Mismatch wheels on commuting MTB
 

This may be one of the more severe cases - a front Weirwolf 26x2.1 and a Maxxis Detonator 26x1.25. I bought the detonator (cheapest tire in the shop) for use on a trainer, fully intending to get another rim for the rear Weirwolf.

However did some very light off-roading with the rear Maxxis wheel (mainly long grass, gravel, packed dirt and mud) and it worked surprisingly well. Felt quick and nimble enough yet stable.

So far it feels good and even my friend is contemplating doing it, but is this going to bite me in the butt some time in the future?

I'm not an expert on this, but if you're just riding on pavement to work and back, I really dont see a problem. I've run mismatched tires many times. As long as the front tire isn't bald (preferably neither being bald, but especially the front), I'd say its just fine. Some guys I know feel that some tires are better as "drive tires" and others are better as "steering tires". I cant speak to that, but it seems to work for them.

Matched wheels? People ride with matched wheels AND tires? When did this happen?

Seriously, on my rigid '80's Stumjumper I've been running the widest front tire I could get. Yhe wheels/rims are whatever, a random assortment left in the garage from nearly fifteen plus years back.

Matched wheels? what is your bike?

I try to keep my tires similar for predictable handling, in the last 8 years its been skinny (1.75) front fat (2.5) rear on the cruiser. On the uptown, its 1.5 on the front and 1.75 on the back. Even though that doesn't sound like much of a difference, it is a huge difference in how hard bumps feel and cornering with loaded rear rack. I might go 2.0 on the rear, but we'll see..... its not like i have a ton of money to throw at this thing, next up is 2 new pairs of brake pads for 30 bucks.

- Andy