Different tires F&R on Gravel Bike?

[Grateful Rider]

I come from a MTB background and most of my bikes have had different tire on front vs rear. In general, front tire more traction/bigger knobs and rear tire roll better/smaller knobs (Rekon front/Rekon Race rear as an example). I rarely, if ever see this set-up on a gravel bike.

I bring this up as a flatted rear on my bike and replaced with smaller, faster rolling rear and set-up worked pretty well. (Gravelking X1 45mm front/Tufo Speedero 40m rear). Only few rides, but got me thinking, is this a thing?

Curious an any thoughts about merit of mixed vs not

[weaponsgrade]

I run mixed tires on my gravel bike for exactly the reasons you state.

[slowpoke]

Maxxis Ravager/Rambler is not an unheard of combo.

I'm currently running a Jan knobby front (Steilacoom) and Tufo Thundero rear, but also because Jan tires are $$$$$.

[weisan]

WTB Riddler 37mm front
Teravail Cannnonball 35mm rear

[Davist]

I do think it'd be helpful for the "monster cross" version of gravel, but I just run my 650 wheels with the 2.1s on both ends when I do that. Reminds me of BMX we used a wider tire in the front and a narrower in the back, worked well.

[pwgoode]

I've run mixed tires before, both size and type. As small as 35 mm in back with a 44 mm in front. No reason not to do if you want. Like you, I do a lot of mountain biking so mixing tires seems normal to me.

[Grateful Rider]

good to hear. In my limited exposure to gravel bikes, they seemed to all be running same F&R. But this current unintentional mixed set-up feels pretty good. To points above, the more dirt you see the more sense it makes.

[sparky33]

Mixing F&R tires matters more on MTB because traction is a bigger deal. And you have Maxxis et al making tires that are more specific to front or rear (e.g. Forekaster/Rekon).

I don't bother with it for gravel because that's more about cushion and going straight efficiently.