Originally Posted by
nfmisso
My rather limited experience with a 50mm tire (Schwalbe Big Ben) on an 18mm inside width rim (Velocity Aeroheat) on pavement was not secure feeling, the bike felt very loose in corners compared to the same tires on 25mm inside width (Velocity Cliffhangers). I found it a bit un-nerving, especially at 25+mph (ebike).
I regularly ride at speeds higher than 25mph on
knobbed mountain bike tires. I’ve never felt any kind of looseness in corners.
Originally Posted by
TallRider
The standard line about wide tires on relatively narrow rims is that "light bulb"-looking tires are less-supported by the rim under the shear forces (sideways) when cornering, and that wide tires are more likely to fold over sideways when cornering on narrow rims. I'm not sure how strong is the data that supports this conclusion, but I'v heard it repeatedly.
I haven’t experienced any kind of “folding over” in corners over the 25+ years I’ve been running wide tires on narrow rims. And, as I pointed out, that’s with konbbed tires. Even on pavement, I’ve never had any kind of problem. Nor on rocks or hard pack. The “folding over” thing is a friend of a friend of a friend of someone’s mother’s second cousin’s godson’s nanny’s brother myth.
And, just too be clear, I’m a big guy who rides and corners aggressively. If anyone were going to fold over a tire, I’d be that guy.