Mountain Biking - Tale of 2 tires, mtb that run road\dirt.

Hey..had cluster migraine headaches for a week.

I still rode, it didn't help, but it made me put my mind on the ride instead.
Any way..I bought a tire to speed the ride, a semi slick and put it rear.
An idea i've though about...and if not, i'm building my kid a 26" wheel bike and the tire can be used.

The rolling resistance is mostly rear on bikes, the front -instead of a semi-slick as well, is an xc tire with treads.
Offroad it's doing well, road -super. I lost less than I gained, I don't end up doing that much mud and say...60% on these tires is road. I ride to where I offroad so..

I wear my $$ Xc tires to fast, rear really. so XC front -the rear is an Sefras? Kevlar semi-slick, treads only on the edges.
I'll find a pic, and a IRC Mythos XC K front.
IRC are just below Hutch and Maxx, still expensive, very grippy and good for rocks.

I've done several types of biking and the less knobbed rear (smaller\low psi) is still hooking up well.
I used a puncture proof tube now and I'm sure I have 5mm rubber rear and can safely deflate for offroad.
Road I keep the psi up and since it has less resistance (no center tread) and it corners good wet..that's a plus.

Summary:

A mtb used as a commuter, maybe keep the knobby tire front = and it is the primary steer traction tire.
You can still light offroad and have a fast bike on hard surface.

Smaller semi-slick rear, lotsa rubber.

If you can correct wash rear from a light tread, and go smaller =fast bike.
Yes a give\take..speed over mud, and I can swap out the wheel\tire for that.

If you did swap out yout treaded mtb for semi-slicks, and still have them =try the knobbie front and try offroad.
...be carefull, and only if you have some cycling skills, a rear wash is workable, front not so =why the tire change!


I stayed 1.95 rear, 2.10 front. The front is a big 2.10, and run at a lower psi than the rear.
A dual semi-slick is a no go for me, no way I want to give up the ability to steer through, small traction problems = I shift weight on rear tire to the side where the knobs are.

I'll post pics of the specific treads later.

I'd rather just swap between knobbies and road slicks.

I've pretty much always matched my front\rear to terrain, the rear knobbed tires squirm on the road.
I'm more speaking to the set that doesn't have 2 wheelsets, or bikes.
I can flip the rear tire if i'm going deep or it's monsoon season.

We have many trees here, a front treaded tire is good urban for the wet leaves, and the point is it's not really the rolling resistance tire ,the steering tire so I'm staying big and toothy front.

I'm digging the combo -and offroad (light) not too bad. I pump the rear back up and get home fast.

I've got Continental TravelContacts on my bike at the minute. Front isn't the most confidence inspiring in the dirt, but I've lost remarkably little on the rear in dry conditions. I can still get up almost all the hils I used to be able to with a dedicated off road tire. I think what you're suggesting Jeff might be a good compromise.

Front -2.10 IRC MythosXC Kevlar, normal\light tube -25psi.
Rear -1.95 Sefras Vermin Kevlar, thorn-proof tube -35psi.

I've got Continental TravelContacts on my bike at the minute. Front isn't the most confidence inspiring in the dirt, but I've lost remarkably little on the rear in dry conditions. I can still get up almost all the hils I used to be able to with a dedicated off road tire. I think what you're suggesting Jeff might be a good compromise.


Seems mostly a mud for urban tradeoff. My mud riding is maybe 10%.
I'm more likely to be riding on the road in the rain...and I've a better rear tire for it.
I run a solid fork, the bigger treaded front, slightly lower psi, is great for potholes or rough trail.

I'd rather just swap between knobbies and road slicks.

Do you change the tires or have a dedicated wheel set for each?

If you change tires, isn't it damaging to the bead to constantly stretch? I don't know, I'm asking.

[QUOTE=santiago]"Do you change the tires or have a dedicated wheel set for each?"
Raiyn probably does, I wish...usually my second wheels are damaged, awaiting spokes.

"If you change tires, isn't it damaging to the bead to constantly stretch? I don't know, I'm asking."
Not that i've noticed, and I've been swapping rubber constantly. Makes them easier to get on for sure.
But they don't wear @ the bead. Some tire I have -no wire, have been mounted above 15 times.

I found the Specialized Rockster tires work well on and off road. http://specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=11201

I have also liked the performance of the Kenda K-rads so far. Now I have them on my 24inch cruiser, so who knows if its a different world on my Homegrown. I plan on putting the 26X2.3's on My homegrown when I convert her to SS.

I've got the 26x1.95 k-rads on my singlespeed wheels, and they've been treating me pretty well. Not too annoying on road, and no real problems off road.

Do you change the tires or have a dedicated wheel set for each?
Anymore I have a dedicated BIKE for each. :D

If you change tires, isn't it damaging to the bead to constantly stretch? I don't know, I'm asking.No switching between slicks during the week and knobbies on the weekends doesn't stretch your beads. I used to do it all the time before I bought my 'hopper and made my old Hardrock into a dedicated commuter.

Anymore I have a dedicated BIKE for each. :D No switching between slicks during the week and knobbies on the weekends doesn't stretch your beads. I used to do it all the time before I bought my 'hopper and made my old Hardrock into a dedicated commuter.

I've been curious about switching out tires because my bike is a dual-purpose bike. It is used as a shoppping/promenade bike and as soon as I get my car bikerack I'll be joining my MTB club on outings. I didn't want to wear out my tires riding on the road.

I think I'll practise mounting and dismounting the tires on my old bike.

I've been curious about switching out tires because my bike is a dual-purpose bike. It is used as a shoppping/promenade bike and as soon as I get my car bikerack I'll be joining my MTB club on outings. I didn't want to wear out my tires riding on the road.

I think I'll practise mounting and dismounting the tires on my old bike.
Get yourself a pair of Specialized Nimbus tires (either Armadillo or the EX version). I guarentee you'll be happy with them for street duty. I've had mine for four years now and am only now considering replacing the rear due to wear