Different tyres front and back

[DeltaOscar]

I'd like your opinions on fitting different tyres front and back (mtb).

I can see the logic in fiting something with a more agressive tread at the front for cornering bite.

But I can't understand the logic of fitting a 'faster' tyre at the back to accelerate better.

If both wheels are on the ground then they can't go round at different speeds (for the same circumference), surely you are limited by the 'slower' tyre at the front?

[Tumbleweed]

it would have to do with rolling resistance.

[Regard]

Difficult to say or be very exact about it.

I used to ride a Maxxis TT Larsen infront and a Maxxis Crosmark on the rear and it realy worked for me!

 

However, if you look at all the pics of the pro's bikes, you'll notice that 99% of them use the same tires front and back?

Regard2009-01-12 05:53:49

[L'Bie]

Its not too difficult to assume.

The rear is to transfer legower into the soil and spread your weight without flexing too much creating an unsure handling problem.

The Front front only need to find the way and make sure the breaking doesnt make you a gymnastic contortionist.

The Front = running true

The rear = Grip and posture.

 

[brussel]

Regard, interesting as I prefer them the other way round. The larssen has a bit more climbing traction the crossmark has better cornering(for me anyhow)

 

DeltaOscar. I would say it worls like this:

each tyre adds rolling resistance and I would think as a general rule rolling resistance increases with the traction of the tyre.

 

So if you use a smoother faster rolling tyre at the back you would lower your rolloing resistance at the rear by some percentage and you'd ride and accelerate faster, but lose some traction on the back, where it is less important anyhow. Add to that the weight distribution means there is more weight on the rear wheel too would would mean the improvement of the traction would be increased.

 

That's my edumacated guess

 

[bustthesickness]

 

Difficult to say or be very exact about it.

I used to ride a Maxxis TT Larsen infront and a Maxxis Crosmark on the rear and it realy worked for me!

Hopefully you were wearing a full face helmet with that!

 

Continental MTB tyres are direction for front or back. When flipped around for back use, the arcs on the tread have a flatter edge for more 'bight', when flipped for fronts, they have an arc'd design which guides the tyre nicely. Great tyres, maybe even the best I've ridden to date. Used the Gravity and now onto a set of Mountain Kings, truly a wicked tyre

 

[DeltaOscar]

Difficult to say or be very exact about it.

I used to ride a Maxxis TT Larsen infront and a Maxxis Crosmark on the rear and it realy worked for me!

Hopefully you were wearing a full face helmet with that!

Continental MTB tyres are direction for front or back. When flipped around for back use' date=' the arcs on the tread have a flatter edge for more 'bight', when flipped for fronts, they have an arc'd design which guides the tyre nicely. Great tyres, maybe even the best I've ridden to date. Used the Gravity and now onto a set of Mountain Kings, truly a wicked tyre
[/quote']

 

I'm running Race King 2.2 at the moment, thinking of putting a Mountain King 2.4 up front for more bite.

[vanniri]

Pro?s choices are limited due to sponshorships.

 

In XC racing low rolling resistance is a priority, yet in the front you also need cornering ability. The middle of the tyre (depending on foot print which depend to some degree on tyre pressure) influence rolling resistance the most.

 

If you want to fit two different tyres, attempt to get a like pattern in the middle and for the front one more agressive/rigid knobbies on the side.

 

For all-round riding I have found good results with Schwalbe - Nobby Nic at the front and Racing Ralph rear. Size - 2.1

 

If I can get some, and are interested in racing, I would try a Furious Fred at the back and a Racing Ralph Front. Size - 2.1 (maybe 2.25 front)

 

In SA (and the associated rocks) use the race guard model - the sidewalls are flimsy on the Schwalbe?s

[Sighnide]

Depends on the tyre, I guess. Michelin XCR Drys for example specify that they are installed 'opposite' for front and rear, thus giving a slightly different pattern and bite level front and rear.

 

 

[bustthesickness]

 

Difficult to say or be very exact about it.

I used to ride a Maxxis TT Larsen infront and a Maxxis Crosmark on the rear and it realy worked for me!

Hopefully you were wearing a full face helmet with that!

 

Continental MTB tyres are direction for front or back. When flipped around for back use' date=' the arcs on the tread have a flatter edge for more 'bight', when flipped for fronts, they have an arc'd design which guides the tyre nicely. Great tyres, maybe even the best I've ridden to date. Used the Gravity and now onto a set of Mountain Kings, truly a wicked tyre

[/quote']

 

I'm running Race King 2.2 at the moment, thinking of putting a Mountain King 2.4 up front for more bite.

