{"id":19235,"date":"2026-07-27T21:53:54","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=19235"},"modified":"2026-07-27T21:53:54","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T16:53:54","slug":"which-road-tire-size-is-fastest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=19235","title":{"rendered":"Which Road Tire Size Is Fastest?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-journey-body=\"longform-article\">\n<div class=\"css-4zhf8k e1wzc3k51\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/clock-regular.4ddebeb.svg\" alt=\"Estimated read time\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><span class=\"css-deygkq e1wzc3k50\">5 min read<\/span><\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"0\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">It\u2019s safe to say that bike tires have been trending wider over the last ten years. Gravel bikes are now commonly using mountain bike tires, while mountain bike tires are slowly creeping towards 2.5 inches and wider. Even on the road, it\u2019s safe to say that the 23 mm tire is well and truly dead, with 28 mm tires now being the default. While many riders are experimenting with and racing on tires closer to 30 mm in width.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">I was early to the wide-tire road bike thing, maxing out the clearance on my road bike with 32 mm Panaracer GravelKing slicks (that measured nearly 35 mm) back in 2020. For me, this was a big benefit of the move to disc brakes on the road. Wider tires meant more comfortable, more capable road bikes.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"2\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">In the five years since, I have actually moved back towards more traditional road tire sizes for a variety of reasons. The biggest was that I found tires much wider than 30 mm to be overkill for me on the road. When I wanted to ride mixed terrain, I had my gravel bike for that, but my road bike stayed largely on paved surfaces, where the larger tires felt heavy and unnecessary to keep on my bike all the time in the off chance I might encounter some gravel for five minutes along my route.<\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"body-image\" data-lazy-id=\"57e4950:4\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"embed css-t73myc e1yri45i0\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-1k29q50 e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"tire testing\" title=\"BKE\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0315-large-691226232c00e.jpeg?resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-1jx6s9n e1geg53v2\">Trevor Raab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"5\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">The second thing I realized is that I\u2019m actually quite performance-oriented when it comes to my riding. Basically, the faster I go, the more fun I\u2019m having. So, purely based on the feeling of speed and the fact that most modern aero wheels are optimized for 28 mm tires, I\u2019ve generally stuck to 28 and 30mm tires on my road bikes since.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">My colleague Tara Seplavy recently published <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a69150335\/best-road-bike-tire-size\/\" target=\"_self\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a69150335\/best-road-bike-tire-size\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"a deep dive into road bike tire sizes.\" data-node-id=\"6.1\" class=\"body-link css-hwwm8d emevuu60\"><u data-node-id=\"6.1.0\">a deep dive into road bike tire sizes.<\/u><\/a> She weighed, measured, and ride-tested Schwalebe\u2019s Pro One tires in every labeled size from 25 mm to 38 mm. The story is packed with helpful information, insights, and advice on finding the right tire size for you. But it was missing an answer to the question my racer brain immediately went to. Which tire size is the fastest?!<\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"body-image\" data-lazy-id=\"57e4950:7\" data-node-id=\"7\" class=\"embed css-t73myc e1yri45i0\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-1k29q50 e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"tire testing\" title=\"BKE\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0006-large-691226748bf5c.jpeg?resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-1jx6s9n e1geg53v2\">Trevor Raab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"8\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">So I grabbed the pile of tires and headed out to test and find out.<\/p>\n<hr data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-18pb4rg emevuu60\"\/>\n<h2 data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"body-h2 css-153icck emevuu60\">The Test<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"11\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">I did the testing on a closed 1-mile cycling loop near the Trexlertown Velodrome. This means I don\u2019t have to worry about traffic or hitting the brakes. I used a set of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a65822130\/favero-rs2-best-power-meter\/\" target=\"_self\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a65822130\/favero-rs2-best-power-meter\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Favero Assioma Pro RS-2 power meter pedals\" data-node-id=\"11.1\" class=\"body-link css-hwwm8d emevuu60\"><u data-node-id=\"11.1.0\">Favero Assioma Pro RS-2 power meter pedals<\/u><\/a> to maintain a consistent effort of 275 watts (4.2 watts per kilogram) over three laps (or 3 miles) for each test run.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">I tested the Pro One in four labeled sizes (700 x 25, 28, 30, and 32), all mounted to a set of Reserve 57|64 wheels. I picked these wheels because they use modern width and profile dimensions, with an internal width of 25.6 mm for the front wheel and 24.5 mm for the rear. Matched to an equally progressive external width of 34.3 mm on the front and 32.5 mm on the rear.