Scorer75

Can I please get some of your experiences moving the front to the rear and putting on a new front tire versus replacing both tires?

I'm kind of inclined to replace both, but the front doesn't look bad at all so I was wondering if I could just put a new tire on the front and move the current front to the rear?

The reason for replacing the rear is it's kinda chewed up from the roads I ride that are covered in glass. The tires are Continental Gatorskins and they have been great, but are starting to lose some puncture resistance and I have been getting more flats. In the neighborhoods I ride, you don't want to be stopping to repair flats, especially after dark.

Thanks for your input.

AngryScientist 

just replace the rear. i typically go through 2 or three rear tires for every front. rotating tires is really a waste of time.

thump55

If it is close to the end of the season, I may swap them, just to get by and put new ones on in spring.

carmonkie

If you are happy with the tires just front to rear and new front. The first time I replaced my tires I replaced both because the stock tires were 26 TPI and I got some 120 TPI. You will read a lot here that you want your best tire in the front.

rbart4506

Front to rear....New on front...reapeat ad naseum...Or until you want to try a completely different set of tires...

ahsposo 

I'll swap the tires once and then replace the rear with a new one and when that rear is worn the set is ready to be replaced.

zstjohn

This. You don't want a front tire with a lack of grip. if your front slides out your done.

coasting 

front to rear.

this does become a problem if you decide you want to change the colour scheme of your bike. I had a blue front yellow rear for a while.

bikeybikebike

front to rear. it takes 5 minutes. just do it.

tip: if you just keep buying black tires you will worry less about buying "sets" of anything

coasting 

good advice for those without good taste.

chasm54

No, just good advice.

DScott

Personally, I wouldn't rely on the English for dentistry, fashion, or food advice...

datlas 

Front to rear is correct, unless front is 90% worn and then you could just replace both.

You always want the newer tire up front.

Sorry, Angryscientist, but I disagree with you on this one.

chasm54

Nor I on Californians for politics or mental health. But let's not be stereotypical - as is clear from the above, not all the English are of one opinion; and who knows, you might not be identical to your compatriots...

caloso

Groovy, baby!

Psimet2001 

I like the idea of going front to rear. I used to rotate to get even wear.....way back when I was only really riding 1 bike and 1 set of wheels. I had nothing else to do. Now...I'm lucky if I have matching wheels/tires. I put semi-worn ones on all the time if I am short of newer ones or if I don't feel like peeling into my inventory for another new tire. You'd be amazed at how many I go through with the business.

Tires are the shiz though. If you get goo quality ones you will get good quality performance to the end....so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

coasting 

well said. I'm right, you are wrong. Glad we got that settled.

caloso

I generally go front to rear too, as St. Sheldon has preached.

chasm54

No, you appear to be some sort of East Anglian, and are therefore almost certainly inbred. How many toes do you have?

coasting 

The usual number but they are webbed.

I got close to East Anglia. I went through Essex, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire on sunday.

Velo Vol 

Spare us and post in the UK forum.

coasting 

fixed

San Rensho 

Front to rear, new tire front. You always want the best possible tire on the front, not only for traction, but a new tire is less likely to puncture. A puncture on the rear is no big deal, but a puncture on the front can really get you in trouble, especially with a folding tire.