oldwinger14

I currently run 700-25 tubeless tires on my Cannondale Synapse. All of my riding is recreational (i.e. no racing).

I’m planning on replacing the tires and thinking of putting 28mm tires on both wheels (Mavic Ksyrium Elite). I have read many posts where people have 25mm up front and 28mm on the rear, claiming a better ride. I know that there are tradeoffs whenever things like this are done.

What are the pros and cons of going 25mm (front) and 28mm (rear), or is it best to simply go to 28mm on both wheels?

Ogsarg

Certainly no danger in it and if you're planning on moving to 28's nothing to lose by putting one on the rear and finding out. Not sure you'll even notice any difference in handling but the 28 with lower pressure, should give you a more comfortable ride.

datlas 

I think it's a good idea.

IMO the only downside is the "usual" way to rotate tires (replace rear tire when worn and move front to rear, put new one on front) won't work.

Velo Mule

This is pretty obvious and you probably know it already, there is more weight on the rear wheel, so getting a little more width and a little more cushion there makes sense. As for mixing, there can be lots of reasons:

- Economy, only one new tire required
- Clearance, can't fit the fatter tire in the front
- Theory, I can have equal pressure front and rear
- Style, I like the skinny in the front and the fat in back

Juan Foote

Funny enough, for the city style bike that I ride, as well as the one before it used for that purpose, I found that putting a larger front tire on made them ride and handle better. Much larger width, but anyway....

canklecat

I've ridden with 700x25 in the back (the largest my older bikes will accept) and 700x23 front. Mostly because my original rear 700x23 was cut up from debris and all I had in the closet was a 700x25. It worked fine. I haven't used that trick for awhile though. It was more comfortable on chipseal and roads with lots of loose gravel, maybe better traction on wet roads.

Kimmo 

There's a tradeoff when you choose a tyre size for a single wheel. Choosing a size for each wheel independently makes more sense because you're considering different factors for each.

In addition to grip and comfort, there's weight and maybe aero to consider. Larger tyres on the front (not necessarily larger than the rear, just larger in general) give you more secure handling and braking, particularly on poor surfaces or downhill. But a larger tyre and tube weighs more, and is on the circumference of the wheel where you feel it most. And if you have properly aero rims (at least twice as deep as the tyre size, U-shaped and bulging past the brake tracks), you want the tyre to be about 5% narrower than the rim.

For the rear, aero considerations are pretty irrelevant, and you have about 60% of your weight on it most of the time. Also, you can't steer it around potholes and such as effectively, and you have to be quite good at bunny hopping before the rear has as easy a time over gutters and stuff as the front.

Go figure.

Psimet2001 

Sheldon Brown had something written up on this at one point. He pointed out that if he had to run two different sized tires he would run the larger tire in the front for the same reasons he would never rotate a rear tire to the front.

Sy Reene

What scenario yields the better workout?
...

just kidding. Relax

oldwinger14

Thanks to all that replied. I didn’t see any major negatives mentioned, so I will most likely go 25mm (F) and 28mm (R).

Sy Reene

Wider tires = wider contact patch? = greater likelihood to run over something that could cause a flat?

popeye

My problem is you can't rotate front to back and I will end up with too many miles on the front. I want to see a nice tire on the front always and it's not about the money.

Cyclist0108

Wider tires = lower pressure = less likelihood to puncture rather than deform around something that could cause a flat

oleg232000

Wait was this a real response? Lol. Lets not ride at all, that way we will get no flats at all. But seriously.....was that a real response ? Im being lighthearted so please. I know, its hard to tell when you cant see my face when i write this .

sfrider 

Tire rotation on a bicycle? Lol. Just replace the tires individually when the wear indicators show it's time.

Psimet2001 

I've been all over on this idea for close to 20 years now. Net result - agreed. Life is too short to worry about rotating a tire.

Best method for most even wear is buy 3 and rotate the rear when it wears out. 1 Front for 2 rears.

Probably is that you almost always benefit from a fresher front and a fresh rear. So yeah....life's too short for rotating tires on a bike.

wphamilton

I don't think I've ever rotated bike tires, front to back, although I do swap out tires seasonally and the tire in better shape goes in front. Effectively the same thing, but not enough to worry about with respect to having different sized sized tires IMO. Milking an extra hundred miles when the thread is showing isn't really worth the hassle.

The wider tire in back will have less aerodynamic penalty than it would in front, if you're concerned about such things. I personally think wider in front gives a better ride and better control.