Wide Tires "Flopping Over" on Narrow Rims - Ad Hype or Reality?
01-27-13, 10:18 PM
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Wide Tires "Flopping Over" on Narrow Rims - Ad Hype or Reality?
I'm in the process of changing over from "serious recreational cyclist" to "sexagenarian who thinks he can race". Due mainly to lack of money right now for a new wheelset with PT, I'm using my current wheelset - Open Pros, Ultegra front hub and PT Pro+ rear. The OPs are traditional 19mm-wide-at-the-brake-track rims.
In HED's ad copy for their 23mm-wide Ardennes series wheels, they claim that the wider rims prevent tires from flopping over while cornering. When I read that, the needle on my BS meter came off the peg and wavered a bit. I've never heard of clinchers flopping over, but then I'm new to worrying about how hard I can corner in a crit, so it may well be an issue.
I've been running 700x25s for the last three years without problems, but my priorities were how well they rode and how long they lasted. Now I have to worry about how well they stick; if the 25s will stick too well with resulting "flop over", I'll go with the 700x23s my OPs were apparently designed for.
So...is this "flop over" real? Stick with the 700x25s, or go to 700x23s?
Thanks!
In HED's ad copy for their 23mm-wide Ardennes series wheels, they claim that the wider rims prevent tires from flopping over while cornering. When I read that, the needle on my BS meter came off the peg and wavered a bit. I've never heard of clinchers flopping over, but then I'm new to worrying about how hard I can corner in a crit, so it may well be an issue.
I've been running 700x25s for the last three years without problems, but my priorities were how well they rode and how long they lasted. Now I have to worry about how well they stick; if the 25s will stick too well with resulting "flop over", I'll go with the 700x23s my OPs were apparently designed for.
So...is this "flop over" real? Stick with the 700x25s, or go to 700x23s?
Thanks!
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01-27-13, 10:42 PM
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It's not "flop over" it's just "flop":
https://www.hedwheels.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ArdLT12
But, ya, it's a thing.
https://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...et-huts_232490
https://www.hedwheels.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ArdLT12
But, ya, it's a thing.
https://velonews.competitor.com/2012/...et-huts_232490
01-28-13, 11:58 AM
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Yep. Wider is better for technical descents and allowing to run lower pressure. Also improves aero-ness to a degree. Many if not most manufacturers are offering wider rims now.
01-28-13, 12:05 PM
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I'm 250lbs and used to run 25's on a 19mm rim and I could feel the tire "crabbing" on fast corners. I built up a set of A-23 velocity rims with the same 25 tires and the tire seems to grip much better and I run at 10 PSI lower.
01-28-13, 12:39 PM
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So it's not an issue on conventional width rims with the tires pumped to decent pressure. Wider rims might allow you to run lower pressure without the tires squirming.
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01-28-13, 04:10 PM
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Lots of folks race on open pros. Make sure the pressure is right for the tires and you should be fine.
01-29-13, 09:56 AM
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I've been using 35c slicks on regular alu rims on my cx bike for years now. I weigh 185-190 + bike, I use about 60 psi f and r, and I am not afraid to corner hard. Never had any kind of problem with "flop". Never even felt any squishiness that I didn't attribute to just ordinary low psi.
01-29-13, 06:42 PM
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Wide rims are a fairly big deal on the CX bike with clinchers at <30psi. I'm considering getting a set of wide carbon race wheels (Firecrest-ish somethings) and a set of bike hub store wide aluminum rimmed wheels. If I'm feeling particularly rich, maybe go for that new 1-legged power meter thing and sell the PTap wheel also. Whatever I do, they all need to be the same width.
02-11-13, 07:01 PM
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I wouldn't trade my Hed's C2's for anything. You will notice a big difference with wider rimes. I just bought my GF a set last week.
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