Fatter tires faster than skinny and pumped
By Blair Anthony Robertson, Sacramento Bee
If you’re one of the 50,000 spectators expected to turn out for the Amgen Tour of California’s Sacramento stage on Sunday, you’ll notice that pro road racing amounts to very lean athletes riding bikes with very skinny tires.
But those tires are not as skinny as they used to be.
It turns out that fatter is faster.
While that may seem counterintuitive, a tire that’s slightly wider than the industry standard of 23 millimeters experiences less rolling resistance. Tests have proved it and pros, who make their living by being efficient and going fast, have inspired a trend in recent years that’s just now trickling down to amateur cycling enthusiasts.
This is true. The bike also feels better. I had just learned of this trend two weeks ago, and, in need of new tires for my ride, purchased 25 mm Contis. Running them at 95 Psi, versus 120 on 23’s, and the ride is more comfortable. My Strava results are showing increased PR’s as well.