Originally Posted by
tallbikeman
What I'm looking for is better materials, longer wearing materials, and frankly a wider pin and roller assembly to spread wear over a greater surface area. 7 speed chain is wider that 10 speed chain and this width is in pin and roller length, both of which are the wear areas of a chain.
It is my understanding the between the pin width doesn't really vary. I purposely selected an 8 speed cassette on my mid drive conversion for the cheaper and reportedly stronger chains.
Bike chains explained: structure, speeds, compatibility, chain length and more - BikeRadar
It’s worth noting that the roller widths of derailleur chains for different numbers of speeds are almost the same: 2.38mm for 5- to 8-speed chains and 2.18mm for 9-speed and above. What changes is the width of the side plates.