Wider tires have a ton of benefits for road and gravel bikes… but our latest testing reveals that speed isn’t one of them.
In this episode of The Bicycling Show About Bicycling, gear experts Bobby Lea, Trevor Raab, and Tom Messina dig into the data from Bicycling’s recent road- and gravel-tire testing.
And what they found might reshape how you think about speed, comfort, and what actually works best on your bike.
Yes, wider tires can feel smoother. Yes, they can help on rough roads. But faster? Not always. The crew digs into where the real sweet spot lies, which widths often win in the real world, and how factors like fatigue, terrain, rim width, and aerodynamics all change the equation.
If you want to choose the right tire width for your own rides—this episode is your roadmap.
Tap the link in bio to hear the testing, the surprising results, and what our experts ride after putting all those to the test. 🚀

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