Road Cycling - Newbie Tire Question..is this ok?

I'm counting on the good and knowledgable people at the Bike Forums to re-assure me on this: Took my Specialized Sequoia in for a tune-up the other day and got a message on my answering machine later saying there was "good news and bad news". The good news= my bike was ready. The bad= there was a slice in my front tire and the tube was abraded, so the LBS replaced the tire. When I picked up the bike, nothing was said but I immediately noticed that the new front tire (Bontrager Select K ) was different from the back (Specialized Turbo Pro). Not only that, but they were different sizes, too. (The Specialized is 700x26c and the Bontrager is 700x 25c). When I remarked on this, I was told that the shop didn't have the Specialized Turbos as they're no longer made and that the new tire is comparable. They also suggested that I wouldn't notice much, if any, difference in the ride. I countered (politely) that I would have expected them to let me know before changing the tire that they couln't match the back and let me have the option of trying to match it elsewhere, get the tire online, or whatever...just give me the choice. The LBS conceded they should have told me beforehand, but that they probably didn't because the choice of tire made so little difference. They were willing to take a Turbo Pro off another bike in the store and swap out the Bontrager, but the '04 Sequoia's don't have them and they had no leftovers form ''03. for The upshot was that they agreed to refund my money if I can find another Turbo Pro.
I know zilch about tires and this is a large and reputable bike shop. I don't really want to go looking for a matching tire if it's going to make no difference wear-wise, performance wise, and otherwise. (I should have mentioned that I haven't riden the bike yet due to weather and my schedule). Comments, anybody???

I love specialized tires, from the reviews here: http://www.roadbikereview.com/Tires/Bontrager,Select,Kevlar/PRD_104400_2489crx.aspx the Bontranger's suck. Size wise, I run a 25 in the back and 23 in the front, doesn't seem to affect me any.

I love specialized tires, from the reviews here: http://www.roadbikereview.com/Tires/Bontrager,Select,Kevlar/PRD_104400_2489crx.aspx the Bontranger's suck. Size wise, I run a 25 in the back and 23 in the front, doesn't seem to affect me any.

Boy, those reviews aren't very encouraging, especially since I loathe getting a flat out in the middle of nowhere 25 miles from home.
I should have also mentioned that the Specialized Turbo Pros have a PSI of 130 while the Bontragers only have a PSI of 100.

I can't compare these specific tires. However, there are a few factors to consider:

1. Tire sizing is odd. Many manufacturers have their posted size larger than their real size. Sometimes, even in a same model, all sizes do not "behave" the same way. So your "25" tire may even be wider than your "26".

2. A bike is not a 2-wheel-drive vehicle. As such, using tires of two very different sizes is not a problem. You may even want it. For instance, using a wider front tire makes the bike float better on soft sand; using a wider rear tires makes the bike more comfortable on pothole-infested streets, especially if you carry a lot of cargo. Even without cargo, weight distribution is 65% rear -- 35% front, so a slightly wider tire on the rear wheel could make sense.

3. The type of rubber (slippery, non slippery...), the noise level and the tire resistance to flats are three more important considerations. I have removed an IRC Tandem tire from the tourer and installed it on the commuter precisely because of noise.

[QUOTE=mgagnonlv]

Tire sizing is odd. Many manufacturers have their posted size larger than their real size. Sometimes, even in a same model, all sizes do not "behave" the same way. So your "25" tire may even be wider than your "26".

In this case, the 25 is significantly thinner than the 26. It looks kind of odd to me when you look at the bike.

2. A bike is not a 2-wheel-drive vehicle. As such, using tires of two very different sizes is not a problem. You may even want it. For instance, using a wider front tire makes the bike float better on soft sand; using a wider rear tires makes the bike more comfortable on pothole-infested streets, especially if you carry a lot of cargo. Even without cargo, weight distribution is 65% rear -- 35% front, so a slightly wider tire on the rear wheel could make sense.

Mountain bikers have been riding different width tyres for... well... since almost the beginning of MTBing. When they do so, they will typically run a wider front tyre for better handling on the technical sections and to prevent front tyre washouts with a thinner rear for better acceleration and rolling resistance.

There's no compelling reason to have the same tire on the front as the rear. All things equal most people would probably be better off with a wider tire in the rear. I don't think the shop did you wrong.

