Thread: Thinner tires?
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Old 07-26-15 | 02:48 PM
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Mandeville
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Bikes: Trek Domane

For riding on paved roads tires of generally of the same design other than their size perform thusly:

The thinner the tire the more agile the bike will be in most situations and it will accelerate faster . It will not ride as comfortably or be as "accommodating" especially for the over 200 pound rider. The heavier the rider is the more likely this is a factor. (The air pressure in both thin and larger tires determine in part the extent of comfort difference.)

Larger tires up to a point within certain limitations will usually be faster. (For instance 28c v 25c.) The larger tire such as a 28 v 25 has less rolling resistance but it weighs more. So it's two factors working against each other for speed. Again air pressure difference between the two tires will also be a factor.

Note: What I said about larger tires often being "faster" than their narrower same type cousins will no doubt be hotly disputed by some and equally strongly affirmed by others. If one checks independent reputable sites with scientific data and testing one will see what I state is accurate. Personally, speaking just for my self regarding the bikes I ride or have ridden I have found the larger is faster to be true for me. (YMMV.) For instance on my main road bike I just went up one size in the exact same model line of tires. I have set new PR times on all of my main climbs on the first ride with the new tires. Naturally the climbs have to be a minimum distance and possibly a minimum grade. One such example of the new PR is a 1.4 mile climb with a seven percent average grade. The PR time improvement was one minute and five seconds.
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