Germanicus

Need some opinions. My bike is now 3 years old and the original tires are getting thin. I have consistently gotten flats on my rear tire and now they are getting thin and have several holes that are actually being held together with tube patches. (time for new tires)

I have decided to get the puncture resistant version of my current tire (Specialized Borough cx) but they are pricey at $130 for the pair. My question is whether I can just get 1 tire for the rear because I am now getting about 1 or 2 flats per week, and keep the front since I have yet to get 1 flat tire there. OR do I need to get them as a pair because they are different so the bike will handle more symmetrically. Does that even matter? Thanks.

Jed19

Get one tire. Move your front tire to the rear and put the new tire on the front. Newer tires should always go on the front, if you can't afford to change both tires at the same time. Why? A sudden blowout/tire failure at the rear is hardly catastrophic, while the opposite can be for the front.

mmmdonuts

Replace the tire that's worn or damaged and ride on. You could even (gasp!) have different brands between front and rear tires and not die in a fiery crash.

ColinL

I would choose a different tire if you cannot afford two tires of the one you originally chose.

There are a boatload of good tire options out there depending on what you want. I'm also a little unclear how you could go from a tire that is way, way beyond useful life and jump straight to $130/pr tires. Seems like replacing tires more often with cheaper tires might work better for you overall.

Anyway, philosopy aside, I would again suggest getting two new tires that you can afford/justify/convince S.O. to let you have/etc right now. I am not familiar with the Specialized Borough CX Pro but I googled it and see the tread and read the description.

I would suggest the Schwalbe Marathon or Vittoria Randonneur instead. A pair can be had far cheaper than $130 unless you insist on getting the top-end model of each tire.

AEO

conti has their attack/force tires that are dissimilar.

specialized borough for $130/pair?
jeeze, that's expensive.

try PBK and hit up conti GP4000, schwalbe durano or michelin krylion carbon.

urbanknight

This. It's not uncommon for riders to buy 3 or 4 tires at a time so they can replace the worn rear more often (moving the slightly worn front to the rear for reasons Jed stated). Nothing wrong with mixing brands and models unless you're particular about how you take corners like a mad man.

ColinL

I don't rotate. It is normal to burn up 2-3 rear tires to every front, but I have yet to buy two of the same in a row... still experimenting.

hao

I don't rotate, but I use a cheaper tire for front, and a more expensive (more flat resistant) tire for back.

DScott

Geez.. Specialized has them on the web for $55 each. http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...jsp?spid=58016

Seattle Forrest

Three years to a set of tires? My hat's off to you!

dstrong 

Isn't that backwards? You want your better tire up front, per jed19's comment above.

hao

I guess I should clarify. I'm not using $5 garage sale tires in the front, they are still quality tires, but just not as flat resistant.

urbanknight

I think his question still remains, since it was explained above how a front flat is more dangerous than a rear. I assume your reason is because with more weight on the rear tire, you're more likely to flat that tire? I'm not sure if that's true or not, though it makes sense.

mmmdonuts

I should ride with a 29'er on front to avoid the weekly blowouts and careening over deadly precipices.

I think the risk of catastrophic front tire blowouts is overplayed.

urbanknight

Tell that to 2 of my friends who got a blowout while on a curving descent. Both broke their collarbones, and one also cracked some ribs and punctured a lung. I know blowouts are seldom, and even more seldom during corners, but the penalties can be severe.

Germanicus

Thanks, I haven't had a flat on the front tire but get rear flats all the time. I am getting a puncture resistant tire specifically for the rear because that is where I get flats. So if I get 1 tire that is where it is going. Just wanted to know if I should ALSO get the front.

Germanicus

Thanks, I guess I wasn't clear about which tire I wanted. I'm actually not talking about the pro, I'm talking about the Borough CX Armadillo elite. $65 each.

mmmdonuts

I'm not saying they don't happen and it sucks when they do but it's like shark attacks. Compared to the other risks we face daily on the road and the many thousands of cyclist/miles between between front blowouts the risk is very low. Too low, IMO, to be worried about always having the newest/better tire in front in order to prevent them.

Germanicus

Thanks everyone.
Just to Clarify.. I am choosing this tire because it is the tire that is already on my bike (Specialized Tricross) and like its performance a lot. I am just looking to get the Armadillo elite version for better puncture resistance.
As I said, I don't get flats at all on my front tire, just the rear. So that is where I need the puncture resistant tire. However, my concern is that a heavier Armadillo tire on the rear and a lighter tire up front would throw off the handling or something- I don't know if this is true that is what I am asking.
I will eventually replace the front tire as well, but times are tight right now and I only want replace things as necessary. (I see some of you think that the front is more important- I will consider that.)
Thanks again.

ColinL

Have you been inspecting the rear tube and tire to see what kind of flats you are getting? (Tread puncture, pinch flat / snakebite, sidewall puncture)

Seattle Forrest

What would you folks think if you got a new set of tires ( GP 4000, not S ) and mounted them at the same time, then, a few months later, the front tire was a lot more worn than the rear? I'm judging wear by the two indicators stamped into the tire.

dstrong 

I would think "Hmmmm...that's strange". Then I would think "Let's see...what could cause that...". And then "Maybe his weight is really far forward? Or maybe the front is under-inflated. It could be that the indicators are not the same depth". And then I'd think "I should probably pay attention to this conference call I'm on".

DScott

"Unpossible!"

ColinL

That would freak me out. I would check for rubbing, air pressure, and tire delamination. Of which there probably will be *none*.

And then I'd complain to Continental and the reseller. Auf Deutsche, if necessary. A premium tire wearing absurdly fast on the front just shouldn't be happening. I would think it is defect and complain as such.

mmmdonuts

I would think this