[Closed] Mixed surface riding - knobbly front, semi-slick rear?

Knobblier front/ faster rolling rear is quite fairly common mix. Just how knobbly/fast is very much individual preference though. My 29er wheels are set up as Ardent front and Crossmark rear.

I ran Schwalbe G-Ones when training for the dirty reiver, used them on road, tracks, gravel fire roads and even single track. Kept them on throughout the summer for mixed use including lots of dry off road tracks in France.

Lots of tyres designed around what you want to do now.

EDIT: dunno what bike/rims you have so these may be too narrow.

I've got Rons front and rear.
The front is a fairly new Ron, and the rear is a pretty old and worn out Ron.
This could be classed as almost slick rear with side knobs.
It's been working OK over the summer and up to now on a variety of surfaces.
Give it a go and report back as to effectiveness?

Yeah, I guess I'm thinking quite significantly different. I'll often run a High Roller on the rear off the big bike with a mud tyre on the front, but I'm thinking more like this on the back
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or even this

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and this on the front

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I've got a pair of Schwalbe CX Pros but they're 1.35" (35c) but I'm not sure I like the lower volume of the thin tyre (yes, that's thin in my book).

Should say these are 26" standard width (20mm?) because I'm old-fashioned/tight/cool (delete as appropriate).

Edit: funnily enough, I bought the CX pros to do the Dirty Reiver route (as an overnighter) but it never happened.

I got some maxiss larsons for the tandem which are surprisingly undraggy for a knobblie on road and surprisingly good even in slimy conditions offroad.
I have also used specialised crossroads sort of a 50/50 tyre and conti travel contact which are more 70% road
Depends what compromise you want to make. The contis are fine on gravel and possible on slippy stuff but no MTB tyre whilst being almost as fast as a road tyre on tarmac. Puncture proof(ish) as well

Focus less on the tread pattern, and more on the rubber compound and carcass.
Look at high quality XC tyres as they'll surprise you how fast they roll and how surprisingly well they do when things get a bit rougher.

I'm very happy with how my X-Kings roll on the road. Ralphs are probably a good bet too.

I ride like this most of the time, I quite like the back-end sliding around when it gets interesting. oo-er!

Most recently it has been a Maxxis Advantage on the front with a 80% worn Nobby Nic on the back, works well for me. The only place I really notice the lack traction is climbing techy steps or wet grass, but probably more my lack of skill than anything else.

depends on what the surface is like and when you're going, but I used the Mavic Quest for a bit over the summer front and back, and they weren't terrible. Rolled pretty fast, gripped...enough...

You'd bloody hope so for £45 an end wouldn't you?!

New Zealand in December so hopefully pretty dry.

Marathon Cross rear with a Smart Sam up front, as a not selling right kidney to purchase tyres option?

Or a Razor Rock rear with a Chunky Monkey for £26 plus postage from DFS?

Where in NZ? There is a lot of forest trails if you are doing any singletrack and that means (often wet) tree roots. I'd go for a little grippier if so (such as the X-Kings mentioned ^^^).

ah, they came with a set of wheels 😆

I've a Schwalbe Rock Razor on my rear just now which is pretty fast rolling. It did an ok job round muddy, slippy, icy trails yesterday so I'd be happy as a compromise tyre but wouldn't fancy my chances on a slippery DH.

I run a Racing Ralph front & Rock Razor rear. They are a bit sketchy at this time of year but I dont want greater rolling resistance.

My local circuit is pretty much what you described.

Specialized used to do a tyre pair that was like that, knobby front for grip in the corners, semi-slick rear. Worked really well, I ran them for XC racing.

I do a home-made solution similar to that for the Three Peaks CX, new Schwalbe Smart Sam on the front and a semi-worn one on the rear.

North Island - Waikato River Trail, Timber Trail and Forgotten World Highway.

I've put a pair of Conti Mountain Kings on to try. Main attraction is they were in the pile of mostly unused 26" tyres at the back of the garage, which I have little desire to add to 😛

If they seem really draggy on the road, I could swap out the back for a Country Rock from my commuter, but I'm hoping they're a good all-round compromise.

They're a fairly light, flexible carcass, but the bike is rigid so a high volume, supple tyre might give me a bit of give. It's all a compromise isn't it?!