Originally Posted by
jackb
I recently bought a 2022 Checkpoint SL5 with 40 mm tires. I have a 2018 Domane SL 5 Disc with 32 mm tires. The difference is amazing. While I continue to ride both bikes, it's clear to me that for comfort, there is no comparison. The Checkpoint feels much smoother. It's already becoming my bike of choice for most rides.
On the same theme - my road bikes are carbon fiber, steel and titanium. When I put the titanium bike together, the wheels I had available among the spare parts were fairly wide Velocity A23 and the tires were some 28mm Gatorskins i had from a bike of my kid's I sold a few years ago. Anyway, the first time I rode that titanium bike I wasn't thinking about the tires and wheels and thought I was feeling the "magical" titanium ride, compared to my CF bike which has always been plenty comfortable even with 23mm tires on narrow rims. Then I realized that it was the tires. Since then, I've used the wheels/tires from the CF bike and, aside from handling (the ti bike is quicker geometry), the ti bike is no more comfortable than the CF. If I could fit the 28's on the CF bike I could complete the subjective comparison, but alas, they don't fit.
Just another personal anecdote in favor of tires being far more important than frame material, handlebars, stems, and seat posts. I won't say the same about saddles, because they are of utmost importance.