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In road cycling, tire width is among the most highly contested subjects amongst hobbyists. The breadth of your bicycle tires is an essential decision you must make when purchasing a bicycle. Do you prefer broad or narrow tires? Both have advantages and disadvantages, so determining which is best for your riding objectives is vital.
The short answer is that wider tires mean more comfortable rides, while narrower ones are great for speed and efficiency.
Wide bicycle tires are gaining in popularity, but many cyclists still abide by the advantages of narrow tires.
On the market, there are three primary types: narrow, broad, and ultra-wide. Which option is ideal for you?
Narrow Vs Wide Tires – The Purposes Of Each
Traditionally, road cyclists had narrower tires (23mm or less) since they were typically lighter and hence believed to be quicker. Recent trends, however, have been in the other direction.
Manufacturers are urging road riders to use tires with a width of at least 28 millimeters on the grounds that they provide less frictional resistance and offer a more pleasant ride.
More than just tire widths, there are numerous aspects to consider when selecting bicycle tires, including the sort of topography you will be cycling on and other bicycling goals.
Additionally, you must confirm that the tires are suitable with the frame and fork of your bicycle. In this article, we will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of mountain and road bike tire so that you may make an educated selection.
Thin Vs Wide | Which TireIs Right For You?
Narrow Tires Vs Wide Tires – The Key Differences
1. Pace
Wider tires are slower than narrower ones. The speed of a bicycle is determined by rolling friction and airflow.
Bicycle wheels with narrower tires are more aerodynamic and have less rolling resistance than those with broader tires.
In addition, as a tire becomes firmer, it travels more quickly than soft tires.
There is no speed difference between standard tire sizes on smooth pavement (25-55 mm).
Historically, riders knew this. When inflatable tires were originally produced, “scorchers” employed broad tires since they started rolling over road bumps more efficiently.
According to older publications, as long as broad tires had flexible shells, they rolled as quickly as narrow ones. In following decades, though, racers opted for ever-narrower tires, erasing all of this knowledge.
Why did it require almost a century for something to be rediscovered? There are two main reasons why cyclists were formerly under the impression that thin tires wear faster:
2. Testing
The absence of the rider in laboratory testing on steel drums makes it impossible to assess suspended effects (caused by vibrations).
Considering just hysteretic losses (induced by tire deformation), narrow tires operate at greater pressures and bend less, absorbing less energy.
3. Placebo Effect
As we ride faster, the rate at which our bicycle rattles increases because our tires meet more road imperfections.
Narrow tires, however, enhance the amplitude of the waves they send, achieving the same result without increasing speed. In other terms, a bicycle with thin tires may seem quicker than it really is.
If you have a bike monitor, it will indicate that you have not improved your speed by inflating your tires more heavily. In contrast, broad tires vibrate less and so make many bikers feel slower.
Consequently, for almost a generation, thin tires felt and tested quicker in the lab. There was no reason to doubt that they were faster.
4. Bike Handling
Broader tires function best in cornering. They also provide more cornering traction.
Wider tires distribute weight more evenly, resulting in superior handling.
As long as you do not exceed the limitations of traction, narrower tires may lower weight at the furthest position from the axle, resulting in less effort during accelerating, stopping, and turning.
However, they transfer more road tremor and shock to the bicycle and rider, resulting in a rougher ride. In situations such as rocky or cobblestone roads, it renders the bicycle unsafe at high speeds.
It may also lead to premature component wear and failure.
5. Aerodynamic Performance
Narrower bike tires are more aerodynamic than broader ones.
If you need to move quickly, you may choose a narrow front tire and a wide back tire.
If you install bigger rear tires, they will cover the bike’s frame, eliminating any aerodynamic influence.
As usual, the situation becomes more difficult as aerodynamics progress. Clearly, a thin tire has a lower structural rigidity than a broad tire, but it is helpful to consider the rubber and rim as a unit rather than the tire alone.
The present tendency of producing wheels with larger rims is a result of the trend toward expanding the size of tires, especially in professional road racing. Wider rims provide superior mechanical support for large-diameter tires and are necessary for reattaching airflow to the rims.
Ride a 25mm wheel on several tiny rims and you will obtain a gelato effect: a large, bulging dollop of tire on a skinny cone-shaped rim. The mismatch between the two elements does not provide a high degree of aerodynamic efficiency.
However, wider rims were built expressly for use with larger tires, and the rims and tires operate aerodynamically together.
Airflow that is split by a broad tire may reattach to a wider rim more effectively than to a small rim, so lowering drag.
Even if installing a wide tire on a small rim does not enhance aerodynamics, it may be a worthwhile change for other purposes, such as increased comfort.
6. Comfort
More air is contained in wider tires, allowing them to absorb more shock than narrow tires.
Thin hard tires are less pleasant, but broader bicycle tires are more comfortable for off-road riding.
Wide tires can offer greater comfort than narrow ones, everything else being equal.
With a bigger air chamber between yourself and the road, a broader tire enables you to reduce the tire pressure without risking a pinched flat. The decreased pressure improves the amount of road-based cushioning, so enhancing your comfort.
That seems rather basic, right? You might anticipate that a broad, soft tire would be more pleasant than a narrow, hard-inflated tire.