Yep, you wont go wrong with that choice. Be sure to buy the 'PROTECTION' version of the Mountain King. The budget version has very thin sidewalls and is churned out in China. The Protection version has Kevlar reinforced sidewalls, Black Chilli rubber compound (better grip,longevity) and Kevlar bead, plus it's handmade in German by low class german slaves in sweatshops. My kinda tyre

 

[vanniri]

Depends on the tyre' date=' I guess. Michelin XCR Drys for example specify that they are installed 'opposite' for front and rear, thus giving a slightly different pattern and bite level front and rear.

[/quote']

 

Did you like the XCR?s?

 

One of the few tyres I really disliked

[DeltaOscar]

Difficult to say or be very exact about it.

I used to ride a Maxxis TT Larsen infront and a Maxxis Crosmark on the rear and it realy worked for me!

Hopefully you were wearing a full face helmet with that!

Continental MTB tyres are direction for front or back. When flipped around for back use' date=' the arcs on the tread have a flatter edge for more 'bight', when flipped for fronts, they have an arc'd design which guides the tyre nicely. Great tyres, maybe even the best I've ridden to date. Used the Gravity and now onto a set of Mountain Kings, truly a wicked tyre
[/quote']

 

I'm running Race King 2.2 at the moment, thinking of putting a Mountain King 2.4 up front for more bite.

Yep, you wont go wrong with that choice. Be sure to buy the 'PROTECTION' version of the Mountain King. The budget version has very thin sidewalls and is churned out in China. The Protection version has Kevlar reinforced sidewalls, Black Chilli rubber compound (better grip,longevity) and Kevlar bead, plus it's handmade in German by low class german slaves in sweatshops. My kinda tyre

 

I can get MK 2.4 UST Supersonic with black chili, handmade in Germany for R400. It's not the protection version, but at that price it's a good way to test it out. The fact that German's are slaving away to make me a tyre is just a bonus. 

[bustthesickness]

 

Difficult to say or be very exact about it.

I used to ride a Maxxis TT Larsen infront and a Maxxis Crosmark on the rear and it realy worked for me!

Hopefully you were wearing a full face helmet with that!

 

Continental MTB tyres are direction for front or back. When flipped around for back use' date=' the arcs on the tread have a flatter edge for more 'bight', when flipped for fronts, they have an arc'd design which guides the tyre nicely. Great tyres, maybe even the best I've ridden to date. Used the Gravity and now onto a set of Mountain Kings, truly a wicked tyre

[/quote']

 

I'm running Race King 2.2 at the moment, thinking of putting a Mountain King 2.4 up front for more bite.

Yep, you wont go wrong with that choice. Be sure to buy the 'PROTECTION' version of the Mountain King. The budget version has very thin sidewalls and is churned out in China. The Protection version has Kevlar reinforced sidewalls, Black Chilli rubber compound (better grip,longevity) and Kevlar bead, plus it's handmade in German by low class german slaves in sweatshops. My kinda tyre

 

I can get MK 2.4 UST Supersonic with black chili, handmade in Germany for R400. It's not the protection version, but at that price it's a good way to test it out. The fact that German's are slaving away to make me a tyre is just a bonus. 

The Supersonic is the lighter version I think. A good choice. I have 2.4's on my Teocali and am loving them. So much grip. As a front tyre, I think it can only be rivalled by the Maxxis Ignitor for AM riding.

 

[davetapson]

 

 

bead' date=' plus it's handmade in German by low class german slaves in sweatshops. My kinda tyre

[/quote']

 

You trying to say 'Turks'? 

 

And my super low budget wire bead MK's were made in India.

 

So it boils down to Indian / Chinese / Turkish-made tyres with a German name...? 

 

[Sighnide]

 

Depends on the tyre' date=' I guess. Michelin XCR Drys for example specify that they are installed 'opposite' for front and rear, thus giving a slightly different pattern and bite level front and rear.

 

[/quote']

 

Did you like the XCR?s?

 

One of the few tyres I really disliked

They took a bit of getting used to, but they're really fast (compared to the Kenda Nevegals I had before)

I want to try Mountain Kings, have heard good things about them.

 

[Pickled]

Ok, so kind of on topic, what is the diffs between 2.2 and 2.4 is that the width of the tyre? also is one more suited to a use then the other. eg, why would you take a 2.4 over a 2.2?