Bicycle wheels

I've been checking out the HED Ardennes wheel. The rim is 23mm wide, rather than the normal 19-20mm. This spreads out the wheel, more like how motorcycle tires mount. Here's a pic of a Michelin Pro3 on the Ardennes vs. a CXP33 rim. You can clearly see the flatter, rounder profile the wider rim provides. Should, in theory, give better contact patch, smoother transition when leaning, less "flopover" effect...Interesting. The only downside would be if you raced, and had to rely on neutral wheel support. Brake pads would need adjusting.

I wonder if this will lead to tires getting wider. Wider tires = more weight, but if you gain way more traction, that might offset the weight. Especially in, say, criterium racing or mountain descents. What I'd like to see is a 25mm rim, and 25mm tire in a roll-down test with 23mm rim/tire and 19mm/23mm rim/tire. That data might be enlightening. And maybe some lateral g numbers, like they do for cars. And of course weight comparisons, for the weight weenie in all of us.