Cycling UK Forum

Just reading an older thread about bottle dynamos, wherein was discussed the extra losses incurred simply by having the type of tyre that has a dynamo track. And "losses x2 as there's two tyres...". But why require a dynamo track on the wheel without a dynamo?

In general, why do we habitually have identical tyres front and rear? Modern MTBs don't. Motorcycles don't. I'm not sure about modern cars, now that fullsize spare wheels are mostly absent.

Ok, I do have a road bike that absolutely must have blue wall, colour-matched tyres, which usually dictates tyre choice (frivolous, me?); but otherwise, why?

"Most bikes come with identical tires front and rear. This is all right for general use, but if you want to optimize your bike, you should consider using different tires front and rear. The front and rear tires have different loadings and different requirements."
https://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#mixing

Jonathan

I recall using different patterns of tread from Avon, when I rode English motorcycles. The front was a ribbed tread, the rear a block tread. They were branded as Speedmaster and Safety Milage or SM respectively. Once I gained that habit I've found it hard to lose.

The reason I use identical tyres is that the rear tyre wears 2 or 3 times as fast as the front.
When the rear wears out, I put the front tyre on the rear, and a new tyre on the front. I do that because the consequences of any tyre failure are potentially a lot worse if it's the front tyre that fails than the rear, so I want my best and least knackered tyre on the front.

andrew_s wrote:The reason I use identical tyres is that the rear tyre wears 2 or 3 times as fast as the front.
When the rear wears out, I put the front tyre on the rear, and a new tyre on the front. I do that because the consequences of any tyre failure are potentially a lot worse if it's the front tyre that fails than the rear, so I want my best and least knackered tyre on the front.

I used to do this, but since I started using tubeless, I don't, because swapping a tubeless tyre from front to back is rather a PITA. These days, on my principal bike I use a Compass Bon Jon Pass 700x35 on the front (pretty much the lightest tyre available in that size), and a Schwalbe Marathon Supreme of the same size on the rear, and that means I get approximately the same mileage from both tyres before they need replacing.

Hi
I don't. I have a 25mm at the front and a 30mm with additional puncture protection at the rear. The rear takes the majority of my weight, 30mm gives extra volume for comfort and the majority of punctures seem to happen at the rear so it's logically better protected
They do look very similar though
I have a spare 25mm tyre which can go on either end

Only if they are coloured tyres then they must match!

Usually so long as they contain air I'm happy!!

Now I have all-wheel drive in the form of me powering (perhaps not quite the right word...) the back and the 'leccy motor the front, the tyres on the Brompton seem to be wearing out at about the same rate.

the reason many use identical (paired) tyres could well be a throw back to this hard hitting public information film


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrRz_ItWWDw

I use identical tyres to avoid carrying two sets of spares. I was riding with a Schwalbe Durano with a Slime tube at the back because the motor wheel is a sod to get out of the frame, and a good old GP4000 on the front, but now I've Duranos on both wheels.

Nature loves symmetry, it's something deep within us, some groups or individuals may buck that, but it isn't natural.

I find it difficult enough just choosing a pair of tyres. I'm damned if I am going to make the task twice as hard by choosing different tyres for front and rear.

it's the norm for me to have a more robust, larger volume tyre on the rear and a lighter unit on the front wheel on the commuter bikes. as above, the rear carries more weight and wears more quickly.

for any lighter bikes i do have matched or similar style tyres front and back but i don't do as much mileage on these.

simonineaston wrote: ↑1 Aug 2022, 9:07am Now I have all-wheel drive in the form of me powering (perhaps not quite the right word...) the back and the 'leccy motor the front, the tyres on the Brompton seem to be wearing out at about the same rate.

I worked out a few years ago that my tyre wear was almost identical to my axle weight, Maybe it reflects my weak legs but the extra wear on my rear tyre probably had little to do with it being a drive wheel.

Because it hurts my head enough having to choose from 30 realistic options.

It would be become 900...