Tyre Question

marchant
marchant Posts: 362
edited July 2008 in Commuting chat
Okay, possibly a dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway. Is there any reason i can't swap the front/rear tyres on my bike, as the back has worn a bit more than the front due to my weight (distribution :wink: ). They're not front/rear specific, just one direction of rotation and I'm not a particularly fast rider. The back still has a reasonable amount of tread on it but I just wanted to make sure I'm not breaking some unwritten (or written) rule. Mucho thanks

Comments

  • karl j
    karl j Posts: 517
    i'd have thought it'd be ok for a while, but remember if one is worn then it's better to replace it (or both) than try extending it's life too far.
    Morning route (when i don't get the train)

    Evening route ,
  • neiltb
    neiltb Posts: 332
    just swap em, don't worry about replacing both, you're just rotating the tyres
    FCN 12
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    marchant wrote:
    Okay, possibly a dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway. Is there any reason i can't swap the front/rear tyres on my bike, as the back has worn a bit more than the front due to my weight (distribution :wink: ). They're not front/rear specific, just one direction of rotation and I'm not a particularly fast rider. The back still has a reasonable amount of tread on it but I just wanted to make sure I'm not breaking some unwritten (or written) rule. Mucho thanks

    Don't do it!!!

    The last time somebody did this the dinosaurs were wiped out!
    Photos - Blog - Bike
  • marchant
    marchant Posts: 362
    The last time somebody did this the dinosaurs were wiped out!

    That's exactly what I was afraid of happening :D
  • dondare
    dondare Posts: 2,113
    marchant wrote:
    Okay, possibly a dumb question but I'm going to ask anyway. Is there any reason i can't swap the front/rear tyres on my bike, as the back has worn a bit more than the front due to my weight (distribution :wink: ). They're not front/rear specific, just one direction of rotation and I'm not a particularly fast rider. The back still has a reasonable amount of tread on it but I just wanted to make sure I'm not breaking some unwritten (or written) rule. Mucho thanks

    Cycling guru Sheldon Brown warns against doing this. His opinion is that you should never put a worn tyre on the front wheel because the consequences of a front-tyre blowout are much more serious than a rear-tyre blowout.
    This post contains traces of nuts.
  • prj45
    prj45 Posts: 2,208
    dondare wrote:
    Cycling guru Sheldon Brown warns against doing this. His opinion is that you should never put a worn tyre on the front wheel because the consequences of a front-tyre blowout are much more serious than a rear-tyre blowout.

    Well, that and the probability of an extinction level event...

    I'd take the blowout any day.
    Photos - Blog - Bike
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    If you are switching a tyre that needs replacing to the front wheel, its daft. If you are switching a part worn tyre to the front, to even out wear rates of a pair, its fine.

    Sheldon brown lives in the United States. If he advises anything other than replacing the entire bicycle in the event of a puncture, he will be at risk of litigation.

    "Contents may be hot" - warning on coffee container
    "May contain traces of nuts" - on snickers bar

    You get the idea.
  • bedraggled
    bedraggled Posts: 140
    I've been thinking about this.

    If you swap them over, what was the rear tyre will wear more slowly but what was the front tyre will now wear more quickly so over time you're no better off. Instead of replacing the rear every 6 months and the front every 12 months you have to replace them both every 9 months.

    My TV blew up a couple of hours ago, there was a huge BANG, and now I'm bored (can you tell).
  • bedraggled
    bedraggled Posts: 140
    My maths was wrong you would have to replace them both every 8 months.

    I must be bored I'm replying to my own messages, wish I had a telly.
  • marchant
    marchant Posts: 362
    Thanks for the opinions, and as I'm really just swapping them to even out wear I 'll get the tyre levers out later. If a hole is rent in the space/time continuum, or the rapture occurs at about 1800 BST, then you know who to blame :cry:
  • Aidanw
    Aidanw Posts: 449
    Always Tyred wrote:
    Sheldon brown lived in the United States. If he advises anything other than replacing the entire bicycle in the event of a puncture, he will be at risk of litigation.
    RIP!

    I don't think Sheldon would have ever let litigation get in the way of good advice. Maybe you have never had a front puncture?
  • dirk_van_gently
    dirk_van_gently Posts: 826
    Always Tyred wrote:
    Sheldon brown lives in the United States. If he advises anything other than replacing the entire bicycle in the event of a puncture, he will be at risk of litigation.
    "Contents may be hot" - warning on coffee container
    "May contain traces of nuts" - on snickers bar
    You get the idea.

    NOT burning fossil fuels is considered unpatriotic in the US :D
    If you see the candle as flame, the meal is already cooked.
    Photography, Google Earth, Route 30
  • Surf-Matt
    Surf-Matt Posts: 5,952
    My wife was trying to get me to do this.

    I ignored her and ordered some new ones.

    Things I NEVER cut corners on are anything to do with brakes or tyres on a car and a bike.

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