ... d-king-2-2
or
https://www.continental-tires.com/bicyc ... -fighter-3