Mountain bikers do it, motorcyclists and car racers do it too: those who ride sporty bikes fit different tyres at the front and rear. Wide rollers at the rear, narrower tyres at the front. Only racing cyclists have so far made little use of the option of fitting special tyres at the front and rear. No corresponding products have been offered to date.
With the pair of tyres that Continental and Schwalbe have now placed at the top of their folding tyre range, the two German tyre manufacturers are creating awareness for the first time that front and rear tyres can also fulfil different tasks on a road bike. The products are called "Stelvio Evolution Front" and "Rear" at Schwalbe and "GP Attack" and "GP Force" at Continental.
The basic requirements for road bike tyres are many and varied: easy rolling, puncture resistance, cornering grip, abrasion resistance, braking traction and a long service life. However, some things are contradictory. For example, good grip and puncture resistance stand in the way of smooth running: rubber compounds with good grip roll less well. The same applies to puncture protection layers, as they stiffen the tyre base, the carcass. Long tyre life and good grip are also contradictory properties, as soft and adhesive rubber also wears out more quickly. So you can't do without compromises.
You can read everything you need to know about these "mixed marriages" in the free PDF download.
(Text: Robert Kühnen)
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