Should I get wider tyres/tires for my tour if I’m not going to go off-road?

Asked by: Karl Lowell

Does a wider tire ride better?

Wider tires have an increased risk of hydroplaning on slippery or wet surfaces, but they generally provide better grip for dry surfaces. Narrow tires will offer better traction in slippery conditions, but they are generally better for lighter vehicles such as hybrids or electric cars.

What width tires do Tour de France riders use?

BikeRadar: What kind of tyre widths are you looking at across the time trials and road stages? Ciarán O’Grady: Time trials are 25mm clinchers with latex tubes. For tubeless, we have 25mm and 28mm versions, and tubulars we have 26mm.

Do wider tires slow you down?

They’ve confirmed that in the real world, wide tires aren’t any slower on smooth roads. And when the going gets rough, wide tires are faster. The discussion of wide vs narrow tires wouldn’t be complete without mentioning cornering grip. If you want to go fast on twisty descents, wider tires provide much more grip.

Are wider tires better on a road bike?

It turns out wider tyres are actually faster along with the benefits of increased comfort and traction. In the very early days of road cycling, tyres were wide because the roads were poorly surfaced, and in many cases, not even surfaced at all.

Do wider tyres increase fuel consumption?

Increasing the width of a tire can impact fuel economy as well. Wider tires create a larger contact patch, the area of the tire actually touching the road. While this is good for performance, it can create a higher resistance to coasting, meaning that the engine will have to use more power and fuel to maintain speed.

Do wider tires get better gas mileage?

Larger tires decrease your fuel economy because they are heavier, while smaller tires increase fuel efficiency. Bigger tires also have a higher rolling resistance than smaller tires which means they require more resistance and effort to get them rolling.

Do pro cyclists use 28mm tyres?

Race bikes: 23-25mm, increasingly up to 28mm



The common standard for many years was 23mm (it used to be even narrower) but that has changed as the pro peloton adopted wider tyres, with 25mm slowly becoming the default choice.

Are 28mm tires faster than 32mm?

‘Also a 28mm tubeless tyre is the fastest setup [in rolling resistance tests]. At 40kmh a high-quality clincher tyre with a latex inner tube is about 2 watts slower. And a 32mm tyre is only about 2 watts slower than an equivalent 28mm tyre.

Are wider mountain bike tires better?

Generally speaking, wider tires should provide more traction and control on the trail. Narrower tires may roll a little faster on smooth trails. For XC racing, most riders will use 1.6-2.2 inch tires, while trail, enduro, and downhill riders opt for 2.3 inches wide and above! Comfort also plays a factor.

What are the benefits of a wider tire?

Larger tires improve handling and cornering, due to wider tread faces and stiffer sidewalls. Wider tires may decrease braking distances on dry pavement. Wider tires may also increase acceleration, especially in very powerful vehicles such as muscle cars.

What happens if I put wider tires on my car?

When you put bigger tires on your car, SUV, crossover, or light truck, you raise the vehicle’s clearance — increasing body roll and load transfer, which may negatively impact your car’s balance and speed.

Do wider tires increase speed?

Increasing the wheel diameter will also increase the final reduction ratio, which has two consequences: acceleration potential is decreased, but a higher top speed is reached. In other words, the bigger the tires on a car, the slower it will accelerate, but it will have higher top speeds.

What type of tire gives the best fuel mileage?

Now that we have you in a good mood, here’s our 2022 Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Tires designed with performance and fuel efficiency in mind.

• Michelin Defender. …
• Continental PureContact. …
• Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max. …
• Bridgestone Ecopia EP422. …
• Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus. …
• Michelin Energy Saver A/S.

How much do larger tires affect gas mileage?

Quote from video:

Does tire width affect ride quality?

Do Tires Affect Ride Quality Too? Definitely. They have a more immediate impact of ride quality, noise level, handling, etc., than wheel size does. A bald tire will have poor traction, handling, and stability.

Do wider tires ride rougher?

As a general rule, bigger wheels result in a rougher ride. Switching to a smaller wheel and a thicker tire can give you a smoother ride without any major modifications to your car.

What are the benefits of a wider tire?

Larger tires improve handling and cornering, due to wider tread faces and stiffer sidewalls. Wider tires may decrease braking distances on dry pavement. Wider tires may also increase acceleration, especially in very powerful vehicles such as muscle cars.

How does tire width affect ride?

Simply put, the larger your tire, the more of a grip your vehicle has on the road. As a tire’s width increases, it covers more surface area on the road. According to iSee Cars, this increase in contact with the pavement gives your vehicle more to hold onto, increasing its handling and ability to maneuver.

Do wider tires affect performance?

Slower Acceleration and Harder Steering



Wider tires are heavier, which, as a consequence, adds more weight to the car. This decreases the car’s acceleration. With its large contact area, wide tires not only slow down acceleration but also cause hard steering and poor car handling.

Are wider tires better in rain?

Wet condition driving — Wide tires are better for driving in wet weather since they have sipes, which help to trap and remove water from the contact surface. Narrow tires have sipes as well, but since they have a smaller surface area, they have less of them.