Wider tire upfront on gravel? Yes? No?

[makoti]

I am running 38 GravelKing SS+ with cushcore inserts (not sure I'll keep using them when the wear out - if they do) and want to try wider tires. My frame is limited to 42-42 on the rear, but the front is very flexible.
I don't want to push the max in the back and end up trashing the chainstays if it gets sloppy, so was thinking only bumping up the front. They make a 43 SS+ (no 40).
Would running the 43 front and 38 rear work? Is that too large a difference? Anyone do this and can comment about that kind of a difference? Worth it?

EDIT: no idea if it matters, but more info is good. Shamal Carbon, 21mm internal

[wyatt_]

I've done it plenty. Raises your stack by a few mm. Gives you room to run lower pressure and take some of the edge off of rough gravel. Only downside I've noticed is that steering is not quite as sharp feeling on the road, but that may be splitting hairs, unnoticeable to a different rider.

[EB]

Originally Posted by makoti

I am running 38 GravelKing SS+ with cushcore inserts (not sure I'll keep using them when the wear out - if they do) and want to try wider tires. My frame is limited to 42-42 on the rear, but the front is very flexible.
I don't want to push the max in the back and end up trashing the chainstays if it gets sloppy, so was thinking only bumping up the front. They make a 43 SS+ (no 40).
Would running the 43 front and 38 rear work? Is that too large a difference? Anyone do this and can comment about that kind of a difference? Worth it?

EDIT: no idea if it matters, but more info is good. Shamal Carbon, 21mm internal

This will work fine. More width = more grip and more grip in front is good on loose dirt. The different in ride height front to rear is immaterial.

[CAAD]

I just threw on a 45 up front and running a 40 out back. The only thing I noticed is a little extra grip and comfort.

[litcrazy]

I'm have a bike that only takes a 38mm Gravelking SK in back and I'm running a 43mm in front.
On my new fat tired gravel bike, I'm running 67mm in front and 59mm in back.

In both cases I think it's great. I makes descending better and manages rolling resistance. I'll like go bigger in back on the fat tired back as the terrain demands it, but I've been pleasantly surprised by the ride when some of my motivation was using up a half lifed tire in back.

[redir]

Old school BMX puts the wider tire on front. Go for it.

[thirdgenbird]

Add me to the list of people that runs a slightly wider tire up front. Gravel kings as well.

[makoti]

Well, cool! This will be a much cheaper and easier solution, hopefully. Good to hear that some are running exactly what I am thinking of.

How big a difference in psi are you running , F/R? As it is I run maybe just a few PSI less up front. I imagine that with the wider tire up front that might be 5-10 less? The Silca calc shows the front going from 37 to 30 when I go to 43.
With the inserts, I run more like 32-35 upfront. So 25 to 28 in the front, then? Sound right?