Wider tire upfront on gravel? Yes? No?

[EB]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

Using a wider tire on the front to improve grip and control on rougher surfaces is nothing new. In the early days of MTBs, before MTB suspension forks were developed, this was common.

Still common! 2.5 front 2.4 rear is a very common setup, sometimes even 2.6 F 2.3 R. Front and rear tires do different things, so these setups make perfect sense.

I wouldn't worry about a mm or two in stack change. Once you run a lower pressure in the wider tire in front, it's probably all a wash anyway.

[tellyho]

I have aesthetic objections but I think they're probably dumb.

[Chris(NJ)]

Originally Posted by redir

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

Yup!! This was always the way when I raced in the 90’s

[vespasianus]

Don't just go wider, go more aggressive. I run a larger and more aggressive front tire and a faster rolling rear tire. Control can trump pure rolling resistance.

[rice rocket]

Originally Posted by EB

Still common!

Yep, bikes are sold that way even.......

I.e.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ep...382712-4221500

[makoti]

Originally Posted by rice rocket

Yep, bikes are sold that way even.......

I.e.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ep...382712-4221500

.05 difference?

[EB]

Originally Posted by makoti

.05 difference?

Better examples:

https://www.santacruzbicycles.com/en-US/bikes/hightower
https://yeticycles.com/bikes/sb160/buy

etc.

2.5 F / 2.4 R is pretty standard for long travel builds. One of the things that I've learned on the Paceline is that 2.5mm really, really matters sometimes

[Grateful Rider]

I was running Gravelking X1 45's and got puncture in rear. Only tire I had on hand to replace it was a Tufo Speedero 40. Thought it would be temporary, but to be honest the combo works really well for the mixed terrain I like to ride.

[rice rocket]

Originally Posted by makoti

.05 difference?

Tell me you don't ride MTBs without telling me you don't ride MTBs....


And yes, 0.05 width on paper, but also a perceptible volume difference for those who make both sizes.

(caveat being, within the same mfg; they all do their own thing)

[fogrider]

Originally Posted by vespasianus

Don't just go wider, go more aggressive. I run a larger and more aggressive front tire and a faster rolling rear tire. Control can trump pure rolling resistance.

this. I've found that the rear tire wears quickly no matter what and it ends up looking smooth no matter what tire you start with.

[Hilltopperny]

I have done this plenty of times in the past and was considering doing it with my current new to me bike. The rear stays will take a 45, but the fork will take at least a 50mm and that would make it more capable on singletrack and rougher excursions.

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[jonnyBgood]

Heck yeah... I did it on my BMX bikes and EVERY Mountain Bike I have had has ALWAYS had a bigger front tire (more volume to push through those corners!!).

I'm currently running a 700x45 Ultradynamico Rose Race on the front and a 700x42 Ultradynamico Cava Race on the rear of my Moot RSL

[Likes2ridefar]

I’m going to try 40mm up front and 36mm rear in a few days using Tufo Thundero.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

I’m going to try 40mm up front and 36mm rear in a few days using Tufo Thundero.

Love to hear your impressions

[vespasianus]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

I’m going to try 40mm up front and 36mm rear in a few days using Tufo Thundero.

Tufo makes great tires. I am using the 44 swampero on the front and 44 thundero on the rear. Crazy fast combo with the ability to rail corners without giving up anything on the road or on the flats.