The leading wheel brands have revolutionized road and mountain cycling by driving a significant change in rim width. This advancement, which includes larger internal and external measurements, aims to improve the aerodynamics of the wheel-tire set, offering superior performance. Although this change began years ago, it was the American brand HED, led by Steve Hed, that pioneered the commercialization of wider rims with its iconic C2 in 2006. These rims demonstrated, through wind tunnel tests with elite cyclists such as Lance Armstrong, the benefits of this technology. Today, brands like Bontrager, Zipp, and Mavic (with their Cosmic Pro Carbon SL) are also committed to this design, with standards reaching internal widths of 20-21 mm and external widths of up to 26 mm. If you are looking to maximize your road or mountain experience, explore our wide selection of road bikes and mountain bikes to make the most of these innovations.
A matter of aerodynamics
Currently, we can see that professional road cycling teams use tires and tubulars from 23 to 26 mm. The major cycling manufacturers are adapting to new measurements or wider wheel clearances to fit tires starting at 25 mm. The reason for this increase is the efficiency at the aerodynamic level and comfort when riding the bike. Without delving too deeply into the scientific basis, the principle of improving the rolling coefficient is related to a clear greater efficiency in contact with the asphalt. When the tires are wider, let's say 25 mm for example, the footprint it leaves on the ground is more rounded; if we look at the one left by a 23 mm tire, it is thinner but more elongated. The result is that this footprint has better performance in aspects as important as the cyclist's speed or rolling resistance, which, being lower, saves energy. To all these benefits, we add greater comfort and ease of handling.
Greater puncture resistance
Wider tires on wide rims allow for lower pressures to be used without diminishing their performance and with a clear improvement in ride quality. We can especially notice it in grip on wet terrain and it also provides greater puncture resistance. Let's not forget an aspect like weight, since wider tires logically weigh more, a few grams, but that extra weight is located on the outer part of the wheel and does not have a decisive dynamic influence on the bike. In the words of HED's European manager, Pepe Navarro: “We recommend that 23 mm tires be used at a minimum and, if the bike's wheel clearance allows, better if they are 25 mm.” He adds that “the combination we could call ideal is to use wheels that have wide rims suitable for these sizes, which will result in better performance.” Are you up for trying them?