32 inch wheels thread

neptronix

neptronix

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Finally there's a prototype Maxis 32" x 2.4" MTB tire out there, as well as some suspension forks on the way for 32" wheels.
These guys built a mountain bike with the prototype tires to test it offroad and noticed that it had both better grip and faster rolling speed versus a 29" wheel.
The only noted downside is slightly less maneuverability.


This wheel size is interesting to me for ebikes because it increases comfort on a hardtail while also reducing rolling friction.
It can also mean for higher speeds with addon mid drives.

It seems like the bike industry is also starting to take it serously, so this would be a good place to catalog/discuss 32" wheel info.
 
32" looks interesting. The 36" Coker wheel/tire of a few years ago was good for unicycles and mini high-wheelers but more of a novelty for regular bicycling.Image 10-5-25 at 9.16 PM.jpeg
 
So a high turn count hub and a Bbso2 mid -drive, and you would probably get more Regen because this would really pick up speed on the downhills. Walmart should make an Ozark trail version next year, would just upend the bike industry.
 
I think a lot of people are missing your 'Big Wheels' = better ride (and safer) point neptronix, so lets take it to extremes:

Imagine a HUGE rim the size of a Big Wheel at a fairground, with a huge light tire on it:
A wheel like that would go right over a car without damage to the car or wheel.
A brick in the road wouldn't even be noticed. High pavement: Pfft!
Similarly; you could ride over a large indent like a water canal with a tire like that and it wouldn't fall into the 'hole'.
But try the same on a skateboard... Even small stones can lead to disaster!​

ie: The bigger the wheel; the bigger the bumps and ruts etc it can go over... smoothly!...

Then there's the added traction, simply because more tire is in contact with the ground, even when inflated to high pressure.

I like and get your thinking here!
Especially as The New South Africa roads are now more "potholes in row' than road.
Know of any 64 inch wheels!? :)
 
Wonder if the wheels are wider to maintain stiffness. Thinking of trikes and turning sharp would not want it to fold in half.
 
ZeroEm said:
Wonder if the wheels are wider to maintain stiffness. Thinking of trikes and turning sharp would not want it to fold in half.
Click to expand...
Ye that's an issue on anything that does not lean into corners.
At a guess, the answer is;
a 'long' wheel hub on a long shaft would make it so the spokes made more of a (tri) angle from rim to hub.
 
Yeah, i finally adopted the 29" wheel this year. The diameter reduces the need for rear suspension a lot on my crappy roads. I can get by with a Suntour NCX on the rear and it only starts getting rickety feeling > 32mph. I'd imagine these take that speed up a few mph.

ZeroEm said:
Wonder if the wheels are wider to maintain stiffness. Thinking of trikes and turning sharp would not want it to fold in half.
Click to expand...

They're typically using wide carbon wheels to reduce rotating weight


It's a shame the 750D wheels seem to be vaporware so far. Those would fit a wider variety of riders. Been close to no interest in them, outside of what WTB is doing.

32" frames generally squish the wheelbase, which forces the rider upward. This means you need to be 5 ft 10 to ride. The bike could be made longer with 750D wheels and probably fit a 5 ft 6 rider.

Maybe it's because 32" is an appreciable size increase and the 30.5" that's 750D isn't - you could just put really fat tires on a 29er to achieve that diameter :unsure:
 
If DD hub motor work best in smaller rims giving more surface contact torque, what effect would these larger wheel have on surface contact torque?
 
I threw one in the Grin's simulator. you lose efficiency and gain top speed. I like larger wheels for the ride comfort and don't mind the trade off but as I ride a trike could only use it on the rear. Image a pair of 32" wheel on the front. The turning radius would not be doable.
 
He's right, you know.
The larger the wheel, the lower the torque output, continuous wattage, and efficiency from a given DD motor.