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"13\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">Tire sizes were dictated by what was actually available (Schwalbe does not offer the Pro One narrower than 700 x 25) and what would safely clear my frame (which has pretty standard road bike clearance of 32 mm).<\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"body-image\" data-lazy-id=\"57e4950:14\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"embed css-t73myc e1yri45i0\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-1k29q50 e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"tire test\" title=\"BKE\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0221-large-691226d6bd2e0.jpeg?resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-1jx6s9n e1geg53v2\">Trevor Raab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">I optimized tire pressure for each tire size using Silca\u2019s Tire Pressure Calculator and measured each tire&#8217;s true size with a digital caliper. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a64230609\/tire-sizing-is-broken\/\" target=\"_self\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a64230609\/tire-sizing-is-broken\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"As expected, the labeled widths had little relation to the tire's actual size once it was mounted and inflated on the wheels.\" data-node-id=\"15.1\" class=\"body-link css-hwwm8d emevuu60\"><u data-node-id=\"15.1.0\">As expected, the labeled widths had little relation to the tire&#8217;s actual size once it was mounted and inflated on the wheels.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"composite\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-21\" data-node-id=\"16\" class=\"embed css-0 e17cny3g2\">\n<div class=\"css-1y4dto8 e17cny3g0\">\n<div class=\"size-medium css-103j9yb e17cny3g1\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-4aolxf e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-1k29q50 e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"tire testing\" title=\"BKE\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0171-large-69122721d50f1.jpeg?crop=0.66640625xw:1xh;center,top&amp;resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-1jx6s9n e1geg53v2\">Trevor Raab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"size-medium css-103j9yb e17cny3g1\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-4aolxf e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-1k29q50 e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"tire testing\" title=\"BKE\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0017-large-691227441114b.jpeg?crop=0.668xw:1.00xh;0.172xw,0&amp;resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-1jx6s9n e1geg53v2\">Trevor Raab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">During testing, the 700&#215;32 tires inflated to 33.2 mm at the front and 32.8 mm at the rear. 700&#215;30 came out to 32.1 mm and 31.2 mm front and rear. 700&#215;28 inflated to 30.5 mm and 29.8 mm front and rear. While the smallest labeled size, 700 x 25, measured 28.8 mm front and 27.8 mm rear.<\/p>\n<hr data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-18pb4rg emevuu60\"\/>\n<h2 data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"body-h2 css-153icck emevuu60\">The Results<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"20\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">So which tire size was the fastest in my test? It was the narrowest. The labeled 25\u2019s ( that measured 28 mm) were 17 seconds faster over 3 miles compared to the labeled 32\u2019s (that measured over 33 mm). In terms of a speed difference for the same wattage into the pedals, I averaged 24 mph on the narrower tires compared to 23.3 mph on the wider ones.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">The two middle sizes followed the general trend: the narrower tire was faster, and the wider was slower. The 28 mm tires were 11 seconds slower than the 25 mm tires, while the 30 mm tires were 15 seconds slower over 3 miles.<\/p>\n<hr data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-18pb4rg emevuu60\"\/>\n<h2 data-node-id=\"23\" class=\"body-h2 css-153icck emevuu60\">My Thoughts on the Results Plus Three Caveats<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"24\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">So does this mean that everything you\u2019ve heard about wider tires being faster is wrong? Yes and no. Really, the correct answer will almost always be, \u201cIt depends.\u201d If you take anything away from this story, I hope that it\u2019s always worth being skeptical of bold declarative statements of fact when it comes to what makes you faster on a bike.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"25\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">Yes, in my testing, the narrowest tire option was by far the fastest. Here are the three main reasons why this was the case. First, the surface I was testing on was fresh, perfect pavement. That favors the narrower options while negating the rolling resistance advantage of a wider tire. If the testing had been done on a rougher road, the results would have changed.<\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"body-image\" data-lazy-id=\"57e4950:26\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"embed css-1m39tuj e1yri45i0\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-1k29q50 e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"tire testing\" title=\"BKE\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1120w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1400w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 1800w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=980:* 2000w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/road-tire-width-testing-0285-large-69122777585a2.jpeg?crop=0.755xw:0.755xh;0.121xw,0&amp;resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1ddfba50\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-1jx6s9n e1geg53v2\">Trevor Raab<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"27\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">Second, was the speed at which I tested. At 23 mph, the most significant force acting against me is aerodynamic drag. That means even a minor reduction in frontal area, such as switching to a narrower tire, can have an effect. This again favors the narrower tire to be fastest in this test. Testing at a slower speed would have made rolling resistance a larger factor in the test, which again could have led to different results.