To Rotate Or Not To Rotate

The biking experts say that it is common for a front tire to outlast a rear tire by as much as three to one. Driving forces and weight wear the rear tire down quickly through usage.

Some times rear tires on road-bikes and especially on mountain bikes have a tendency to wear down quicker than the front tires. To get a little more life out of your tires, you can rotate them around once or you can put the front tire on the back and then just buy a new tire for the front. Make sure you have tires that are universal, then they can be used for either front and back. If they are not universal, the bike might not handle correctly and they might get even worse wear. It is not recommend rotating them more than once.

Most cyclists switch their tires once they realize the rear tire is starting to wear down. This is often after many miles on the tire and when a visible flat spot has formed. Attempting to rotate at this point is dangerous and usually not recommended. The best time to rotate is when you Plan to completely replace the rear tire. At this point, it is suggested to move the front tire to the back and install the completely new tire up front; or, as many riders do, replace both and keep the old front tire for a back up. Extra spares not used during the season can make for great indoor training tires.

Why put the new tire on the front of the bike? The front tire is the most important when it comes to safety. If you experience a blowout on the rear tire, you have a good chance of coming to a controlled stop. If the front tire goes on you, steering control can be lost and a crash can be imminent even if you have high-grade brakes like the Swiss Stop Performance brake pads.