Front specific totally slick road tyres ???????????????

[velomaniac]

Excuse my ignorance but how can a totally slick tyre, that is one without a tread pattern be front specific ?
Nabbed a pair of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/380825282158? ... 441wt_1190 for my old Raleigh Criterion Triathlon.
At a fiver each for a slick puncture resistant tyre I thought why not but I'm puzzled by the front specific tag. It does mention stickier rubber but whats wrong with stickier rubber on the back aswell ?

 

[foz]

I'm not sure what make it is (ad doesn't say?) but some companies sold fronts with stickier rubber with rears with harder wearing (but less sticky) rubber. They were probably designed to wear out at about the same number of miles. I'm sure you could use this on the rear, but it might wear out faster than the rear version of the same tyre.

 

[PurpleFrog]

I'm not sure what make it is (ad doesn't say?) but some companies sold fronts with stickier rubber with rears with harder wearing (but less sticky) rubber. They were probably designed to wear out at about the same number of miles. I'm sure you could use this on the rear, but it might wear out faster than the rear version of the same tyre.

That's a brilliant explanation, but my money is on a mis-written ad.

 

[hamster]

Or simply the sweet smell of marketing...

 

[glpinxit]

Alternatively, read the ad which clearly says "front specific stickier rubber".
Doh!!!

 

[David B]

Or simply the sweet smell of marketing...

Sweet smell?? Marketing blurb tends to have more of a whiff of the farmyard about it.

David

 

[mattr]

What would you expect from a front specific tyre?
lots of tread?

 

[velomaniac]

On mtb's front specific have tread patterns aimed at steering grip as opposed to propulsion grip. So I suppose stickier rubber gives better steering but in my experience I've never been able to push the performance envelope far enough to notice my front wheel not gripping better than the rear on tarmac.
Thanks for the helpful responses !

 

[mattr]

But tread on a quality road bike tyre is not needed.
Most of the texture is the road surface. So softer rubber grips better.