Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Every tire test ever done shows that higher pressure in the same tire reduces rolling resistance, regardless of the surface, smooth, bumpy, etc.
Volume 5, Number 1, page 26,
Bicycle Quarterly: "Tubular tires are faster at lower pressures." The statement is accompanied by a graph demonstrating the test results.
Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
I've done some informal tire testing on my rollers, trying different tires at differing pressures. Pretty much, the lighter the tire, the faster. The higher the pressure in a given tire, the faster on normal roads. Simple as that.
The fastest tire on rollers would probably be a narrow steel strip. But on real roads, a narrow steel strip would be fairly slow. So the suspension of air-filled tires decreases rolling resistance over less-than-perfect surfaces. The question, then, is "How much air volume is ideal for a given surface?" There is no single answer.
Originally Posted by
Carbonfiberboy
Racers don't run wide tires. If they were really faster, they would...If you are riding Paris Roubaix and you weigh 120-140, you'll be fastest on the cobbles with 27c tubulars at 80-100 lbs. That won't work for clinchers, even at those body weights, a big reason they (pros) ride tubulars.
Hmm...