1 Narrow 1 Wide Tire = which position 4 easiest riding?
07-05-16, 10:50 PM
#1
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1 Narrow 1 Wide Tire = which position 4 easiest riding?
I'm posting this for a friend.
MTB, casual riding to 30 - 40 kms. Tires @2.0" knobby.
My friend wants to mount 1.5" road tread tires on his MTB. He can only afford to buy one new tire at a time. Where should he put the new 1.5" tire first in order to lessen rolling resistance the most? Is it better on the rear or on the front?
Thanks and cheers
MTB, casual riding to 30 - 40 kms. Tires @2.0" knobby.
My friend wants to mount 1.5" road tread tires on his MTB. He can only afford to buy one new tire at a time. Where should he put the new 1.5" tire first in order to lessen rolling resistance the most? Is it better on the rear or on the front?
Thanks and cheers
07-05-16, 11:26 PM
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07-06-16, 06:34 AM
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To minimize rolling resistance, on back where there's more weight. For handling and ride feel, on front.
07-06-16, 07:37 AM
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You want the front tire to be the one with the best traction, for safety. Therefore, smooth on front if riding mostly on the road; knobby on front if riding mostly off-road.
Or better yet, just buy both tires at once. Is less than $20 for two tires (plus a couple bucks for shipping and maybe tax) really out of your friend's budget?!
Or better yet, just buy both tires at once. Is less than $20 for two tires (plus a couple bucks for shipping and maybe tax) really out of your friend's budget?!
07-06-16, 08:37 AM
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Or wait till both are purchased.
07-06-16, 10:56 AM
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Gee, if he can only afford 1 tire, I wonder what maintenance he's deferred?
07-06-16, 11:28 AM
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Put half the tire on the front and the other half on the rear.
Do the other halves when he gets the second tire.
This way they will wear evenly.
Do the other halves when he gets the second tire.
This way they will wear evenly.
07-06-16, 11:41 AM
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Cheers
07-06-16, 03:15 PM
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07-06-16, 05:01 PM
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Why make such a comment? Why not make a comment related to the question asked in the original post instead of diverting/hijacking the thread? He can only afford one tire at this point in time and simply wants to know the best position for it. Maintenance is not the issue nor was it mentioned in ythe original post.
Cheers
Cheers
For me, my personality would be to buy the tire and wait to put it on until I got the second one. An added bonus is that your friend would be getting more mileage/wear out of the knobby tires, which is more thrifty than replacing them before they're worn out.
07-06-16, 09:57 PM
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Cheers
07-07-16, 05:26 AM
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Rigid MTB - fat on front, lower pressure for comfort.
Hardtail - I'd still put fat on front for traction and bumps on the road.
On related note - is he set on 26x1.5? I'd go for 26x2 slicks, difference in speed will be neglible but gobs more comfort
MEC has some Duro's, 26x1.95 and I installed and recommended them for a lot of people, https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5014-7...Wire-Bead-Tire
They roll nice compared to knobbies and won't break the bank
Hardtail - I'd still put fat on front for traction and bumps on the road.
On related note - is he set on 26x1.5? I'd go for 26x2 slicks, difference in speed will be neglible but gobs more comfort
MEC has some Duro's, 26x1.95 and I installed and recommended them for a lot of people, https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5014-7...Wire-Bead-Tire
They roll nice compared to knobbies and won't break the bank
07-07-16, 05:49 AM
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Rigid MTB - fat on front, lower pressure for comfort.
Hardtail - I'd still put fat on front for traction and bumps on the road.
On related note - is he set on 26x1.5? I'd go for 26x2 slicks, difference in speed will be neglible but gobs more comfort
MEC has some Duro's, 26x1.95 and I installed and recommended them for a lot of people, https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5014-7...Wire-Bead-Tire
They roll nice compared to knobbies and won't break the bank
Hardtail - I'd still put fat on front for traction and bumps on the road.
On related note - is he set on 26x1.5? I'd go for 26x2 slicks, difference in speed will be neglible but gobs more comfort
MEC has some Duro's, 26x1.95 and I installed and recommended them for a lot of people, https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5014-7...Wire-Bead-Tire
They roll nice compared to knobbies and won't break the bank
07-07-16, 06:23 AM
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I actually did this same thing with my Trek 850 Mtn for a while before buying a hybrid.
Unless he is set on those 1.5" I'd suggest sticking with the wider tire, maybe one with a smooth center ridge, and some knobs out on the side, 1.95s should work just fine.
With proper inflation only the smooth center touches when tracking on hard surface.
I am assuming he is looking for a budget minded tire, given the situation described, so, a tire like this is what I am speaking of: https://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Kross-P.../dp/B00JLFMJX6
Obviously, if he prefers a better quality tire they can be found in this same configuration.
I use Continental Travel Contacts on my hybrid. I ride multi-surface, so I get decently low rolling resistance on pavement, but some traction when cornering in loose stuff.
Let's not forget there are people out there who cannot afford a $2k+ carbon bike, but remember they can still enjoy biking on a budget.
07-07-16, 08:46 AM
#18
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I went to a 1.3 on the front (continental commute, or something like that) and a 2" rear (neither knobby nor slick) on my rigid MTB - I normally ride a thinner tire on the front on bikes though, my old road bike is 23 front and 25 rear (I think I'd like to try 25/28 next set)
In the last couple of years I slowly drifted from skiny tires. I still have couple of bikes with 700x25 (mounted on wide rims are more like 28) and with 700x28. All other bikes are minimum 38 and up. I just don't see a point in skinny tires anymore - no ideal roads where I ride and I am no slower on fatter tires compared to skinny. Sure, skinny tire has that initial oomph but that's about it.