There's no compelling reason to have the same tire on the front as the rear. All things equal most people would probably be better off with a wider tire in the rear. I don't think the shop did you wrong.

Mmmm actually I would always opt for a wider front tire on a bike. I feel its more stable into the corners, and typically ran my old XC bike with a 2.4" front and a 2.0" rear... very sharp stable cornering.

Mmmm actually I would always opt for a wider front tire on a bike. I feel its more stable into the corners, and typically ran my old XC bike with a 2.4" front and a 2.0" rear... very sharp stable cornering.


The LBS justified the wider rear by saying that that's your weight-bearing tire.

On a MTB a wider front tire is better if riding off road, but on a road a wider back tire or same size all the way round is better. With a mtb your dealing with soft dirt (assuming your riding it off road) and the front tire has a tendancy to slide on hard turns thus perhaps washing out on you. On a road bike this washing out thing would never occur unless you got into loose dirt! But the wider tire on the back on a road bike will do 4 things: 1.) last longer; 2.) be a bit more comfortable due to it's greater air volumn; 3.) reduce pinch flats; 4.) stop you a tad faster because upon a fast panic stop your weight shifts to the front where most of the braking power occurs, but in the process of doing that your rear tire locks up quicker; thus the wider footprint makes it a bit harder to lock up. But of course you can help out the rear tire's braking capabilities by moving your butt rearward off the saddle to displace your weight more to the rear.

Thanks for the responses. Based on what I've read here, my only remaining concern is how the new tire performs compared with the Specialized Turbo Pro. The reviews were not encouaging. Guess I'll find out soon enough....

Some manufacturers produce sets of tires with different sizes for front and rear, .e.g. Continental's GP Attack (22mm) & Force (23mm) (http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/de/continental/fahrrad/themen/reifen/rennrad/gp_attack_force/gp_attack_force_de.html).

User reviews of tires can be a bit problematic. After a bad experience with a particular tire, you will probably and understandably give it a negative rating. Yet, the disappointment may not necessarily have to do with a faulty design or other 'standard' error. Sometimes, it's just bad luck/'Monday morning production'/whatever. For instance, I recently had a broken thread on one of my Conti GP's. I have been using that model for years and miles, without any significant failures.

Thanks for the responses. Based on what I've read here, my only remaining concern is how the new tire performs compared with the Specialized Turbo Pro. The reviews were not encouaging. Guess I'll find out soon enough....

to answer your question, the bontrager select is a cheaper tire, but not a terrible one all in all. I have a 27x1 1/4 bontrager select on my fixie, and I haven't had that much trouble with it, but I have only gone about 100 miles with it. It seems decent.

If you are worried about the size, 1mm differance is .039". Basically if you are not happy with the tire tell the LBS and give them a chance to refund your money or give you a better tire. That 1 mm is not much difference to worry about. But the 30 psi less you will notice, I do. My conti run 120 psi where as my Mich run 120. Put the tire you are worried about on the front. Fronts are easier to change! Like seats, tires are a personal thing, find something you like and buy from them.

Don't get too worried about user reviews. Remember that a lot of people will want to tell the whole world if they have a bad experience (which, as pointed out, can frequently be user error such as poor mounting or under-inflation). The same people will just happily ride along saying nothing if their having a good experience... :)

You're also only looking at a total of 5 reviews there... not really a valid sample size! Sites like roadbikereview and mtbr can give quite skewed results...

If you are worried about the size, 1mm differance is .039". Basically if you are not happy with the tire tell the LBS and give them a chance to refund your money or give you a better tire. That 1 mm is not much difference to worry about. But the 30 psi less you will notice, I do. My conti run 120 psi where as my Mich run 120. Put the tire you are worried about on the front. Fronts are easier to change! Like seats, tires are a personal thing, find something you like and buy from them.


What, specifically, did you notice with the reduced PSI?

There's no compelling reason to have the same tire on the front as the rear. All things equal most people would probably be better off with a wider tire in the rear. I don't think the shop did you wrong.
One compelling reason for me is continuity of appearance. Call me shallow, but I think it's important.

55/Rad

One compelling reason for me is continuity of appearance. Call me shallow, but I think it's important.


You're shallow.

You're shallow.
Thanks - since you do as I ask, please send me money.

55/Rad