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Narrower tyres improving speed!

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  • July 1, 2014 at 11:24 am #21806
    CXR94Di2

    I have only been cycling regularly for a couple of years. I spent the first 18 months on my Kona mtb, I used it for both off road then more on road by fitting 47mm road biased tread tyres. My average speed gradually increased to 14.5mph over 40 mile circuits.

    Then last winter I decided I would try and ride 100 mile sportive events this spring/summer. I got a Boardman cyclocross bike mainly due to me liking hydraulic disc brakes. I really like the bike and fitted 32 mm schwalbe marathon plus tyres. They were comfy and rolled quite quickly compared to what I had been used to previously. I am thick set built chap weighing mid 15st but carry a lot of muscle mass (early youth body building:) )

    My average speed went up immediately obviously a lighter road bike and tyres. My first 100 mile sportive I averaged 16.5mph. I could then average high 17mph over 30 miles. A few seasoned riders on the sportive mentioned I would go quicker and it would be a little less effort if I moved down to 25mm race tyres

    Yesterday I had my first outing on Schwalbe Durano 25mm . Over a 28 mile route I averaged 18.40mph. A noticeable jump in average, my previous best on 32mm tyres was just 18mph (optimal conditions). I don’t think I could get any better results by moving down to 23mm, I don’t think my weight/body could tolerate the harsh ride.

    The ride is slightly harsher with 25mm but I find I can hold a larger gear for longer. Has anybody been through this learning curve?

    A

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Viewing 6 replies - 16 through 21 (of 21 total)
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  • July 1, 2014 at 1:54 pm #801701
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    700c

    Size and weight are linked
    Size and weight are linked though, aren’t they!

    Personally I don’t think there’s much to split 23’s and 25’s, but it’s 25/ tough type in winter and 23/race type in summer for me..

    July 1, 2014 at 1:17 pm #801699
    0
    Charles_Hunter

    That’s a good point a 23mm
    That’s a good point a 23mm 4000s will I’d bet be faster than a no name brand 25-28mm. Then as you say you throw in a gatorskin type commuting minimise punctures tyre vs a race type tyre and the choice is more complex again.

    July 1, 2014 at 1:08 pm #801697
    0
    bikebot

    I think the speed increase
    I think the speed increase you saw in moving from a 32mm Marathon Plus to a 25mm Durano was due to the type of tyre, not the size. The Durano is simply lighter and grippier.

    A lot of riders use a particular tyre for Winter or commuting which will see a bigger speed drop even though it’s the same size as their regular set.

    July 1, 2014 at 12:34 pm #801695
    0
    Charles_Hunter

    When people say “wider tyres
    When people say “wider tyres are faster” they assume the current tyre is less than 25mm width. What should be said is something like “for riding on britsh roads, 25-28mm tyres at the correct pressures are probably fastest.”

    July 1, 2014 at 12:23 pm #801693
    0
    CXR94Di2

    After the other rider
    After the other rider comments I had read that wider tyres roll faster, so I held off moving to narrow tyres. I accumulated cycling times in the meanwhile. But switching to 25mm from 32mm contradicts the research , well at least in my case. I have read others say narrow tyres are faster. The links regarding schwalbe say larger tyre improved rolling resistance. There must be tipping point where larger becomes slower. Maybe that for me is 17-18mph on 32mm tyres!

    July 1, 2014 at 12:04 pm #801691
    0
    Charles_Hunter

    Good work finding it out on
    Good work finding it out on your own and nice speed increase, some more reading if you want to.

    http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/tech-faq-again-bigger-tires-roll-faster_209888

    https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=wider+tyres+are+faster

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