Tires: How Wide is too Wide?

[Aushiker]

Off The Beaten Path poses the question ...

How wide a tire is too wide for optimum performance?

and then attempts to answer it

Our research shows that wider tires don’t give up anything on smooth roads, and gain a significant advantage on rough roads. This has been shown for tires up to 31 mm wide...

To answer the question in the headline: Even 42 mm does not yet appear to be “too wide.” Tires wider than that are hard to fit into the rear triangle of a bike without compromising performance (tread/Q factor, chainstay length), so perhaps frame design more than other factors limit the maximum tire width on a performance bike.

I currently have 28 mm on the front and 23 mm on the rear on my LoGo Lightning P-38. I might go to 25 mm on the rear or even 28 mm when I need to swap out the current tyre.

Thoughts on the blog post?

Andrew

 

[steveindenmark]

It depends on what you are using the bike for, I would think.

Tyres seem to be getting wider and wider. Like this Koga Beach bike, for example.



Steve

 

[Peter Armstrong]

It depends on what you are using the bike for, I would think.

Tyres seem to be getting wider and wider. Like this Koga Beach bike, for example.



Steve

Whats going on with them drops?

 

[steveindenmark]

No idea. Its a beach bike and I know nothing about them.

Steve

 

[smokeysmoo]

Whats going on with them drops?

According to KOGA - "The slim frame, rigid KOGA Pinza carbon fork and special handlebar guarantee optimal controllability and aerodynamics"

No idea. Its a beach bike and I know nothing about them.

Every days a school day

 

[young Ed]

According to KOGA - "The slim frame, rigid KOGA Pinza carbon fork and special handlebar guarantee optimal controllability and aerodynamics"


Every days a school day

Were they speaking dutch? First I thought it was Swedish with a heavy northern accent or norwegian
Cheers Ed

 

[smokeysmoo]

Were they speaking dutch? First I thought it was Swedish with a heavy northern accent or norwegian
Cheers Ed

Dunno TBH, I didnt have the sound on

 

[young Ed]

Dunno TBH, I didnt have the sound on

a lot of help then aren't you just posting to bump up your post count is not on now is it?
Cheers Ed

 

[AndyRM]

Were they speaking dutch? First I thought it was Swedish with a heavy northern accent or norwegian
Cheers Ed

The race is along the coast of The Netherlands, starting in Nordwijk then looping up to IJmuiden where the ferry comes in from Newcastle. I reckon the chaps they interviewed are all Dutch.

Froze my baws off cycling down the adjacent bit of road in February last year. Nearly got blown off as well. Very exposed!

Edit: It wasn't my baws that nearly got blown off, it was all of me, off the bike. Which is kind of the same I suppose.

 

[mcshroom]

They look like dirt-drops (such as on one 'midge' bars). They are supposed to give you more control off road.

As for the too wide, it depends on the bike and the terrain: -

http://www.icetrikes.co/community/ice-blog/south-pole-by-trike

 

[young Ed]

Fat bike wheels and tyres aren't toooo wide!
Cheers Ed

 

[Dusty Bin]

http://www.battleonthebeach.co.uk/

 

[Diggs]

http://road.cc/content/feature/105242-beach-slapped
with apologies for taking this even more off topic

 

[arallsopp]

One of my 'bents is shod with 2" front and rear. Super plush, she is, with a lovely ride. Not too wide. Womanly curves.