Originally Posted by
woodcraft
He is talking about what is faster. You're the one talking about rolling resistance, and so confusion. Spending much time thinking about contact patches and steel
drum tests seems to lead to that IMO.
My earlier reply didn't post. So this time with brevity.
Then - 'He is talking about what is faster' - means someone is dreaming about going faster over XX miles on a rough road or off-road or gravel road (how about CX, too? - that's a natural follow). And I would offer that there are so many variables to FASTER as to be a subjective and highly variable answer, requiring far more analysis than tires.
edit: As an example of fastest tire for an off-road situation - and we are not talking mtb situations - take an off road race like is run every year in Italy, 'The White Roads' race Strada Bianca (or something). What's the typical tire width of the top10 riders over the past few years? 28mm@80psi? 30mm@75psi? 32@70psi 35@65? 40@50psi? 48mm@35psi?
I don't know the answer but it's likely much closer to 28/30mm firm than 40/48mm soft.