XC Tyres

oldholborn

As you may know I ride a Scale.
My riding is mainly on Bridlepaths and Rutland Water now many of my trails are too muddy.
Might race during the summer and dont want several sets of tyres.
Found the Onzos too thin and too many punctures.
I have recently changed the front to a Panaracer XC Fire Pro.
Tyre width not known, though narrower than the Onzo that was fitted as standard.
Should I put the same tyre on the rear?
What tyre should I put on the rear and should this be wider than the front tyre?

nicklouse

I have always run the same size F and R.

oldholborn

Why do folks use wider tyres on the front?

nicklouse

TBH i have never found any real difference.

Except that a thinner tyre will cut through the mud better.

But i want that to happen on both ends.

.blitz

Been using some Maxxis Medusas since November. They are exceptional in mud/slimy roots/wet rubble and competent everywhere else, but the back one squirms a bit on hardpack climbs. Previously I was running Nobby Nics front and rear and only took them off because they were 'too good' to use during the Winter, but now I think a Medusa up front and a Nic on the back would be a hot set-up.

ride_whenever

The thinking behind a wider front tyre is to give you more grip because you want the back end to go before the front end.

oldholborn

The wider tyre gives more grip?
But does it?
I thought the advantage of the thinner tyre was that it cut though the mud to solid ground?
What are your thoughts?

mtbikerboy

if there is no mud, i wider tyre will give you more grip/less chance off slipping it over wet roots, loose rocks/ general uneven rocky terrain. thats why i run a wide tyre in front (2.35). At the back, i could run the same if i wanted but i run 2.1 for less weight and less rolling resistance, and loosing grip on the back is of no major consequence and is easier to control.

oldholborn

So if there is some mud should I run tyres of the same size?

mtbikerboy

You can run the same size or depending on how big your front one is, a smaller in the back.... no big difference IMO. run whatever you want or is more effective in your conditions

.blitz

oldholborn wrote:

So if there is some mud should I run tyres of the same size?

Mud is a variable. Skinny tyres will cut through soft watery gloop and hook up on the hard surface below, but a wider tyre will be better in thick pasty stuff because it will have some flotation, much like riding in sand.

IME skinny tyres are the best in muddy terrain.

97wilewa01

i alway use the same on both front and back!!