Originally Posted by Thor29

That's a bunch of baloney. Fat tires don't offer any more rolling resistance than skinny tires. They are heavier and less aerodynamic, but generally you aren't going as fast on a touring bike so the aerodynamics don't matter much. When you compare the weight of fatter tires to the total weight of the rider plus gear, the extra cush is a much bigger benefit than the slightly faster acceleration. They also offer more protection for your rims when hitting potholes, etc.