Originally Posted by genny1
Hia ll -- I'm a XC trail-riding newbie shopping tires. I ride mostly dry singletrack (includes roots, rock gardens, loose corners, small jumps, etc., but primarily dry hardpack), and also use my bike to commute to work.
I was lookin at reviews of the Maxxis Larsen TT tires, which seem appropriate for my dual trail-commuting needs. However, several of the reviewers say they put a Larsen on the back and something else (usually a bit wider, more knobby) on the front. Some say outright, with respect to trail use, "Do not use a Larsen on the front."
My newbie question is: what is it about the work the front tire does relative to the back tire that causes some to use different tires front and back?
Thanks much for any replies.
The front and rear of the bike do very different things. The rear tire needs to have grip for traction as you climb while the front needs traction for steering. The traction for the rear needs to be more in the center of the tire rather than on the edge while you want good edge control for a front tire.