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">Finally, there were the wheels I chose for the test. The Reserve 57|64 wheelset uses very modern rim dimensions with an internal width of 25.6 mm for the front wheel and 24.5 mm for the rear. Matched to an equally progressive external width of 34.3 mm on the front and 32.5 mm on the rear. These dimensions are optimized for a tire that measures 29mm according to reserve, which so happened to be what the 25 mm tires I tested measured out on these rims. Combined with the importance of aerodynamics, it meant that the narrow tires had another advantage. This means that testing with a different wheelset could have changed the results.<\/p>\n<hr data-node-id=\"29\" class=\"css-18pb4rg emevuu60\"\/>\n<h2 data-node-id=\"30\" class=\"body-h2 css-153icck emevuu60\">Wrap-Up<\/h2>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"31\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">If there\u2019s a single takeaway, it\u2019s this: the fastest tire for you is the one you\u2019ve tested on your roads, at your speeds, with your wheels and pressures. Lab charts and rules of thumb are helpful, but nothing beats a simple field test\u2014fixed power, repeatable loop, controlled pressures, consistent setup\u2014to reveal what\u2019s quickest for your setup where you ride.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"32\" class=\"css-1ood0zq emevuu60\">And speed isn\u2019t the only metric that matters. Even if a narrower tire wins in a straight-line aero contest on smooth pavement, wider options can be the smarter choice for real-world riding. They often bring better puncture resistance, more grip, and confidence in corners and on descents. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a69096762\/rolling-resistance-myths-explained\/\" target=\"_self\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a69096762\/rolling-resistance-myths-explained\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Plus, lower rolling resistance on rough surfaces at appropriately lower pressures.\" data-node-id=\"32.1\" class=\"body-link css-hwwm8d emevuu60\"><u data-node-id=\"32.1.0\">Plus, lower rolling resistance on rough surfaces at appropriately lower pressures.<\/u><\/a> Balance these gains against your goals and terrain. Start with what your rims are designed around, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a69096918\/tire-pressure-calculators\/\" target=\"_self\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/bikes-gear\/a69096918\/tire-pressure-calculators\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"set pressure thoughtfully\" data-node-id=\"32.3\" class=\"body-link css-hwwm8d emevuu60\"><u data-node-id=\"32.3.0\">set pressure thoughtfully<\/u><\/a>, then validate with timed runs. Let your data, not dogma, decide.<br data-node-id=\"32.5\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"embed-gallery\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-23\" data-node-id=\"33\" class=\"embed css-0 e1ghppmw22\">\n<div data-node-id=\"promo-carousel\" data-fp-ignore=\"true\" aria-label=\"Promo Carousel\" aria-roledescription=\"carousel\" role=\"region\" aria-live=\"off\" aria-labelledby=\"PP0-23-0\" data-theme-key=\"carousel-container\" class=\"css-11hzevi ejxe6mr5\">\n<div data-theme-key=\"carousel-header\" class=\"css-1t3oi0e ejxe6mr4\">\n<h2 id=\"PP0-23-0\" data-theme-key=\"carousel-hed\" class=\"css-4i2xvz ejxe6mr6\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-before\" class=\"css-1nafcwp e68yk9k0\"\/>Member Exclusive: Check Out Our Top Cycling Stories<span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-after\" class=\"css-0 e68yk9k1\"\/><\/h2>\n<div class=\"css-1xgtwc8 ejxe6mr3\"><button disabled=\"disabled\" data-theme-key=\"carousel-button-prev\" aria-label=\"Previous\" class=\"ejxe6mr1 css-prb2ei erhb41k1\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-dynamic-svg=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/arrow-left-regular.dc4f48a.svg?primary=%2523D4D4D4\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"dynamic-svg-base\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" aria-label=\"Prev carousel button\" alt=\"Chevron Left Icon\" data-theme-key=\"icon-button-icon\" class=\"css-18znc9e erhb41k0\"\/><\/button><button data-theme-key=\"carousel-button-next\" aria-label=\"Next\" class=\"ejxe6mr1 css-1v7gxhv erhb41k1\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-dynamic-svg=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bicycling.com\/_assets\/design-tokens\/fre\/static\/icons\/arrow-right-regular.e879c19.svg?primary=%2523fff\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"dynamic-svg-base\" height=\"auto\" width=\"auto\" aria-label=\"Next carousel button\" alt=\"Chevron Right Icon\" data-theme-key=\"icon-button-icon\" class=\"css-18znc9e erhb41k0\"\/><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-journey-blur=\"partial\" data-ad-exclude=\"true\" data-fp-ignore=\"true\" class=\"css-19m4yzp e1jy25xv0\">\n<div class=\"css-70ndux ev8dhu59\"><span class=\"css-3mrz81 ev8dhu51\"><img src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/rover\/profile_photos\/04504431-2f49-402b-86df-4de174339ce2_1645799803.file?fill=1:1&amp;resize=120:*\" alt=\"Headshot of Dan Chabanov\" title=\"Headshot of Dan Chabanov\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-1dsojn8 ev8dhu55\">\n<div class=\"css-1yigloe ev8dhu54\">\n<p>Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master\u2019s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 min read It\u2019s safe to say that bike tires have been trending wider over the last ten years. Gravel bikes are now commonly using mountain bike tires, while mountain bike tires are slowly creeping towards 2.5 inches and wider. Even on the road, it\u2019s safe to say that the 23 mm tire is well&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/d7f7bfaf-f14e-4d77-811c-966657101772.jpg?crop=1xw:0.749850029994xh;center,top&resize=1200:*","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}