Is wider faster?

[bumblebeetuna]

At Allamuchy I noticed a bunch of guys running super wide tires and I'm wondering if they are left over from the winter or they discovered something. Tires are expensive so instead of experimenting I'm wondering what's the concensus on tire wide in regards to XC

 

[Pearl]

how wide we talking? At mooch I would run a 2.35 RR up front, them downhills are rocky.

 

[rick81721]

At Allamuchy I noticed a bunch of guys running super wide tires and I'm wondering if they are left over from the winter or they discovered something. Tires are expensive so instead of experimenting I'm wondering what's the concensus on tire wide in regards to XC

see here

http://www.mtbnj.com/forum/threads/the-not-so-official-27-5-thread.37491/

I'm finding myself faster on the 27.5+3.0 tires vs 29 2.3 but I'm a chump. YMMV

 

[Karate Monkey]

Can't go wide enough...pebbles/leaves are my constant companions on the knobby bikes 🙂

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

My preference is 2.0 - 2.1 if I can get the tire in that size. Im running 2.25 cause I couldnt get the tire I wanted in 2.1.. I'm most likely the minority in thia conversation

 

[Jeremy]

how wide we talking? At mooch I would run a 2.35 RR up front, them downhills are rocky.

This is what I ran. 35 in front and 25 in the back.

 

[UtahJoe]

I ran 2.25s f/r.... Is that wide? I guess compared to my thunderburts I occasionally run

 

[bumblebeetuna]

Once my tires wear down I'm going to jump on board then, sounds like I've been missing out

 

[Delish]

This is what I ran. 35 in front and 25 in the back.

Ditto. Actually I haven't taken the 2.35 off the front in a year+

 

[merritt]

I rode 2.0 f/r and i flatted in the rear...
That being said, is my 1st flat during a race in 20yrs... and i used to run 1.95's
This week I'm putting a set of 2.2 f/r

 

[Jeremy]

Ditto. Actually I haven't taken the 2.35 off the front in a year+

Ralph? It's not worn with half disentegrated knobbys?

 

[Pearl]

The rear Ralph I have is toast, it looks like a road slick.

Only taking the 2.35 off for this mtb race in two weeks that has some roadie sections.

 

[Delish]

Ralph? It's not worn with half disentegrated knobbys?

Still sharp and blocky. You forget, A year's worth of riding for me is only about 12 miles

 

[Steve Vai]

In snow, yes.

 

[RobW]

wider is definitely more inspiring in the rocks. I ran 2.4 up front and 2.20 in rear. will consider 2.25 up front as time goes on.

 

[soundz]

It's faster until it isn't.

 

[Dave Taylor]

I ride wide for comfort and comtrol (2.4) training on heavier alloy wheels. More thsn happy with my new ardent race 2.25s though for race day. More than enough traction and fast. Advantage with wider tires is lower pressure. I read an article though that said for every extra pound you carry a mile uphill you will lose 20 seconds on average so with all the climbing at mooch I'd say skinny would gain the most time in the end and even more so if you ride full squish. And that test was on a straight 1 mile road hill. I'm sure it would multiply in technical, rocky terrain.

 

[THATmanMANNY]

bumblebeetuna, I assume you are tubeless? I feel that is more important.

 

[jdog]

I have a good friend who is a solid rider and a bike industry guy.

He lives in pa. His local trails are hilly and rocky.

For the last year he rode a SC 5010 w 27x2.3ish tires. He built the trails he rides and he holds most of the KOMS on these trails.

He just got the Hightower w 27x 2.8 tires.

In his very first ride he set 12 personal records on the Hightower.

Results may vary.

 

[stb222]

He just got the Hightower w 27x 2.8 tires.

In his very first ride he set 12 personal records on the Hightower.