Do Not Equip Your Road Bike with Tires That Are Too Narrow
Road Bike Tire Width: Thin VS Wide
Published on May 18, 2024
By Markus from SUMLON

Do Not Equip Your Road Bike with Tires That Are Too Narrow

The impact of road bike tire width on cycling performance has always been a topic of great interest among cyclists. A few years ago, it was generally believed that smaller road bike tire width had better aerodynamic performance due to their smaller volume. Additionally, the smaller contact area with the ground theoretically resulted in lower rolling resistance. For a long time, even professional road racers held this belief.

With technological advancements and improved testing methods, it has been discovered that slightly larger road bike tires width not only offer better aerodynamic performance but also come with lower rolling resistance and improved comfort. Since around 2020, more professional road cycling teams have been moving away from 23c tires in favor of 25c and 28c tires, and sometimes even 30c tires on gravel roads. This shift clearly demonstrates that wider tires outperform the previously more commonly used narrower tires of less than 23mm.

Why 25c & 28c Road Bike Tire Width Better Than 23c?

It seems counter-intuitive, but it is indeed true. Wouldn’t wider tires have a larger frontal area and therefore more wind resistance? The reason lies in the combination of wider tires with wider rims. This combination creates a fatter elliptical cross-sectional profile. If you use 23c or narrower tires, the combined cross-sectional profile is a flatter ellipse. In crosswind conditions, a fatter elliptical profile offers better aerodynamic performance. Of course, this requires the use of wider rims as well.

Wider road bike tire width: better aerodynamic performance
Better aerodynamic performance
wider road bike tire width and a wider rim
Wider road bike tire width and a wider rim

Rolling Resistance

Previously, we believed that narrower tires had lower rolling resistance. With advances in testing technology, we’ve found this is not true. Although wider tires have a greater contact width with the ground, their contact length is shorter. This means that in the direction of travel, the contact length between the tire and the ground is reduced, thereby lowering rolling resistance.

Comfort

On the other hand, wider tires can hold more air, allowing for greater deformation when impacted. When riding over rough surfaces, the tire inevitably encounters opposing forces from the ground. At this moment, greater deformation absorbs the impact. Under suitable conditions, wider tires not only have lower rolling resistance in the direction of travel but also offer better comfort.

Why Not Choose Road Bike Tire Width Wider Than 30c?

This is a good question. In general, after a certain width, the diminishing returns in reduced rolling resistance, wind resistance, and increased comfort become very small. However, the increase in cost and weight is unavoidable. Additionally, considering compatibility with other bicycle parts, extensive experimental data suggests that 25c and 28c tires are currently the optimal choices. Unless you have compelling reasons, avoid choosing 23c or 30c tires. Riders using narrow rims and lighter riders can use 25c tires. If you are heavier or plan to ride on rougher roads, you can opt for 28c tires.

For the Lowest Rolling Resistance

In one test, the Continental Grand Prix 4000s II (28mm) outperformed other brands’ 28mm tires and even the same brand’s 25c tires, offering the lowest rolling resistance.

By the way, SUMLON has been manufacturing bicycle parts for over 15 years. Contact us if you are looking for a bike parts factory or a one-stop wholesaler. Peace

SUMLON manufacturers bottom bracket cup setsheadsets and one-piece cranks. We wholesale crank armscranksets and chainrings as well. We have been making and selling these bicycle parts for over 15 years. In 2022, SUMLON decided to directly offer factory wholesale to potential buyers to minimize your costs. The products are sold to major markets such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and South Korea. The main buyers include WalmartGiant, and other retailers and bicycle manufacturers. 

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