Rolling resistance

[Old timer]

What do you reckon the difference is between a nobbly MTB tyre vs a Marathon Plus (26") as far as rolling resistance is concerned

Not much
A bit
or Lots

Dave

 

[gavintc]

I have no evidence, but from my experience - lots and lots. A road tyre just rolls so beautifully over tarmac, a knobbly is like pushing through treacle.

I would be interested whether any of the more scientifically minded forumers have any real evidence.

 

[potsy]

No experience of nobbly tyres but I find the M+ roll quite well,not massively different to other slick tyres I have used.

 

[marzjennings]

Lots if you consider an additional 1 or 2 miles per hour for free a huge benefit.

You can throw some numbers in this online calc and try different tyre types to see their effect on speed.

http://www.noping.net/english/

 

[al78]

Lots if you consider an additional 1 or 2 miles per hour for free a huge benefit.

You can throw some numbers in this online calc and try different tyre types to see their effect on speed.

http://www.noping.net/english/

Wow, 2 mph increase between riding on the drops as opposed to the top. Guess I'll have to practice riding on the drops.

 

[gavintc]

I think the tops/drops benefit is more based upon the position of your back than your hands. Personally, I prefer to get low but with my hands on the STI. But, I must do some more riding on the drops and see if it makes me any faster.

 

[RedBike]

It obviously depends upon which knobbly tyre. My fast freds are probably quicker than cheaper slicks but most downhill tyres have an horrific rolling resistance

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

John Lafford has done a lot of rolling resistance tests on tyres. The following are some related links:

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hadland/lafford.htm
http://www.ihpva.org/HParchive/PDF/hp50-2000.pdf
http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/tech/JL.htm

This and this might also be of interest.

 

[fossyant]

And the difference between a Marathon + and a 'fast' tyre.....even bigger.............

 

[PpPete]

No surprise there.
I've never used a knobbly tyre, but the difference between a 25 mm lightweight slick tyre and even a regular Marathon 28 seems pretty big to me.

 

[battered]

My direct experience - I used to have a perfectly flat commute and my "normal" speed for knobblies was 14mph. This was borne out by the global average of 1500 miles in just over 100 hours. I fitted 26x1.5 slicks from the supermarket and it added 2 to 3 mph for the same effort.