Bike Forums - Tire width vs. rolling resistance

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbg (Post 15039313)

I'm pretty sure higher pressure in a smaller tire gives lower rolling resistance on a perfect surface. Let me know if you ever find such a surface on any road rides. To me it's about comfort and not unduly penalizing myself on rolling resistance.

After one terrible 3 hour stretch on 23's at 110psi rolling over about ten thousand expansion joints, I swore off tiny, high pressure tires forever. Never again. Ever.

Just wait till you ride the same road on 35mm tires inflated to 110 psi! Super low rolling resistance and your water bottle bolts will rattle loose - along with your teeth and contents of your lower intestine!

I had a set of 700X28c Continental tires years ago, and after work one day (at a bike shop) I decided to test out the factoid I had heard that Conti tires can be inflated to twice their rated pressure... I cheated and only inflated them to 160 psi, and by the time I had ridden across Toronto to my home, bolts on my bike that had remained tight for months or years had literally rattled loose! Rolled fast on the smooth parts, though.