27.5 vs 29 wheel diameter
Goingwith 29 wheels and 2.5 tires will reduce the effort it takes to pedal on the average. While 27.5+ has the same effective diameter as the 29, the tires are heavier, and you have to run them at lower psi to avoid major bounciness, which gives them more rolling resistance than 29 tires at higher psi. Reply pepper_boxThesmaller diameter of the 27.5″ wheels (vs 29″ wheels) may lead to reduced traction in these situations. The tires have a smaller area of contact with the ground compared to 29-inch wheels. This can compromise stability and control, potentially impacting the rider’s confidence on demanding terrain. Thisis due to the steeper attack angle created by a smaller diameter wheel. In my opinion, 27.5-inch wheels do an outstanding job to meet the criteria of an all-rounder, but as I mentioned before, being a great all-rounder doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best. Let’s look at the pros and cons of a 27.5 inch wheel when compared to a 29er.
Thisis true, but only as a function of the difference in wheel weight. A bigger wheel is heavier by 29/27.5=5% (probably about 0.5% of bike plus rider system). If this heavier wheel was spinning at the same speed as a smaller wheel, there would be more angular momentum, but larger mountain bike wheels spin slower.