Gravel/dirt - Running two types of tires on front and back

Equipment
1

Curious if any of you run different style tires on the front and back. I was using the WTB 42 knobby tires but hated how they performed on the road, descending on road, and how slow they felt. All my dirt rides require about half tarmac. I recently have tried the IRC Boken plus 38’s and love them on the road and dirt but tend to spin out on steeper climbs where I have to get out of the saddle. I was thinking of running IRC Boken Doublecross(knobby) on the back and IRC Boken plus(slick in the middle) on the front.

does anyone run two different types of tires on the front and back? pro’s and cons?

2

My favorite tire set up is maxxiss rambler up front with vittoria terreno zero in the back. I personally think it has the best of both worlds, good handling on rough surfaces with the small knobs on the front tire, and fast rolling on tarmac. It’s a gravel bike and at the end of the day it won’t ever be as fast as a road bike on the road. Doesn’t mean I can’t keep up!
Back in the day I used to ride dirt jumps/ trails on a BMX bike. I would always have knobs upfront and a slick on the back. So maybe I just like it so much because of nostalgia.
It’s your bike and at the end of the day if you like it, that’s all that matters.

3

Alejandro Valverde ran mismatched tires at the gravel world champs last weekend….Pathfinder Pro on the front and (I can’t remember what was on back).

People have been running front / rear specific tires for years on MTB……

I don’t see any issue with it.

2 Likes
4

Yes, I run different tyres front and rear.

Tyre with more tread on the front, slick on the rear

Pros
Bike more prone to oversteer, rear will slide out first which can be controlled. Less chance of washing out the front end on descents
Lower rolling resistance putting power down through a slick tyre

Cons
More chance of spinning out on steep loose climbs, but this can be mitigated with technique, correct bodyweight distribution when out of the saddle and smooth application of power.
Knobbly tyres have less grip on hard pack/tarmac, bike will understeer.

Tyre with more tread on the Rear, slick on the front

Pros
less likely to spin out on steep loose climbs
Knobbly tyres have less grip on hard pack/tarmac, bike will Oversteer.

Cons
Bike will understeer with a high chance of washing out the front end, rear wheel skids are usually recoverable, front wheel slides out and you are going to be eating dirt.
Higher rolling resistance putting power down through a knobbly tyre.