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dustyyoungblood
Guest
Do you really want width? When I get a wider tire, I look for increased overall circumference and the ability to run lower pressures. Bigger wheel = better roll-over. Wider tire = ?? More fun to crush overgrowth? Does having the sidewalls wider apart do anything besides expose them to damage? Compel you to roll over rocks, instead of attempting to roll between gaps of them?
I really wonder... the best I can think of is possibly a reshaped tire contact patch that's wider, rather than longer? In what cases does that help?
Do I want width? Oh man do I have to answer that honestly?
In this particular case, where I wanted to leave the 2.4 Onza on the rear, yes I wanted width of equal or greater at the side knobs F/R. That's why I shared all the details here, the result of my choice was not exactly what I wanted. Splitting hairs yes, will I feel it on the trail.l? Most likely not, but at high speed corners on hardpack I will feel it. It's going to mess up my cornering a little. And the difference in air volume is going to mess me up also, especially given my mixed wheel size. 29/27.5
As for in general tire shopping is width the most important determining factor ? No way. Sometimes a 2" small block 8 is the Best tire for a particular day. But If Traction is the ultimate goal for the tire choice, specifically straight line loose chutes to unstable corners(as was part of my choice factor) then I don't know how width is not a factor. If it does not come into play then we would all use very narrow full round profile tires.
Also, what I should really be measuring is the contact patch width when loaded up in a corner. Perhaps the DHR will be wider then the Onza when flattened out. But that's a much harder measurement to take.