The Wider the Bike's Rims, the Better the Ride - Let's See Why

The tech improvements in the biking world that have been happening lately, although subtle at a first glance, are in fact quite impactful when it comes to efficiency. From frame geometries, suspension designs to wheel profiles, there have certainly been more than just a few changes. One of the most obvious alterations is that the wheels are now significantly wider than those of the past, especially when it comes to mountain bikes. In light of that, a question arises whether this is just a marketing trick, or there's something to it. Well, there's science behind it, in fact, and enough testing so far as to know the value of the new trends so to speak.
First things first, before I move on to rims, the reason why bigger tires are the big new thing now is that they make for a more supple riding experience. By providing an additional inch or two, they enhance suspension in case of an impact.

Regarding the width of rims, the reason why wider ones are better is the wider contact patch they create between the ground and the tire itself. Wider rims also result in putting the cornering knobs in a lot more constant contact with the ground. When a standard tire is mounted to a wider rim, the alteration results in pushing the cornering knobs, thus stretching out the tire. Wide rims also make for better climbing due to the larger air volumes and lower pressure (about three psi lower than a narrow rim).

The standard rim width on an MTB is 23mm, but rims for BMX bikes are catching up with the trend faster with rendering 32mm the standard “all rounder”. The size of the newest rims for BMX bikes settles at a 36-hole rim which is tough enough to withstand most uses and not as heavy as to be a drag when riding. And since we all know that BXM bikes tend to be the coolest appearance wise, you can choose rims in neon colour, urban camouflage or graffiti-inspired ones.

The depth of the rim is another thing that needs to be considered. The newest models of aero rims and wheelsets come with deep section rims. This alteration was made for the purpose of improved speed and more stiffness, but since they have an impact on handling, in certain conditions, such as windy weather, this may not be the most convenient choice.