Front and rear tires. Same?
 

I am new to this game and am trying to get together everything I need to get going. Can anyone tell me if it is necessary to have the same tires front and rear? Nashbar is doing free shipping today and I wanted to buy some tires which would not match what I have now. I would certainly be getting touring tires and try to get the same width. Any thoughts. Thanks.

In reality, it matters not what brand/model of tire you have front and rear. It's not uncommon to have a wider tire on the rear where more of the weight is. I have run 35 or the rear and 32 on the front. Currently running on Continental Touring Plus 32's.

What is most important is that you have high quality, puncture resistant tires.

I'm not sure it makes all that much sense to have wider tires if you have more weight on the back. If the tires are well pumped up the depression is pretty minimal, so a wider tire does not really spread out and take it all that much better. I weight in the 250 range at about the time I checked for bike geometry reasons the tire deflection, and it was about 1 mm with proper inflation, not even worth considering. Of course it can become an issue on soft riding surfaces or when tires are deflated for riding on soft surfaces.

I ride identical tires front and back, but it is more some kind of aesthetic thing, than it really making sense. I don't have a quality folding tire available locally, and I carry a different brand spare, but I would be so happy to have a spare when I needed it, I wouldn't really worry about it.

FWIW I find it's simpler to use the same tires for front and back. That way, I only need to carry one type of spare tire on tour.

Just curious. I'm about the same size. What width tire do you use, on what type of frame, and how much weight (in addition to yourself) do you bring with?

I know this is an older thread, but it came the closest to answering my question.

I had 28mm tires on my cross bike for long road rides and even used them for a little bike camping with my daughter- all on crushed gravel trail. They worked alright, but the ride was a bit harsh so i looked through the forums and decided to buy some 35mm Panaracer Pasela TG's for future riding. I got the tires yesterday and put them on my bike. They seemed a little overkill, but the ride was pretty plush. The only real issue that I have is getting the front tire to fit with my fenders on- the rear tire fits fine with the fenders in place and I bet I could even squeeze a 38 in if I had to.

So, I was thinking about picking up a 32mm for the front and leaving the 35 on the back- keeping the other one as a spare. How many others on here use different width tires for front and back wheels? Any idea how it will effect my handling? Or, should I just monkey with the fender a bit more and get the 35 to work smoothly?

Thanks,

Jon

Only time I have run different sized tires was because I got in a bind and could only get a size that was different. I prefer to run the same sized tire front and rear and rotate the slower wearing front to the rear, then install a brand new tire on the front. I do have a Raleigh 3 speed that for some reason has a cyclocross tire on the rear and a road tread on the front.

Aaron :)

I've toured on 28mm front and 32mm rear for a long time (Conti Contacts or SMPs), but next trip will be 28mm on both (Gatorskins, fell in love with them at 116 psi on a recent randonneur, hard 'n fast) :)

"Just curious. I'm about the same size. What width tire do you use, on what type of frame, and how much weight (in addition to yourself) do you bring with?"

I was running 700c, on an Urbanite frame (classic touring narrow tubes). each of four bags weighed 7-9 pounds, and I had two very light tents, about 5 pounds, a light sleeping bag, 3 large bottles, extra food at the end of the day. I ran Schwalbe Marathon slicks in 35 MM. I did manage to split one when I hit a very large rock. I may have been 270 in weight.

I ride on Schwalbe Marathon Supremes. Both different sizes.

A 40 on the rear, because you really can feel a more comfortable ride with the fatter tire on the back. It has no effect on the better steering on the front. Both tires at 92PSI

A 35 on the front, because you really can tell that the steering is more precise, and quicker, and more sure footed, with it on the front. It has no effect on the soft ride that the back provides. Both tires at 92PSI.

I know, because i have tried them all different ways - 40s on both, 35s on both, 35front-40 rear, 40 front-35 rear.

I run them at 92PSI, because you really can tell the difference in the roll, vs 85PSI.

are you going to be using front panniers reason i ask if you not put on a good slick tire makes a hell of a difference speed wise ihave a marathon plus on the rear conti slick on the front works great but i would not usethe slick if i was using front panniers.

my tires dont match, but my mother always said i never matched anyway, so...yeah. tires dont need to match, it's just good aesthetics. my front is a big kahuna and my rear is a panaracer fire xc pro. the later can be used front/rear, but has to be a specific direction, other wise it won't cary you (or your load) right.

out of curiosity, what tires DO you run curently?

very little is necessary other than keeping air in the tires.

I went for a ride today with the 35's on and the front tire rubbed the whole way. I had it almost fixed when I decided to tweak it on the trail and then it was noisy as can be the whole way back home. I think I'll just buy the same tire (Panaracer Pasela TG) in a 32 and be done with it. I don't plan on using front panniers- just a medium sized handle bar bag. I have a set of panniers for the rear and a rack to strap my bag and tent onto. It worked out fine last weekend set up like that with a tag-along attached so I would think it would work even better without the tag-a-long. I'm just ticked at myself for not getting the 32's to start with.

Thanks for the help,

Jon

I don't see any need to have matched tyres. I've run all kinds of strange combinations. The only issue was that if they're significantly different widths (eg, I've run 23mm front, 35mm rear) then you need to carry more tubes.

The complication for offroad touring is deciding where to put the tread, if you're running one slick, one knobbie. Both combinations make sense.

I ended up selling the 35's to a friend of mine to use on one of his tandems. I ordered some 32's and put them on my bike yesterday. They fit perfectly and there's no issue with rubbing against my fenders. FYI Panaracer Pasela TG's max out at a 700x32 when riding a Giant TCX with fenders.

Jon