Why are bike tires so narrow and large diameter compared to car tires? What tradeoffs are here exactly? Motorcycle and some ebike tires are more similar to car tires than to bike tires, so i guess it has something to do with braking length at maximum expected speed, and probably also with weight of vehicle, as to not exceed some specified pressure on road. There has to be so many more reasons (weight? air resistance? some other things affecting efficiency or safety? ???)

update: apparently friction involving things that are bendy is monstrously complicated subject, and also there are material limits like maximum allowed shear stress

  • floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    19 hours ago

    A low center of gravity is more stable than a high one.

    Gyroscopic effects do exist on bikes but they are not the main source of stability - it’s the fork geometry, which tends to straighten the handlebar