Clipless in Coeur d'Alene
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 22
From: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Bikes: Tandems: Calfee Dragonfly S&S, Ventana ECDM mtb; Singles: Specialized Tarmac SL4 S-Works, Specialized Stumpjumper Pro, etal.
Merlin nailed the discussion concerning the Pro trend of matching rim & tire widths for aerodynamics.
Also, as discussed in the "19mm rim" thread, using tires that are much wider than the outer rim width will increase the amount of tire "flop" while cornering. So, if you are looking for performance (ie: high speed) cornering, going with a wider tire on a narrow rim is not the best setup.
IMO, you would be better off first looking at the rim widths and profiles the pros are using (med-tall & wide ie: >= 21mm), then match an appropriate tire.
Last edited by twocicle; 06-12-13 at 04:34 PM.