Tyre width has narrow can you go?

[Theblackspot]

Hi I'm just wondering if you can fit narrower tyres on an ebike as lots of the ones I've seen all have very substantial tyres.
On my normal bike, I've reduced Tyre drag by putting narrower tyres on.
Does this work for ebike? Less drag =more mileage per charge?
Cheers

 

[Trevormonty]

The downside of narrow tyres is harder ride due to less cushioning, also less braking traction. If you use 2.0-2.3 road tyre like Big Ben, Big Apple or Allmotion you can have best of both worlds. Low pressure and comfort for commuting or high pressure with more range for touring at cost of comfort.

 

[GLJoe]

Hi I'm just wondering if you can fit narrower tyres on an ebike as lots of the ones I've seen all have very substantial tyres.
On my normal bike, I've reduced Tyre drag by putting narrower tyres on.
Does this work for ebike? Less drag =more mileage per charge?

Kind of. Less drag will indeed mean more mileage per charge.
However drag is often down to other factors such as compound, knobbly tyres, or underinflated ones, and as was previously mentioned, the problem with narrower ones is the probability of a worse riding experience.
I'd also go with a larger fast rolling balloon type tyre like a big apple or super motox.

 

[peter.c]

Hi
If you run big apples at high pressure the contact point surprisingly small and yet still comfortable , the tyre drag does not notice that much the wind and terrain are the major and of course the pedal effort

 

[Theblackspot]

Thanks guys.
I'd got the impression that it was a comfort thing, but the point about breaking is a valid one.
When I eventually male my mine up and get a bike I will have a play around and see what works for me. (I'm not adverse to padded shorts) Currently I'm riding skinny tyres on a racing style bike and have no problems with comfort, but if I up the distance/time in the saddle...

 

[flecc]

Currently I'm riding skinny tyres on a racing style bike and have no problems with comfort, but if I up the distance/time in the saddle...

In which case you'd be able to have small section tyres and their advantages on most e-bikes.

I say most since some have platform mounted contacts, pressure or blade type, and the battery bouncing over bumpy roads can cause contact burn and unreliable connections. That's shown by the burnt black lines on these contacts, the right hand one grooved by the burning:

 

[Theblackspot]

In which case you'd be able to have small section tyres and their advantages on most e-bikes.

I say most since some have platform mounted contacts, pressure or blade type, and the battery bouncing over bumpy roads can cause contact burn and unreliable connections. That's shown by the burnt black lines on these contacts, the right hand one grooved by the burning:

Thats interesting, I'm guessing that it negatively effected the battery life due to energy wasted shooting up that connection.

 

[Woosh]

Thats interesting, I'm guessing that it negatively effected the battery life due to energy wasted shooting up that connection.

worse than that, sparks can kill the controller.

BTW, you do get more miles out of skinny tyres. My Karoo is fitted with 700 x 28 but can use 700 x 22 or 700 x 25. Some customers get as much as 83 miles from a 36V 13AH battery.

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?karoo

 

[anotherkiwi]

Downhill at 60+ km/h with short braking distance at bottom - my choice is made, braking distance is also much shorter with balloon tyres! I can keep up with or downhill faster on Number Two than many roadies I meet because of the extra confidence I have in road holding in corners and braking. There is one particular section with corrugated surface where I leave them for dead

I bought a trike without suspension because I knew I was going to fit balloon tyres - no regrets there either. Sure I'm not as fast on the straight bits as with the Marathon Racer and Trykers but I am much faster through corners. And yes the Basque country has a few corners too

When I have pocket money again I will go tubeless And fit wide Allmotion and Shredda tyres. These are high volume tyres that are designed to go fast. Most high volume tyres are designed for comfort and/or puncture resistance and so are slower than narrow tyres, these ones are designed to go fast.

You will also go faster with wide lower pressure tyres on rough surfaces than with skinny high pressure ones, which are only faster on smoother surfaces. There is a reason that Tour de France stages are resurfaced every year before the race...

https://www.bentrideronline.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=130937&page=4

 

[Trevormonty]

Can vouch for braking with Allmotions, I have 27.5x2.0 on rear of FS MTB, even with 180mm discs it takes lot effort to lockup rear wheel. Probably 2-3 times compared to MTB tyres.
Very quiet and fast rolling.

 

[Theblackspot]

From the experience of you guys, I'll not prejudge the (theoretical) bikes tyres until I've tried it.