The typical 9C clone style DD is an optimal design for a 20" wheel that is stretched thin for torque density in 29" and above because it lacks the appropriate pole count and/or diameter to counteract the larger diameter and thus slower RPM.

You would totally want something more like a RH212 or Golden Motor Magic Pie to help offset the effects of huge wheel diameter ( 10-20% taller, and more poles )
 
neptronix said:
They're typically using wide carbon wheels to reduce rotating weight
Click to expand...
That would take them right out of the running as wheels for my trikes. (I prefer something that will give me significant obvious warning before failure).

Unfortunate as the larger diameter would help with rolling over the road problems here (warped / deformed asphalt from the heat and traffic, missing asphalt chunks at road edges, etc).
 
neptronix said:
He's right, you know.
The larger the wheel, the lower the torque output, continuous wattage, and efficiency from a given DD motor.

The typical 9C clone style DD is an optimal design for a 20" wheel that is stretched thin for torque density in 29" and above because it lacks the appropriate pole count and/or diameter to counteract the larger diameter and thus slower RPM.

You would totally want something more like a RH212 or Golden Motor Magic Pie to help offset the effects of huge wheel diameter ( 10-20% taller, and more poles )
Click to expand...
I wouldn't consider running a DD hub in a 32 inch wheel unless you combine it with a mid -drive then it would still climb hills at speed without burning up.
 
I'd run one of these 45mm all axles at 2500w on a bike like that.
You can kind of make up for lack of diameter with extra width, and 13lbs isn't too bad.

1759785135246.png

What i wouldn't do is use a smaller motor since you're at such a disadvantage, RPM wise.
 
In THEORY more traction, smoother ride,
in REALITY more weight, more cost, not interchangable with existing frames .
A Bike sales dream !
I have not seen any tangible benefit in the 27.5, or the 29er, over the original 26” wheel set.
( other than it is getting harder to source a selection of 26” parts)
 
Last edited:
I'm guessing that larger wheels are lighter than adding full suspension. Was for bigger wheels but started wanting suspension and smaller wheels. My issue is turning with large wheels on a trike.
 
hillslayer@ said:
Night and day difference of a 29 wheel vs a 26 wheel if you ride anything but smooth pavement.
Click to expand...
I mostly ride dirt/rocky trails , MTB tracks, etc.
ZeroEm said:
m guessing that larger wheels are lighter than adding full suspension
Click to expand...
Not necessarily, wheels + tyres are heavier, & also the frame has to be bigger.
A bigger wheel is no sustitute for 4-5” of suspension.
 
hillslayer@ said:
Night and day difference of a 29 wheel vs a 26 wheel if you ride anything but smooth pavement.
Click to expand...

Big difference here. I can't get a 26 to stop chattering/juddering in certain sections of my local roads. I have a very light weight car with a more than usual amount of tire diameter, and it doesn't handle these roads well either. The 29er with 2.0" tires is the only thing that handles them allright in my fleet of vehicles.

Hillhater said:
In THEORY more traction, smoother ride,
in REALITY more weight, more cost, not interchangable with existing frames .
A Bike sales dream !
Click to expand...

Too bad nobody wants my wad so far. It's all $3000 - $5000 for these small batch 32" bikes. Looks like the Kent Big League recently disappeared.
 
neptronix said:
Big difference here. I can't get a 26 to stop chattering/juddering in certain sections of my local roads.
Click to expand...
Sometimes that's up to wheelbase, too, vs the distance between bumps/dips, especially with "rippled" pavement, such as happens here in places where vehicles accelerate or brake while it's hot enough for the pavement to be soft enough to deform.
 
Hillhater said:
I mostly ride dirt/rocky trails , MTB tracks, etc.

Not necessarily, wheels + tyres are heavier, & also the frame has to be bigger.
A bigger wheel is no sustitute for 4-5” of suspension.
Click to expand...
All the pro mountain bikers went to 29 inch wheels because there was no advantage over 26 inch wheels.
 
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