Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
Depends on how thick the metal & rubber are. I don't have numbers, but it seems possible that a larger, lightweight rim could weigh less/have lower rotational inertia that a smaller rim with a heavy tire.
Also, as the OP said, if the tire diameter is larger, it could effectively lower the gearing, which could be an advantage if he does a lot of highway cruising.
Then there's the question of tread width: wider tread means higher rolling resistance.
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Invariably the metal in the wheel is heavier than tire sidewalls. And if the tires fit a larger wheel size, the tire sidewalls are even heavier. A smaller wheel with the same diameter tire will almost universally be lighter than a larger wheel, let alone the lower rotational inertia.