Why is comfort so essential? We all want to feel more comfortable when riding since it makes life more enjoyable, but there is also a performance component to feeling confident on the bike.
When you are comfortable, you can extract more from your physique than when you are feeling beaten and damaged.
“Smoother is faster,” as the saying often goes.
7. Tire-Grip
Both thin and broad tires have traction, although it varies depending on the terrain.
In dry conditions, wider tires have a stronger grip, whereas narrow tires get better traction on wet terrain. Wider tires provide more traction, whereas narrow tires are acceptable for road riding.
A significant amount of power is lost by friction force, which is the required energy to bend the tire structure where it contacts the ground.
Numerous variables, including tire breadth, contour, pressurization, materials selection, casing, and tread thickness, influence rolling resistance.
Wider tires roll more quickly.
Tire deflection is the solution. Each tire deforms somewhat under load. This results in a flat contact surface.
At the same tire pressure, the contact area of a broad and a narrower tire is the same. A broad tire’s contact area is flat over its width, while a narrow tire’s contact area is thinner but longer. The region that has been flattened may be seen as a counterbalance to tire rotation.
Due to the longer flattened surface of the thin tire, the wheel loses its roundness and deforms more during rotation.
However, with the broad tire, the radial distance of the flattened section is shorter, resulting in a rounder tire that rolls more efficiently and hence faster.
As the flexibility of the tires absorbs road shocks that would otherwise be passed to the rider, energy is saved.
8. Material Components
Soft compound tires tend to have more rolling resistance and grip than hard compound tires.
Consequently, some makers use a harder composition for the tire’s core and a softer composition for the sidewall. This will increase the overall performance of the tire.
9. On-Road Versus Off-Road
If you want to go off-road, you need bigger tires with deep grooves that provide superior traction.
Use thin bike tires if you want to pedal on an excellently paved road.
10. Space And Mass
Narrow bicycle tires occupy less room than broad ones, making them a viable alternative for city dwellers with limited space for storage.
Wider tires weigh somewhat more than narrow ones.
The difference is lower than many riders believe; the air within a wide tire does not add weight; but, a wide tire contains more rubber and shell.
Would this not make it harder to accelerate with broader tires? The answer is “no.”
The explanation is straightforward: bicycles accelerate slowly. Even elite bike racers have a lower power-to-weight ratio than the slowest budget automobiles, which do not exactly throw you back in your seat when you press the accelerator.
Bicycles accelerate too slowly for minute differences in tire weight to have an impact.
If someone tries to convince you differently, ask them why elite racers do not utilize the tiniest (and hence lightest) wheels allowed by the regulations.
The UCI mandates a minimum wheel diameter of 55 cm, although racers utilize 700C rims that are 10 cm bigger. If wheel weight was as important as the majority of cyclists believe, then the professionals with the lightest tires could win every race.
Despite the fact that many have experimented with smaller wheels, everyone has reverted to 700C wheels, perhaps because the bigger wheels are more maneuverable owing to their optimum rotational inertia.
| Wider Tire | Narrow Tire | |
| Speed | Slower | Faster |
| Handling | Better in cornering | Easy to turn left & right |
| Aerodynamics | Have better aerodynamics | Lower aerodynamics |
| Comfortability | More comfort | Less comfort |
Why Not Go For Really Wide Tires?
Considering this, why halt at 25mm? Why don’t we equip a road bike with 35mm or 45mm tires?
First of all, they will not fit on the majority of road bikes; some still cannot manage with 25mm tires.
Second, aerodynamically, a super-wide tire would not function with present wheel rims.
And last, bigger tires would increase a wheel’s rotational mass and slow acceleration. (Source)
The 28mm variants of the finest tires will be even quicker, and over the following several years they will be fitted to an increasing number of new bikes as companies extend their disc brake offerings.
This implies that we riders may pick broad or narrow tires depending on personal preference without sacrificing performance.
Obviously, this does not imply that a “touring” tire will function similarly to a “racing” tire. Casing performance influences 95% of a road tire’s speed, and for optimal performance, a flexible high-performance casing is required.
Final Overview
Wide bicycle tires provide more steadiness and grip than narrower tires, which may be advantageous in slick situations and on rugged terrain. They also provide superior cushioning, which makes riding more pleasant, particularly over long distances.
In addition, they tend to be broader than conventional bicycle tires, thus they give greater wind protection and allow for speedier riding. Wide bicycle tires may be the greatest choice if you are looking for a sturdy and comfy bicycle with excellent grip and speed.
Narrow bicycle tires provide more performance than broad tires, making them ideal for riders who like to ride rapidly and effectively.
In addition, they take up less room than broad bicycle tires, making them a smart solution for city dwellers with limited storage space.
Lastly, they are frequently lighter than broad bicycle tires, which makes them a great option for individuals who like to travel lightly.
Final Thoughts
If you are searching for a quick bicycle with excellent speed and efficiency, thin bicycle tires may be your best alternative, but wider tires are great for comfortable riding experiences.
The bike’s handling is affected by tire width, but not its velocity.
Choose smaller tires if you want the buzzy, connected-to-the-road sensation of a racing bike. Choose larger tires if you want an improved turning grip and the capacity to drive quickly on bad roads.
As always, no matter which tire you choose make sure safety is your top priority. Always wear a helmet and protective gear and ride within your limits. Now go out and have some fun!