I'm 5'9" and had the same issue. I choose the LHT 54cm w/26" wheels. I was leaving behind a Fuji w/27" wheels and 1 1/4" tires. At first, I couldn't get over the noise the tires the LHT made. At first I felt like I was pushing more weight because the noise kept reminding me of the extra resistance. However, I'm fully pleased with the 26" wheels and fatter tires. I love how they handle the bumps, sharp edges, thorns, gravel, rocks, etc with ease. Plus I feel more stable with a perceived lower center of gravity.