How W I D E are you?

[scottcw2]

Tires, that is.

Having read Jan Heine's post on wider tires - https://janheine.wordpress.com/2018/...should-i-ride/ - this part caught my attention:

"To me, tires narrower than 38 mm don’t really make sense any longer. 38 mm tires still give you the “connected to the pavement” sensation that makes a racing bike feel so fast. Below 38 mm, all you gain is harshness. The bike doesn’t feel any better, just more jiggly."

I am interested in more than just one Jan's opinion on this from real world riding. At what point do you find that sweet spot where any narrower is too harsh - 25? 28? 32? is Jan right at 38?

Thanks for the insights.

[simonov]

On 700c wheels, I find anything over 32 to be sluggish and tractor like. For fast road riding, I still think 25 is the sweet spot and 28-30 for crappy roads without losing too much of that nimble feeling. When I wear out my last set of 38s, I'll never go that big on 700c wheels again.

[AngryScientist]

i completely disagree with Jan on this one.

for my perception, 38mm is WAY too big for the road. i tried a set of the 38c compass tires for a while, and didnt like them at all. felt too sluggish to me, and worse, turning and handling felt imprecise and almost dangerous.

25c on the road is perfect for me.

[Mzilliox]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

i completely disagree with Jan on this one.

for my perception, 38mm is WAY too big for the road. i tried a set of the 38c compass tires for a while, and didnt like them at all. felt too sluggish to me, and worse, turning and handling felt imprecise and almost dangerous.

25c on the road is perfect for me.

this and this and this. Jan is selling fat tires.
Jan rides different to me ive decided. we ride similar rides, but he is a different animal. 650b low trail was a failed experiment for me.

38s are too wide even for most gravel for me.

there is no road ride where a 38mm tire is better than a 28mm tire.

[scottcw2]

So it seems consensus is 28-32 for road riding. This confirms my experience. I like 28s a lot, 32s start to feel a bit sluggish. I can only imagine using 38 for mostly gravel or single track. Maybe 650x42 if I was really expecting some poor conditions.

[David Kirk]

I'm also in the 28-32 camp. 28's on paved roads and 32's for mixed surfaces. Bigger seems floppy and imprecise to me and smaller feels harsh and fragile.

dave

[Black Dog]

Originally Posted by David Kirk

I'm also in the 28-32 camp. 28's on paved roads and 32's for mixed surfaces. Bigger seems floppy and imprecise to me and smaller feels harsh and fragile.

dave

This.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by David Kirk

I'm also in the 28-32 camp. 28's on paved roads and 32's for mixed surfaces. Bigger seems floppy and imprecise to me and smaller feels harsh and fragile.

dave

Agree, for 700c..

What's your experience been with 650b on your disc rig? Or is that a different animal entirely?

[David Kirk]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

Agree, for 700c..

What's your experience been with 650b on your disc rig? Or is that a different animal entirely?

I don't own a 650 bike - both of mine are 700c.

dave

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by David Kirk

I don't own a 650 bike - both of mine are 700c.



dave

Sorry, thought you had 650b on your fillet Onesto graveler.. Now I see it's wider 700c on there.

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[brewsmith]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

i completely disagree with Jan on this one.

for my perception, 38mm is WAY too big for the road. i tried a set of the 38c compass tires for a while, and didnt like them at all. felt too sluggish to me, and worse, turning and handling felt imprecise and almost dangerous.

25c on the road is perfect for me.

Totally agree. I had some 38c Compass tires on the Hampsten for one ride and it was miserable, they felt heavy and sluggish even at higher pressures. To 30c Stada Biancas changed the ride 100% for the better

[R3awak3n]

I go by feel and I much prefer 28-32 on the road... Anything larger starts feeling sluggish. Now, maybe its not, maybe its as fast, ect ect but I am the only ridding the bike and I like the feel of a skinner tire on the road. Mix pavement is another story... 35-38mm is great. Gravel bike has 650x47mm but they are usually too much for the gravel round these parts. Surprisingly roll nicely on the pavement but I would rather be on my road bike.

[prototoast]

This probably depends a lot on rider weight. I'm about 185 and usually go for 28 tires on the road. 25 ROK, but feel harsher without feeling any faster. I've used 38 tires for road riding, and they're not terrible, but definitely feel a little sluggish if I want to go fast. Though I should caveat that the bike that fits 38 mm tires has longer chainstays and greater trail, so it's not a complete apples-to-apples comparison, though there are necessarily some geometry accommodations that must be made to fit larger tires, so such a direct comparison may not even be possible.

[Clean39T]

Originally Posted by simonov

On 700c wheels, I find anything over 32 to be sluggish and tractor like. For fast road riding, I still think 25 is the sweet spot and 28-30 for crappy roads without losing too much of that nimble feeling. When I wear out my last set of 38s, I'll never go that big on 700c wheels again.

Agreed.

Undamped suspension may work for light riders who sit and spin, but not for those of us with tree-trunk legs and big feet, who mash the pedals and spend time out of the saddle..

38s catch a lot of wind too.

Gravel roads though, 35-42mm is purrrfect.

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[R3awak3n]

Originally Posted by Clean39T

Agreed.

Undamped suspension may work for light riders who sit and spin, but not for those of us with tree-trunk legs and big feet, who mash the pedals and spend time out of the saddle..

38s catch a lot of wind too.

Gravel roads though, 35-42mm is purrrfect.

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and are also heavier than 28s which gotta count for something