What do you think of having a wider front tire?
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
What do you think of having a wider front tire?
I have a Trek Multitrack hybrid with 700x35 tires stock and that's the widest that'll fit on the rear due to kickstand bar clearance (I'd remove it but that crossbar looks structural?) so am thinking of putting the 700x38 in front. Is just for in town riding. Both tires are Schwalbe Marathon Plus HS 348 not much surface thread to speak of. So would be a 35c in rear and 38c in front; any pros/cons of this setup?
#2
Should Be More Popular
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Malvern, PA (20 miles West of Philly)
Posts: 43,207
Bikes: 1986 Alpine (steel road bike), 2009 Ti Habenero, 2013 Specialized Roubaix
Mentioned: 561 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22723 Post(s)
Liked 9,088 Times
in
4,224 Posts
Likes For datlas:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,543
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3,105 Times
in
1,979 Posts
other than additional weight, i dont see any harm it could cause.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,872
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1149 Post(s)
Liked 1,255 Times
in
797 Posts
It might be a little more comfortable if you plan to run it at lower pressure because it's larger. If that's the case, before you do that, make sure you're not using too-high pressure in general, which a lot of people do.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: South Carolina Upstate
Posts: 2,110
Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 762 Post(s)
Liked 556 Times
in
323 Posts
I've got a size up on the front and it's good and stable. Better than the equivalent size
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,988
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: 131 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4867 Post(s)
Liked 4,027 Times
in
2,614 Posts
Yes, 38 in front and 35 in back will do nicely. I rode that combo for a 90 mile day - to a ride of a dozen of us, then 30 miles of gravel with several thousand feet of up and down, each hitting 17% and that "gravel" being 1-1/2 to 2" rocks on the steep stuff. Tires did better than I did going up and the bike simply ruled going down. I rode about 60 psi on the pavement and less than 30 on the gravel.
Gugie, Andy K and a few others here can vouch for that gravel and that my tires worked.
Gugie, Andy K and a few others here can vouch for that gravel and that my tires worked.
#7
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
20+ years ago it was common in my area to run BMX bikes with a 1.95 in front and a 1.75 or 1.5 in the rear.
Wider tire in front. The exact sizes may be fuzzy.
It’s your bike. It will do exactly what you imagine it would- little more traction, little more stability, little more bump absorbing, little more weight.
Let everyone know how you like it.
Thats one of the things I love about bikes is how everyone can make it their own.
Wider tire in front. The exact sizes may be fuzzy.
It’s your bike. It will do exactly what you imagine it would- little more traction, little more stability, little more bump absorbing, little more weight.
Let everyone know how you like it.
Thats one of the things I love about bikes is how everyone can make it their own.
Last edited by SkinGriz; 04-04-21 at 08:29 PM.
#8
Not lost wanderer.
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Lititz, Pa
Posts: 3,370
Bikes: In USA; 73 Raleigh Super Course dingle speed, 72 Raleigh Gran Sport SS, 72 Geoffry Butler, 81 Centurion Pro-Tour, 74 Gugie Grandier Sportier
Mentioned: 73 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 896 Post(s)
Liked 1,029 Times
in
542 Posts
Better than smaller in front. I have done this often.
#9
Party Pace!!!
We always ran larger tires on the front when I raced BMX back in the day.....it helped keep the front end from washing out in turns and gave a little extra cushion when coming up short on a jump. I don't know if you'll feel much of a difference with just a 3mm increase in width, but it can't hurt.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,488
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1516 Post(s)
Liked 735 Times
in
456 Posts
It won't do anything bad WRT handling. Personally a 3mm difference at that size isn't worth the cost of buying a new tire. I suppose if your rear tire was worn out you could try replacing it with the 38mm - it might be exactly the same carcass. If it didn't work you could always swap it to the front.
Yes the stay bridge is stuctural.
Yes the stay bridge is stuctural.
#11
Newbie
Thread Starter
I already have the 38, tried to put it on rear but wouldn't clear the kickstand bar so put a 35 Schwalbe Marathon Plus in rear and still have the original Bontrager front tire; was thinking that I'd like to have Marathons on both tires and since I have that 38 just sitting around; would've preferred 38s on both but can see even with a 35 on rear there's not much clearance left (I think the Marathon's are taller than some others?)
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,543
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 3,105 Times
in
1,979 Posts
after the front 38 is worn a few hundred miles, it might clear in the rear.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#13
Live not by lies.
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1,306
Bikes: BigBox bikes.
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 860 Post(s)
Liked 784 Times
in
582 Posts
I already have the 38, tried to put it on rear but wouldn't clear the kickstand bar so put a 35 Schwalbe Marathon Plus in rear and still have the original Bontrager front tire; was thinking that I'd like to have Marathons on both tires and since I have that 38 just sitting around; would've preferred 38s on both but can see even with a 35 on rear there's not much clearance left (I think the Marathon's are taller than some others?)
If it’s that bracket, maybe see where it hits the bracket and kiss that spot with a flap disc on a 4.5” angle grinder until it just clears.
The dust is bad for all the other moving components. Tape them off or remove them or at least clean the bike extremely well afterwards.
Likes For SkinGriz:
#14
Newbie
Thread Starter
It's the kickstand bracket/plate; the 38 wedged into it pretty tight, I'd say it'd need to be shaved down to at least where the kickstand bolt is at; isn't that bracket structural?
(Is aluminum frame.)
(Is aluminum frame.)
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,506
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1634 Post(s)
Liked 1,835 Times
in
1,020 Posts
Shave away! That plate looks like it's welded to the bottom of the chain stays. If it was structural, it would be welded to the midsection of the chainstays.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 727
Bikes: Current: 2016 Bianchi Volpe; 1973 Peugeot UO-8. Past: 1974 Fuji S-10-S with custom black Imron paint by Stinsman Racing of PA.
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 215 Post(s)
Liked 204 Times
in
142 Posts
From the photo, it looks like the rear section of the plate bends up. That would prevent twisting of the plate, as well as stiffening it due to the right angles part. Grinding that down for clearance may allow the kickstand to twist or loosen, and / or bend making the kickstand unreliable for its purpose, especially if you have any loaded items or bags..
#17
Bikes are okay, I guess.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 6,938
Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT
Mentioned: 69 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2647 Post(s)
Liked 2,452 Times
in
1,559 Posts
I think the bent up part is probably a tab drilled for the forward mounting bolt for a rear fender. If you never intend to use a fender bolted there and you're not bothered by trimming the frame I'd bet the frame is strong enough to take it. I'd do it that were my goal, but I'd probably choose to live with the largest tire that currently fits without that mod.
#18
Newbie
Thread Starter
Yes, is for fender mount; and on bottom has grooves for the kickstand plate to slide into; just kept the 35 back there; is fine. The 38 up front is an improvement though. I like it.
#19
Veteran, Pacifist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle area
Posts: 13,398
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Mentioned: 284 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3925 Post(s)
Liked 4,916 Times
in
2,266 Posts
A lot of people prefer high tire pressure on most pavement surfaces.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Likes For Wildwood:
#20
Drip, Drip.
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 1,575
Bikes: Trek Verve E bike, Felt Doctrine 4 XC, Opus Horizon Apex 1
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1034 Post(s)
Liked 193 Times
in
163 Posts
I like having wide rims in the front for better cornering stability. Can get away with something lighter and more narrow in the rear for better speed.
The width of the rim is what you should be considering here. I like wider tires, but I will go with whatever tire fits nice and tight around that rim.
The width of the rim is what you should be considering here. I like wider tires, but I will go with whatever tire fits nice and tight around that rim.