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Earlier this year we asked if readers matched their front and rear tires, and most of you said yes, at least sticking with the same brand if not the same model and spec. Now we want to know whether you’re running a wider tire front or rear, or they’re the same width.
I am running 4.8 up front and 4.6 in the rear. I'm not picky when it comes to tires. Since fatbike tires are so expensive, I just buy whatever I can find cheap. Don't much care if they match lol
2.6 w/ 29x35i Derby front, 2.8 w/ 27.5x40i Derby rear for technical trail and recreational DH park uses. Closer to same rear tire diameters for easier rolling mullet set, stronger rear braking without skidding improving front tire corner entry traction, and improved steep climbing traction. I can feel that narrower 2.25 to 2.4 with 29 front and rear is more efficient for easier XC/Trail pedaling and less steep climbing. But I climb for the reward of descents and prefer the best descending and drift handling balance with the larger rear tire mullet wheels.
Back in the 26er days, I would run a bigger front tire. Enabled more smashing of the rough stuff (hello Pisgah), better cushioning and traction and provided a larger tire circumference.
Front is wider only because the front and back tires are different models and aren't available in the same sizes. The front tire is 2.4 and the rear is 2.35, so, while different sizes, there's not that much difference.
I ride a Spesh Levo Comp which came with the Spesh Butcher 2.6 at front and Spesh Eliminator 2.3 at rear. I often had feeling of vagueness at front, nothing serious but the "feel" just wasn't right. Swapped it for a 2.3 Butcher and the feel is unmistakably there especially in the wet. The 2.3 Eliminator at rear is still quietly doing its job.
I running a 2.5 Maxxis Aggressor in the front and 2.4 Maxxis Minion dhr in the rear . I have an Agassi 2.5 I have been meaning to put on the front. I’m having folding over , pushing and that tread gap issues with the Aggressor . For one I believe it feels too weak in the sidewalls to run at a lower pressure. May be the model I chose I’m not sure.
I will not know for a while now . I believe in tire choices very firmly. I knew or know that this aggressor wasn’t right and needed changed so I purchased the “heavier” Agassi finally. Don’t know why I was worried about a few grams when the front tire is of great importance. The DHR is a pretty decent tire .
Well I just had a pretty bad crash . It was my fault and I’m not blaming anything but me overall.
But ! A front tire slide was the initial cause of the crash. I’d been getting them and was getting ready to change out the tire . Because of laziness I didn’t I guess. Or maybe it was the cheapO in me that wanted more wear out of a tire I knew would never see the light of day back on this bike .
I also have been waiting months for the new Hope enduro brakes I’d Pre-Ordered to come . I just couldn’t get my older Shimano XTs to perform how I wanted. I took off the organic pads that wouldn’t stop the bike . I put on bigger rotors and went with metal sintered pads . These things had to be gingerly used or they’d lock up . I need modulation with power when I ride . That is why I went for the “Newly” redesigned Hopes . I am just a fan of the Hope company too by the way.
So to the crash ! It’s was first caused because of me and going too fast . But I truly believe with proper suspension setup, the tires and brakes I make this downhill section at record time.
Well I had a front tire slide , it was a 70 deg hill with on drop of only about 2’ . You can roll it with 29” wheels but I run 27.5s converted from a 26” bike . It’s a 2013 Kona AbraCadabra converted to 27.5 . I did it right and it cost a chunk and a half to do. It’s something I wanted to do because I love the ol bike so much. It’s definitely a much more capable ride than it’s factory setup with 26” wheels .
Well onto the crash , I got off line and trying to get back on and I believe I had too much brake pulled onto my fist . A panic brake thing . I did an endo at speed flipping me low back first into a tree. I wrapped the tree and I heard some loud pops . Then to the ground I went.
Long story shorted here , I broke my pelvis and sacrum . I started to try to walk and that wasn’t happening. I could feel the bones moving and tons of pressure in my crotch area. Down I went , again. I had to crawl up that hill and out of there . It was about a half mile to get out of there . I only had my arms and toes to crawl with it was slow and painful going . For the first hour of crawling I made good time . Then it started raining and raining hard . This helped because I could slide my body in the mud. The dry areas I was stuck down like glue and the ground was like course sand paper a leg less inchworm. It sucked period . Well it took me 6 hours to get out of there ……..
