Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the March Giveaway: Coming Soon 3/24


Tyre sizes
#1
Hi... i have a mountain bike it has 26 inch wheels but two different size tyres. front one 1.90 and the rear 2.10. it seems fine... any advice is welcome

thank you
  Reply
#2
(05-10-2011, 05:08 PM)royzart Wrote:  Hi... i have a mountain bike it has 26 inch wheels but two different size tyres. front one 1.90 and the rear 2.10. it seems fine... any advice is welcome

thank you

If you like that then I guess it is ok. Traditionally you get better balance out of having both the same size.
Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Reply
#3
In my experience, most mountain bikers use a smaller tire up front than in the rear for better cornering. The back is for more traction. Its really a personal choice though.
  Reply
#4
It's different over here, you always put the grippiest tyre on the front (*normally* the wider one, but tread depth and design can change it), and the fastest rolling one (normally less grippy) on the back. That way if the back looses grip, you can drift it and correct it. If the front looses grip, you're going down, unless you're very skilled/lucky and get a 2-wheel drift going (though you'd still want the back to go first).

I used to run a 2.5 on the front of my old bike and a 2.2 on the rear (due to clearance issues), no problems at all. The only time I've put a smaller on the front than the rear was with a mud spike, where the narrower tyre can slice in and bite the ground better (other surfaces you don't need that, so you want a larger surface area to cling to the more solid ground). The other advantage of putting the less grippy tyre on the back is the rolling resistance is lower, so it's easier to pedal.

Ask a racer of any discipline and they'll tell you the same thing.
  Reply
#5
Many thanks...i kept thinking about the rim size
and maybe its not sitting right...and may blow out
thank you j b
  Reply
#6
(05-11-2011, 07:49 AM)JonB Wrote:  It's different over here, you always put the grippiest tyre on the front (*normally* the wider one, but tread depth and design can change it), and the fastest rolling one (normally less grippy) on the back. That way if the back looses grip, you can drift it and correct it. If the front looses grip, you're going down, unless you're very skilled/lucky and get a 2-wheel drift going (though you'd still want the back to go first).

I used to run a 2.5 on the front of my old bike and a 2.2 on the rear (due to clearance issues), no problems at all. The only time I've put a smaller on the front than the rear was with a mud spike, where the narrower tyre can slice in and bite the ground better (other surfaces you don't need that, so you want a larger surface area to cling to the more solid ground). The other advantage of putting the less grippy tyre on the back is the rolling resistance is lower, so it's easier to pedal.

Ask a racer of any discipline and they'll tell you the same thing.
+1

Sheldon discusses this on his website too.
Nigel
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
27,364
09-03-2013, 07:46 PM
Last Post: xcalibur

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Expensive bikes with crappy wheels
Today 10:15 AM
Santini fluted frame
Today 07:44 AM
Where are you from and What is your favo...
Yesterday 11:43 PM
2007 Trek Pilot S.P.A. 5.2
Yesterday 07:06 PM
2010 Specialized Hardrock
03-26-2024 09:16 PM
1990 Specialized Rockhopper How to Fluff...
03-25-2024 07:05 PM
Thread busted on right pedal crank
03-24-2024 08:52 PM
Trek domane tyre
03-24-2024 05:48 PM
Modern rims crack at spoke holes
03-24-2024 05:32 PM
Cup & Cone — Simple & Durable or PITA & ...
03-24-2024 04:53 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Painkiller
21 posts
no avatar 2. ReapThaWhirlwind
16 posts
no avatar 3. GirishH
15 posts
no avatar 4. meamoantonio
15 posts
no avatar 5. Jesper
15 posts