Wider tire front or back?
 

I've got two SMP's lying around, a 28mm and a 32mm.

I'm thinking of doing some local touring as snow hasn't come yet this year. It's wet and windy, occasional frost in the mornings and small patches of ice and frozen leaves. Perfect touring weather in other words! :D

I'm debating whether the wider tire on the front - or back - will have any relevant advantage/disadvantage; traction on slippery surface, braking etc.

I have two rear panniers, rack-bag and handlebar bag. Pretty light, (not UL) and a bit heavier with winter gear of course.

The bike is a Bob Jackson World Tour, normally I ride Gatorskins or Hardshells 28 mm but I think the SMP's will be better in these conditions.

I'm absolutely not going to buy different tires, or front panniers, so can we keep alternative suggestions out of this? Cheers

Thanks for any advice!

I would put whatever tire offers the most transaction in the front. All of my winter mishaps have occurred when the front wheel slips out from under me.

With your gear setup, you're probably looking at 60-70% weight on your rear tire and 30-40% up front, so I'd put the bigger tire on the back. However, there are some caveats. If you plan to go on unpaved roads, or ride in slippery conditions, a wider front tire may help.

Really interesting question. My immediate reaction was wide/rear, because of the extra weight and that's the drive wheel. But in slippery or loose surface conditions that's probably not the right answer, you want the most rubber on the road when turning or braking. In the latter case your weight shifts onto the front wheel irrespective of where your panniers are, so I'd say wider tyre on the front.

I like the wider on the rear for capacity and comfort. The narrower on the front gives more precise and quicker and more stabile steering.

I say go with the wider tire on the front, which will provide you with the option of dropping your front tire pressure, if needed, to add some extra traction and stability on sketchy road surfaces.

Whats an SMP?

Seas between you and Denmark even let it be warm enough to worry about tires on your Touring bike right now?

I'm looking at pumping up the tires on my Studded tire MTB .. for when a rainy day is followed by a cold one and the roads Ice over.

Wider tire front or back?
 

Fietsbob: Not quite sure if I understand what you mean... but, yes there is a sea between me and Denmark, whatever that has to do with anything! ;)

I'm planning an overnighter along the swedish coast north of Gothenburg for this weekend... and just thought it would be interesting to hear you guys thoughts about this minor tire decision.

Up to now it seems about 50/50... probably makes near zero difference in practice... but hey, that never stopped a BF thread before!! :beer:

edit: my studded winter bike is ready for when snow does come, but I'm not planning snow tours.

Ocean currents alter the weather a lot .. EG without the Gulf Stream clockwise, across the north Atlantic ,

there would be no seaport at Murmansk Oblast.

Wider tire front or back?
 

Ah ok Fietsbob, gotchya now. Yes, this is why the climate along the coast is warmer than inland. In Gothenburg we get much less snow than just about anywhere else in the country I believe, even than the south (Skåne).

^Definitely this.

One thing I would consider if you do a lot of riding and descending on steeper hills, that you should strongly consider putting the better condition tire on the front irrespective of its width. I know we often like the better tire on the rear because it reduces the chances of a flat but you really don't want a sudden flat on the front when descending at higher speeds (scars on my one leg will attest to this)

If both are in similar condition and/or you rarely ride among steeper hills, you've got some fine ideas posted already.

Schwalbe marathon plus tires

Wider tire front or back?
 

Robow: They're both in similar good condition.
Thanks all. I'll be putting the wider one on the front.

This time of year it's all too easy to spend too much time indoors, so I'm really looking forward to a couple of days on the road and a night in a tent!

Front. Though I'm betting once mounted they both measure 30 depending on age of the tires.

Ok but I have pairs - the same size - on any given bike..

60% Of the over the rear your butt may like the lower PSI wider tyre.

brake clearance over the tire another factor .. fork crowns often closer than the seat stay mounting .

Wider tire front or back?
 

Teamdarb: The difference is probably pretty negligible. SMP look much wider (for the given size) than Gatorskins, though I've never measured them.

Fietsbob: Yes, I otherwise use same f/b too.

32mm rear with fenders is as wide as my bike can take. Front, I don't know. Would be interesting to see if one of my 35mm studded tires would fit the fork. Thanks for the idea!

Even though you plan to travel light, would you not risk pinch flats with a 28mm on the rear?

Not been a problem with my normal set-up and a guitar on the rear, which will be about the same as my winter gear without a guitar... Though it wouldn't surprise me if I get a pinch flat now that I've written that! ;)