Wheels What's The Difference

[elizabeth422]

how much difference is there between 25 inch wheels and 26 inch wheels? What does everyone prefer and why?

[t8burst]

You can look at wheels like gears on a bicycle. if you spend most of your time wheeling on short trips where you have to go up and down ramps/hills I would pick 24 inch rims. If you do longer, mostly flat trips I would pick 25inch tires. Unless you are really tall I wouldn't see the need for 26 inch tires.

[chasmengr]

A common use of 26s is on basketball chairs, where users want to get somewhere quickly.

I switched from 24 to 25 a few years ago; I like 25s, but can't really explain why. They just feel right to me.

[Brianm]

I also switched from 24" to 25" wheels a few years ago and will not go back. I get so much more out of each push and you get a better ride also. Going to a larger wheel can make transfers a little more difficult.

[Tsquared]

You would only get a "gearing" difference if your wheel to handrim diameter ratio increases. If you increase handrim diameter along with increasing wheel size, you're not getting any more out of the push.

No arguing that a bigger wheel decreases rolling resistance though.

[Oddity]

You would only get a "gearing" difference if your wheel to handrim diameter ratio increases. If you increase handrim diameter along with increasing wheel size, you're not getting any more out of the push.

No arguing that a bigger wheel decreases rolling resistance though.

How does a bigger wheel decrease rolling resistance? With a larger diameter don't you also get a larger contact patch, which would increase resistance?

[Brianm]

I get more out of each push as I have more to grab, being they are within reach better, also with the larger diameter there is more to push.

[Tsquared]

Sorry I took that a bit too literally in that you were getting more in distance out of the same arm stroke. But really you meant that the larger diameter takes better advantage of your potential arm stroke and you can do bigger pushes. My bad. So ideal tire size can depend on a person's size and ability it seems.

[Brianm]

So ideal tire size can depend on a person's size and ability it seems.

I believe that to be true. If you are on the shorter side, 25" wheels may be to much.

[Adrian]

I sue 26" wheel. Whenever I have used 24" it feels like I am having to do so many more pushes to get anywhere and I would not want to use anything smaller than 26".
Bigger wheels make bouncing up kerbs easier to.