No one is saying that you CAN'T ride on gravel with a skinny tire...I think the issue here is which handles better.

If you compare one with the other...come on, be honest...Don't you think the wider tire would handle it better being that it has more tire surface to handle soft gravel (not hardpacked)? Although, having said that...riding with a skinny tire on dry pavement has it's benefits too. It has more of a positive reaction to cornering and curves.

 

[sm=exactly.gif] Been there and done that. Going downhill on gravel is the worst.

 

Increase in tire width definitely adds stability.
Something that adds major stability to a 21" tire is switching to the Avon Venom tire. Those tires stick like glue. Wet or dry pavement. Tried a set on my '02 Standard a couple of years ago, now that's the only tire I will run.

 

AVON ALL THE WAY MAN!!!!

I noticed an extreme difference in the handling when I switched from the Dunlops that my first bike came with. That's probably the best way you can go if somebody is looking for a better and more stable ride without switching to a wider tire. I noticed Avon Roadrunners are better handling in corners, faster stopping in rain, and handle road cracks much better. I haven't tried the Venom but I've been tempted when i read a review in a magazine. I've been tempted to try a pair of Metzlers also but I have not as of yet. My recently acquired bike has (75% tread) Dunlops that need to go as soon as I can afford it.

Hmmm... A new post about which tire to try next? Venom's or 880's?

 

Fat tires handle worse on pavement, twisties, because of the wider "contact patch" while the bike is straight up. When leaning it is harder to "overcome" the patch and get into the side tread, ever hear of "chicken stripes"? look at your tires, especially the wider rear tire, you can tell how far you lean the bike. the portion of the tire that has "not" been in contact with the pavement starts the "chicken stripe", the rim is the other side of the "chicken stripe". The wider the tire the more it resist "leaning".

 

although the hadnling is not as great as a skinny tire or not as stable when running a skinny tire I do nto feel as though it is an issue. Thousands of people ride skinny front tires and wide ones for that matter. hel every sportbike out thier has a skinny front tire. no one is comlaining about them. Older sportbikes had even skinnier tires on 18" rims. They were great handlers.

I think this is a perosnal preferance issue not a hnadling issue. A trike will be more stable yet so i think everyone should ride a trike instead. Its just more stable then a wide tire so we should go for it.

Really though. Wide or skinny you will be fine with either. If you are nto fine on a skinny front tire you should not be riding in the first place.