Thoughts on matching make/brand of front and rear tyres?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
Thoughts on matching make/brand of front and rear tyres?
Some roadies, or so I've gathered, can be a bit OCD. Look at the need to match watch bottle cages to the colour of bike, not to mention the water bottles themselves. Or have a matching kit for example. Nothing wrong with any of this BTW.
I'm curious what the thinking is around tyres. Anyone obsess with having the same manufacturer and make of tyre on the front and back of their bike? I currently have a different tyre on the front and back of my bike for no other reason than I had one of each tyre and I needed to use them. For me, it's not a big deal.
Today though, I was out for a ride and I stopped at the halfway point to have a bite to eat and take a quick breather. Another rider pulled up and while I was eating my bar remarked that I had a nice bike, but it was shame the tyres didn't match. I didn't know what to say. It's not like I'm riding with one black and tan tyre on the front, and a solid black tyre on the rear. They are just different manufacturers. I mumbled along the the lines of "well, so long as the tyres hold air I'm good" and then rode off. The whole conversation just struck me as strange.
Anyway. More food for thought on the forums. Cheers.
I'm curious what the thinking is around tyres. Anyone obsess with having the same manufacturer and make of tyre on the front and back of their bike? I currently have a different tyre on the front and back of my bike for no other reason than I had one of each tyre and I needed to use them. For me, it's not a big deal.
Today though, I was out for a ride and I stopped at the halfway point to have a bite to eat and take a quick breather. Another rider pulled up and while I was eating my bar remarked that I had a nice bike, but it was shame the tyres didn't match. I didn't know what to say. It's not like I'm riding with one black and tan tyre on the front, and a solid black tyre on the rear. They are just different manufacturers. I mumbled along the the lines of "well, so long as the tyres hold air I'm good" and then rode off. The whole conversation just struck me as strange.
Anyway. More food for thought on the forums. Cheers.
Likes For NoWhammies:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 137
Bikes: 2020 T-Lab X-3 w/GRX Di2, 2018 Trek FX-5S with GRX/Xt 1x drive train
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 44 Post(s)
Liked 41 Times
in
25 Posts
For Road I don't think it matters a great deal, unless you're posing for something, but that's not riding. When cranks are turning who cares as long as they work for you.
#3
Expired Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: TN
Posts: 11,505
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3652 Post(s)
Liked 5,391 Times
in
2,736 Posts
Like socks, I think most would prefer their tires match. I might rag a friend about it because I'm an ass but I wouldn't call out a stranger, that's just rude.
Likes For shelbyfv:
#4
Senior Member
To be clear, by "colour of bike" I hope you're talking about the secondary trim color or, in some cases, the structural component color. Matching bottle cage color to the primary paint color of a frame is usually sub-optimal, except for some cases where that happens to also be a secondary color.
Likes For HTupolev:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
My reply: "Ask your doctor if Paxil is right for you."
My daily wheelset has a Michelin Lithion on the front and a Conti Gatorskin on the back. Why? I can't remember. Probably because I wore out one of the previous tires and it was what was handy on the workbench that day.
My daily wheelset has a Michelin Lithion on the front and a Conti Gatorskin on the back. Why? I can't remember. Probably because I wore out one of the previous tires and it was what was handy on the workbench that day.
Likes For caloso:
Likes For eflayer:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,891
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4789 Post(s)
Liked 3,915 Times
in
2,546 Posts
I give thought to having tires with consistent ride qualities front and rear. But I have a bunch of front wheels ready to go and likewise rear wheels. Often reasons to use certain ones of each and I am not going to change tires just before riding to make them match. When I buy tires it is for the ride. If I can get them in the sidewall I like, that's a plus. But when I go to get tires, often that option isn't there or I have to settle for a size or tread I don't want. No big deal. Once I"m riding, all I see is the black (or black and green) tread on the front tire. Rear? Who cares?
Ben
Ben
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,891
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4789 Post(s)
Liked 3,915 Times
in
2,546 Posts
#10
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
Mismatched tires, with inherently mismatched rolling resistance, can lead to wheelbase shrinkage or enlargement. Don't do it.
Likes For Sy Reene:
#11
Full Member
I might give a friend a hard time, but wouldn't say anything to someone who I didn't know.
For me, I have t have the exact same tire on each wheel, and each tire's writing has to line up with the writing on the rim or with the valve stem.
