Tyres

stratton said:

Just patching up my sons bike after he trashed it again, fitted a spare tyre to replace the bald
front. The rear tyre is a 2.00 and the front is now 2.1. this I don't suppose will cause any
problems but it did set me thinking, what would be the effect of putting say a 1.5 on the front
and a 1.75/1.9 on the rear? Would the bike handle the same but be slightly more comfortable? My
bike is a rigid and I am at the age where comfort is a serious consideration.

There's no reason why front and rear tyres have to be matched as general handling is not affected
by different widths* - each tyre doesn't "know" what the other one is. But tyres should be
appropriate for the rims. Most modern MTB rims can take quite a wide range, so at least 1.5 to 2.1
will probably fit ok.

The wider the tyre, generally, the more comfort you'll get. Narrower versions of the same tyres will
be be less, not more, comfortable! A wider front tyre will absorb buzz and shock better. However, a
slick "road" 1.5 tyre may provide more comfort on the road than a knobbly off-road 2.1.

* Except a narrower front tyre may provide a slightly better steering "feel" (less squidging and
steering may feel more precise). Traction will be reduced, though.

~PB

Pete Biggs said:

There's no reason why front and rear tyres have to be matched as general handling is not affected
by different widths* - each tyre doesn't "know" what the other one is. But tyres should be
appropriate for the rims. Most modern MTB rims can take quite a wide range, so at least 1.5 to 2.1
will probably fit ok.

The wider the tyre, generally, the more comfort you'll get. Narrower versions of the same tyres
will be be less, not more, comfortable! A wider front tyre will absorb buzz and shock better.
However, a slick "road" 1.5 tyre may provide more comfort on the road than a knobbly off-road 2.1.

* Except a narrower front tyre may provide a slightly better steering "feel" (less squidging and
steering may feel more precise). Traction will be reduced, though.

~PB

As much as I thought, currently running 1.5 slicks, the front feels ok but as I am larger than
average the back feels 'flat' compared to the 1.9 knobbly. Perhaps when these need replacing I will
try the odd combination.

Thanks for the reply

stratton

There was an article in one of the magazines to do with a new pair of tryes from Vittoria (I think)
where the rear is fatter than the front, better for cornering at speed apparently. They talked a
little about performance motor bikes where the rear is far fatter than the front. So I guess your
situation will not be a problem.

"stratton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi

Just patching up my sons bike after he trashed it again, fitted a spare

tyre

Quoted message said:

to replace the bald front. The rear tyre is a 2.00 and the front is now

2.1.

Quoted message said:

this I don't suppose will cause any problems but it did set me thinking, what would be the effect
of putting say a 1.5 on the front and a 1.75/1.9

on

Quoted message said:

the rear? Would the bike handle the same but be slightly more comfortable? My bike is a rigid and
I am at the age where comfort is a serious consideration.

Your comments appreciated.

stratton

"M Series" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

There was an article in one of the magazines to do with a new pair of tryes from Vittoria (I
think) where the rear is fatter than the front, better for cornering at speed apparently. They
talked a little about performance motor bikes where the rear is far fatter than the front. So I
guess your situation will not be a problem.

Vittoria may well do something along these lines, though the version I'm aware of is from
Continental in the shape of the Attack (front-specific)/Force (rear-specific) pairing.

David E. Belcher

Dept. of Chemistry, University of York

M Series said:

There was an article in one of the magazines to do with a new pair of tryes from Vittoria (I
think) where the rear is fatter than the front, better for cornering at speed apparently.

Schwalbe have recently introduced a tyre combo along these lines - the Stelvio Evolution Pack. Same
width front and rear but different tread compounds. Only available in 23-622, chiz, me want a
406/559 version...

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
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Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
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You are correct it was Conti that I was thinking of

"David E. Belcher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"M Series" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

There was an article in one of the magazines to do with a new pair of

tryes

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

from Vittoria (I think) where the rear is fatter than the front, better

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cornering at speed apparently. They talked a little about performance

motor

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bikes where the rear is far fatter than the front. So I guess your

situation

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

will not be a problem.

Vittoria may well do something along these lines, though the version I'm aware of is from
Continental in the shape of the Attack (front-specific)/Force (rear-specific) pairing.

David E. Belcher

Dept. of Chemistry, University of York

Dave Larrington said:

M Series said:

There was an article in one of the magazines to do with a new pair of tryes from Vittoria (I
think) where the rear is fatter than the front, better for cornering at speed apparently.

Schwalbe have recently introduced a tyre combo along these lines - the Stelvio Evolution Pack.
Same width front and rear but different tread compounds. Only available in 23-622, chiz, me want a
406/559 version...

Dave Larrington - legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uklegslarry.beerdrinkers.co.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.ukOpen ↗
===========================================================

Thanks for that, I will check these suggestions out prior to making the purchaseing decision.

Best regards

stratton