Now as I understand it: A high pressure tire has lower rolling resistance. If you weight 200 lbs, and have a tire pressure at 100 lbs/inch2 then there is 2 inch2 rubber on the road, and have a tire at 200 lbs/inch2 then there is 1 inch2 on the road, and hence less friction, but a harsher ride. To make the ride softer you lower the tire pressure, but increase rolling resistance.
Yet a thin tire will present an oval shap on the road and a fat tire a more rounded one, to a very fat tire giving an oval in the sideways direction.
I would suspect a round patch on the road would produce the least friction and hence the best rolling resistance. Is this correct?
So, for a particular rider weight and tire pressure there must be an optimum tire width.
And further to this, considering weight distribution of front and back, differing sizes would make sense. I suspect a fatter tire at the front as I find this does tend to give me a better ride.
Anyone know of a formula for this?
Yet a thin tire will present an oval shap on the road and a fat tire a more rounded one, to a very fat tire giving an oval in the sideways direction.
I would suspect a round patch on the road would produce the least friction and hence the best rolling resistance. Is this correct?
So, for a particular rider weight and tire pressure there must be an optimum tire width.
And further to this, considering weight distribution of front and back, differing sizes would make sense. I suspect a fatter tire at the front as I find this does tend to give me a better ride.
Anyone know of a formula for this?