It even bothers me to have different tubes in each tire.
Cages must match as well, and worst of it all I have to have the same number of wraps of bar tape on each side of the handlebars.
OCD can be a real PIA to deal with.
For me, I have t have the exact same tire on each wheel, and each tire's writing has to line up with the writing on the rim or with the valve stem.
It even bothers me to have different tubes in each tire.
Cages must match as well, and worst of it all I have to have the same number of wraps of bar tape on each side of the handlebars.
OCD can be a real PIA to deal with.
#12
Senior Member
I’ve thought of trying out this non-matched set, but otherwise no.
Keith
https://www.continental-tires.com/bi...tack-and-force
Keith
https://www.continental-tires.com/bi...tack-and-force
#13
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
On a serious note, but hopefully not to divert the original question too much. I'm considering putting a 'race' version of a tire in the front for cornering or whatnot, and the endurance version of the same tire in the rear for flat protection. Both would be same brand and tier. Anyone do this? In my case, I'm referencing a Corsa front and Corsa Control in the rear.
Likes For Sy Reene:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
That makes sense to me.
Likes For caloso:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
I know a guy who knows a guy who's wing wang fell off after riding on mismatched tires.
Likes For Trevtassie:
Likes For rubiksoval:
#17
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
On a serious note, but hopefully not to divert the original question too much. I'm considering putting a 'race' version of a tire in the front for cornering or whatnot, and the endurance version of the same tire in the rear for flat protection. Both would be same brand and tier. Anyone do this? In my case, I'm referencing a Corsa front and Corsa Control in the rear.
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,734
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 641 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times
in
549 Posts
Would be nice if so many tires didn't have Giant brightly colored labels / logos. Then the bike fashion police wouldn't notice.
When I was motorcycling, I always used a different front / rear tire combo on one of my bikes cause that is what I found got me good handling and decent rear tire life. I could care less if someone noticed.
When I was motorcycling, I always used a different front / rear tire combo on one of my bikes cause that is what I found got me good handling and decent rear tire life. I could care less if someone noticed.
#20
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 128
Bikes: Trek Domane SLR 2019, Trek Trek Madone 5.1 (2011), Trek 1400 (1991)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Liked 74 Times
in
33 Posts
I guess I would have found some cycling faux pas on his part and rub his nose in it. Here are some examples:
Your tire labels are not perfectly aligned with the valve stem
Who wrapped your handlebars? Monkeys?
Your stem is not perfectly aligned with your front wheel.
Your socks don't match your kit and they are wrong height.
Get that bike back to the clown you stole it from!
Who wrapped your handlebars? Monkeys?
Your stem is not perfectly aligned with your front wheel.
Your socks don't match your kit and they are wrong height.
Get that bike back to the clown you stole it from!
#21
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 4,624
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Fuji Tahoe, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 551 Post(s)
Liked 722 Times
in
366 Posts
In these situations the best thing to do is launch into a 30 minute diatribe about optimising front aero and grip vs rear power delivery requirements and how none of the commercial manufacturers provide an acceptable combination. Tell them you heard it on the 41 and then ask about his (it is a he right?) tyre selection process.
Oh yeah, and +1 for stopping to eat being a no no. You think this is a picnic or something?
Oh yeah, and +1 for stopping to eat being a no no. You think this is a picnic or something?
Last edited by znomit; 08-14-20 at 07:30 PM.
Likes For rubiksoval:
#24
Senior Member
i run different model/tier/size of tire in front and back. My Lynskey came with Conti Ultra Sports in 28mm, which had fine clearance on the fork, but rubbed under power in the back (real width measured at 31.6mm). Switching to a GP4K in 25mm in the back solved this problem (real width 28mm). Considering I figured this out after my first two rides, I wasn’t going to throw out a pair of perfectly fine and nearly new Ultra Sports, so for now I’ll continue running the OEM tire in the front, and keep the spare Gran Prix for the rear. given how little wear the front tire’s seen so far, I’m likely to go through the two GP4ks before I even go through one of the Ultra Sports (provided they don’t somehow get destroyed).
Use what ya got. That it works and you’re out riding matters more than anything else.
Use what ya got. That it works and you’re out riding matters more than anything else.
#25
serious cyclist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
Only to be done in dire emergencies. Otherwise, conduct unbecoming.
Likes For Bah Humbug: