Wide Rim Revolution or Fad?

Am I super fat if I’m running 2.4 on Flows?

you are not even plus size
no, you would be so skinny… you could pass for a hipster

super fat is greater than 4" tires on 50 mm wide rims

If I mount a 2.3 on my 30mm (internal) NOBLs and put the the same tire in 2.4 on a Flow, what would be the observed difference in tire width and how would the profile change. My guess is not very much. I actually have the pieces in the garage to conduct the experiment. Is the outcome significantly different if you use an IBIS (35mm) in place of the NOBL?

I'd like to see this. Photos too would be nice

I'd like to see this. Photos too would be nice

Just added it to my todo list…

^No I'm seriously interested in tire profiles and what not. But have been wondering what is in fact too wide.
The LB 33mm 26ers w/ 2.35 Magic Marys on the DH bike are 1mm narrower than the M90s so I'm likely on a championship winning formula.
The LB 30mm 29ers with a DHRII 2.3 have a nice rounded profile. I mass debated going 35mm at least on the front but decided against this as Im a featherweight and this is my "xc" bike

From Derby's website

Tire measured on 40mm wide rim, edge knobs stand up and flair very slightly less to the sides

Same size tire measured on 28mm narrow rim

I didn't measure mine…but one on the left is the Spank Oozy rim and then one on the right is a LB Wider 29er Rim.

From Derby's website

Tire measured on 40mm wide rim, edge knobs stand up and flair very slightly less to the sides

Same size tire measured on 28mm narrow rim

Ummm… I am struggling to see a difference? I thought it would be more noticeable.

Ummm… I am struggling to see a difference? I thought it would be more noticeable.

here's another picture that might make it more clear

here's another picture that might make it more clear

Ah shit… you got me. But I am with you on this one.

Why even bother using external width numbers in these discussions? Or for that matter why does derby/ibis/LB market them using the irrelevant external width? Personally that is a turn off for me when they do that, especially when they don't make it clear in their comparisons.

here's another picture that might make it more clear

:lol:End of thread.

Boom has just won this thread.

I've just switched to Flow EX (25mm internal dim) from some incredibly heavy Alex DX 32 (32mm internal at least)…. REGRET. While they are amazing and light with ballin Hope hubs (and my old wheels where pretty lame) they are terribly narrow and with the usual low pressure I run they feel like they want to roll the tires right off.

The internet sold me on these wheels and I think the internet is a bunch of pussies. These, in my e-pinion are not suited to aggressive local riding.

30mm or greater is likely a better internal - Don't be convinced that narrow is fine. The internet lies!

Tires used - Minion DHF EXO 3C

you guys are missing the point. wide rims don't make the tire bigger. the minor profile change is insignificant on the trail.

you can run lower pressure (5-ish psi) without the tire feeling like its "rolling" during cornering - more traction, smoother ride. that's it.
and the hookless beads are very very hard to burp, even at these lower pressures.
and the hookless beads are thick and tough and difficult to damage, even smashing them really fucking hard on rocks at high speed, even at these lower pressures.

my new bike came with 21mm internal rims and they feel ridiculous coming from 30 and 35mm rims. i have to run high pressures and they still feel awful cornering.

if you can't tell the difference then you have nothing to worry about. team robot would say its because you suck at riding and you should kill yourself. i say some people are just less sensitive to what their bike feels like. if you haven't tried wide rims then your "observations" are irrelevant to this thread.