A Specific Investigation into 32 Inch Tires

We’ve published before on the virtues specific to unicycles with 32 inch tires, but we want to go back to it for a moment. They deserve an additional callout. This tire size is growing in popularity and rightfully so. 

Here are a few things you should know. 

A Smooth Ride

One of the biggest selling points of 32 inch tires, and not just for unicycles but for bike tires, is that the larger diameter doesn’t telegraph obstructions as dramatically as smaller tires. 

In laymen’s terms, the larger tire rolls over obstacles more easily, whether those obstacles be rocks, downed branches, or just an errant curb. 

This is a huge advantage of 32 inch bike tires. The faster you go the less forgiving the bike will be of obstacles and aberrations in the ride so the larger tire with its greater forgiveness is a boon. The same goes for unicycles and the effect is perhaps magnified since unicycles are, after all, inherently much less stable than bikes. 

So for one thing, bikes and unicycles with 32 inch tires will offer a considerably more comfortable ride, and for another, they’re more suitable for use on rougher terrain. For instance, smaller tires do not handle well on trails or unpaved surfaces. 

Though most muni riders and mountain bikers might prefer 29 inch or 27.5 inch tires for trail riding, 32 inch tires are not altogether impractical. 

A Fast Ride 

Even though bikes have chain drives (which unicycles lack) we can’t entirely discount the fact that wheel size is still a determinant of top speed. 

Even with a chain drive, the larger the tire, the easier it will be for you to get to and maintain a higher speed. There’s also the idea of rotational momentum to consider. Though it is harder to get a larger tire started, the higher mass of the tire as it spins helps to keep it spinning, like a flywheel, as a result of the conservation of angular momentum. 

In other words, a bike with 32 inch tires will not just enjoy a slightly higher top speed (chain drive and strength held equal) but it will be easier to keep it going at that speed. This makes 32 inch bike tires a top choice for commuting and racing. 

In fact, believe it or not, UCI, or Union Cycliste Internationale, actually has sanctioned 32 inch tires for cross-country racing, not just because of the speed they offer, but in part because of the fact that they offer a smoother ride.

And if we keep the scope of this analysis strictly to unicycles, the 32 inch tire offers higher speed than smaller tires, period. With a unicycle, top speed is determined partly by leg strength and crank arm length and mostly by tire size. The larger the tire, the higher the top speed, which makes 32 inch models faster than anything that doesn’t have a 36 inch tire.

Minimal Impact on Handling

Handling is another thing to consider in both bikes and unicycles with 32 inch tires, and this impacts both bike riders and unicyclists. 

For unicyclists, the 32 is still fairly nimble. It’s not as agile as a unicycle with a 24 inch tire, but it’s also a lot faster, carries more rotational momentum, and offers a far, far smoother ride. Most would say it handles a lot like a 29, which is big because that size is often used for mountain riding. 

The same is generally true for bicyclists. A bike with 32 inch bike tires will offer a faster, smoother ride than a bike with smaller tires but it will still remain relatively agile. The turning radius will be a bit wider, so some would prefer bikes with smaller tires for mountain riding, but it’s still not bad. 

Compared to the 29 and 36 

As far as unicyclists are concerned, we have special notes for unicycles with 32 inch tires compared to 29 and 36 inch models. 

First, yes, the 32 is slower than the 36, but only by a mile per hour or so. It’s also several miles per hour faster than the 29. That said, it handles very similarly to the 29, and is a lot more agile than the 36. Unicycles with 36 inch tires handle like a bus or a Mack truck. Those with 32 inch tires are a lot more maneuverable. 

So, in many ways, you get the best of both worlds. More speed, a smoother ride, high rotational momentum, but far better handling. 

In other words, if you’re tossed up between speed and handling, a unicycle with 32 inch tires might be the exact thing you need, even if you didn’t know it. 

Explore Unicycles with 32 Inch Tires Here 

Whether you’re here for a new unicycle with 32 inch tires or just need some bike tires to replace what’s on your current ride, we can help you out. Check out our collection and get in touch with us directly if you need assistance.