I’d run the same width front and back if Maxxis produced the DHR II in a 2.5 width. I think it’s kind of silly that they don’t. The notion of using a skinnier rear tire for rolling resistance seems somewhat old fashioned to me.
When I ran Continental tires I had a Trail King in the front and a narrower Mountain King in the rear. It worked well. Both were 2.4 with narrow rims. I found I had good cornering hold up front and enough traction in the back. Occasional wash out was a risk with the Mountain King. Now tires and rims are just generally wider and I run Maxxis front and rear. I find I have the need for narrower lighter rims though. We'll see how this evolves.
I would run wider tires at the back. But that is mostly on road and I don't ride a lot of mtb. If so, the beefier tirer would definitly go in the front. On my cx bike which I normally use I van't put wider tires in the front if I would race, b3cause then it's illegal. I don't race, but I have 32mm nobly cross tires, and a pair of wheels with 28mm gravel tires, but oh whell. My mtb isn't really a hood bike: alloy rim brake😂
Benefits of larger up front?
Is it just better to run both the same? Bigger width the better? I have 26inch....
Should I do different treads for both front and rear?
17 Comments
Jul 24, 2022
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I will not know for a while now . I believe in tire choices very firmly. I knew or know that this aggressor wasn’t right and needed changed so I purchased the “heavier” Agassi finally. Don’t know why I was worried about a few grams when the front tire is of great importance. The DHR is a pretty decent tire .
Well I just had a pretty bad crash . It was my fault and I’m not blaming anything but me overall.
But ! A front tire slide was the initial cause of the crash. I’d been getting them and was getting ready to change out the tire . Because of laziness I didn’t I guess. Or maybe it was the cheapO in me that wanted more wear out of a tire I knew would never see the light of day back on this bike .
I also have been waiting months for the new Hope enduro brakes I’d Pre-Ordered to come . I just couldn’t get my older Shimano XTs to perform how I wanted. I took off the organic pads that wouldn’t stop the bike . I put on bigger rotors and went with metal sintered pads . These things had to be gingerly used or they’d lock up . I need modulation with power when I ride . That is why I went for the “Newly” redesigned Hopes . I am just a fan of the Hope company too by the way.
So to the crash ! It’s was first caused because of me and going too fast . But I truly believe with proper suspension setup, the tires and brakes I make this downhill section at record time.
Well I had a front tire slide , it was a 70 deg hill with on drop of only about 2’ . You can roll it with 29” wheels but I run 27.5s converted from a 26” bike . It’s a 2013 Kona AbraCadabra converted to 27.5 . I did it right and it cost a chunk and a half to do. It’s something I wanted to do because I love the ol bike so much. It’s definitely a much more capable ride than it’s factory setup with 26” wheels .
Well onto the crash , I got off line and trying to get back on and I believe I had too much brake pulled onto my fist . A panic brake thing . I did an endo at speed flipping me low back first into a tree. I wrapped the tree and I heard some loud pops . Then to the ground I went.
Long story shorted here , I broke my pelvis and sacrum . I started to try to walk and that wasn’t happening. I could feel the bones moving and tons of pressure in my crotch area. Down I went , again. I had to crawl up that hill and out of there . It was about a half mile to get out of there . I only had my arms and toes to crawl with it was slow and painful going . For the first hour of crawling I made good time . Then it started raining and raining hard . This helped because I could slide my body in the mud. The dry areas I was stuck down like glue and the ground was like course sand paper a leg less inchworm. It sucked period . Well it took me 6 hours to get out of there ……..
Jul 19, 2022
Jul 20, 2022
Jul 18, 2022
Front: 2.5WT Assegai
Assegai is almost the same width, but the grip is phenomenal.
3 weeks ago
Jul 23, 2022
Jul 18, 2022
Is it just better to run both the same? Bigger width the better? I have 26inch....
Should I do different treads for both front and rear?