Part of my commute is street and packed gravel. I've researched around and determined that while getting smoother tires will help me to go faster on the streets. But may be a risk on the gravel paths (has turns and slight humps). So i am wondering if it make sense to have the front tire remain knobby but the rear will have a skinnier smoother tire. Does it make sense or am I off the wall here.

Won't help much. The bulk of your weight is on the rear tire, as well as all of the torque. You may see some increase in steering ability but it will be mitigated when your front wheel grips, your rear wheel doesn't and you wash out anyway. If you are really concerned try some cyclocross tires, (if they will fit). They don't eat up too much of your speed and offer a noticeable difference in handling off road. Even better try riding the proposed path on your slicks, or maybe a wider slick. I regularly run sand and gravel roads on my 32 slicks. Other than rear tire spin under torque, I don't every need the knobbies.

Well, I ride on gravel paths all the time with skinny slicks. It's really fine.

but I would have a knobby back, slick front. I sort of do that on my mtb. The rear tire loses traction when riding uphill, so i have more tread back there to prevent it. The front isn't as big of a deal, so it's got a less knobby tire on it. I try to get as minimally knobby as possible, just because they do roll faster, and I'm not doing a great deal of hardcore singletrack. Well...at least nothing my bike can't handle.

nobbies only help in mud or soft sand. A fatter slick would handle better on packed gravel.

I disagree with the replies to date.

Please do share your opinions ghettocruiser! I'm about to make a decision this weekend!!!

Yeah, I would say that a slick rear tire is okay for propulsion (it's under weight for traction) even on gravel and a knobby up front is better for steering.

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You are correct to put the traction tire on the front, and there are numerous threads already on here explaining the rational in the MTB, Cross, and winter forums, expanding on what I quoted from Sheldon. There may be a few circumstances under which people benefit from more traction on the back, but I think these conditions would be very rare.

Slick or nearly slick tires may be sufficient for your needs and they will be faster. They will not be optimal for control on loose surfaces. In some cases, it might make sense to slow down a bit more on loose corners in exchange for the lower rolling resistance and higher speeds that slick tires offer elsewhere.

This concurrent discussion may help, although I think they are only referring to 700C tires, which may or may not be what you are after

https://www.bikeforums.net/cyclocross-gravelbiking-recreational/558260-another-tire-thread-road-gravel-tire.html

Ha! just last week i was wondering about the same question
https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/557699-using-different-tires-front-than-rear.html

apparently as they said, it's not going to make much of a different, is either or.
mixing both doesn't really do anything.

specially for me, i cut across large grassy fields (short cuts ) and if i use the skinnier tire on the rear it will sink me into the dirt.
using the fat tires (Racing Ralph) i've no problems on those places.

the only downside of using fat tires, is not so much for performance, but the noise and breaking ability on asphalt road.

the Racing Ralph is pretty damn fast compared to Knobbies tires, the only problem is stopping on target, sudden stops with Knobbies type of tires are usually impossible on Asphalt roads, while racing tires can hit it on the spot, if you can manage not to go flying off your handle bars

just today i had a close encounter stopping suddenly for a cross road that suddenly lit up as i was aproaching, a long streak of squealing sound... my poor tires .... sigh...

Say how's that garbage strike in Toronto affecting your biking... specifically breathing in the toxic soupy fumes?

horrible to say the least.

yes, you can smell the garbage stench through the city, specially on strong winds, or if you are passing close by those TEMP garbage dump sites.

luckily i live up north

Semi slicks like Maxxis Worm drives on front and rear if your on 26in wheels. If your running 700 you can check out some semi slick cross tires.