Originally Posted by
DiamondDave247
I took a really close look at my front and rear tire again today. I noticed that the rear tire shows significantly more wear than the front tire. I didn't think the wear difference would be that noticeable, but it was. So, I'm going to "rotate" the rear tire to the front wheel today in an effort to extend the life of this set of tires for the rest of this riding season. Looks like I will be buying some new tires next year. At that point the tires will have close to 5000 miles on them. So, I guess 5K miles will be about my average tire "lifespan" for Specialized Armadillos.
I know some people will rotate tires like this, but I don't do it for several reasons
1) The front tire is the most critical for stopping and turning
2) A front tire blow out is more dangerous than a rear tire blow out
3) The front tire is the first to encounter any obstacle or debris
4) If I'm in a hard corner and wash out, I'd rather the back tire slide first rather than the front for a more controllable low side wipeout
I prefer to replace the front tire with new, move the good tire to the back, and donate the well worn but usable rear tire to the local bike co-op (or trash it if it is beyond safe use). If I was going to rotate tires, I'd do it at 1/2 or less of their expected life span so they wore relatively evenly, rather than waiting until toward the end and moving a well worn tire to the front. Just my opinion.
The Armadillos are tough as heck and if I was riding in high risk areas or long, remote rides unsupported, I'd stick with them. They served me well but I'm giving some lighter, better riding tires that still have a reputation for decent flat protection a shot. The difference in ride is very noticeable on the hybrid. On the road bike I gained a bit of speed (about 1 mph average over my last three rides compared to other rides on the same routes) and notice a lot less fine road vibration and a bit more secure feeling in sharp corners. Still, I'd have no problem going back to the AC Armadillo Elites if I start getting a significant number of flats.