Fifty Plus (50+) - Putting slicks on my MTB

Okay, dumb question (seems like i should know this already)...

If i want to put some slicks on my MTB, how do I do that?

a. Go to LBS, give them money, walk out with two tires, two innertubes (or more), two rims, spokes, hubs, etc. Take home, swap out.

b. Go to LBS, give them money, walk out with two tires, two innertubes (or more), take home, remove existing tires and tubes, replace with new stuff, inflate, reinstall.

Reason i ask is this: seems it would be easier to keep both sets of wheels up and ready, so that depending on where I'm going today, i just use the quick release and lock and load the appropriate tire. But, maybe that's just silly and quite expensive (spokes, rims, hubs, etc.)

Well, I've never done this, so how is it done?

b. Go to LBS, give them money, walk out with two tires, two innertubes (or more), take home, remove existing tires and tubes, replace with new stuff, inflate, reinstall.

Reason i ask is this: seems it would be easier to keep both sets of wheels up and ready, so that depending on where I'm going today, i just use the quick release and lock and load the appropriate tire. But, maybe that's just silly and quite expensive (spokes, rims, hubs, etc.)

Well, I've never done this, so how is it done?

I'd go with option b. Wheelsets aren't cheap but a decent set of tires and tubes can be had for under $80. Replacement should only take about an hour, taking into consideration time for lunch and a break or two :)

A decent tutorial can be found on Park Tool's website (http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=100).

HTH!

Steve

Thanks, Steve!

Kinda thought that would be the answer. I'll stop by my Trek store today and see what they have available. I figure slicker tires might make my MTB a little more fun on the road -- until I get that road bike (or tour bike, or hybrid...) next spring.

You'll probably find a lot better deal on Nashbar...another thought is the specialized website. they have some armadillo tires and also some slicks less than an inch wide for MTB

Do the installation yourself whether you buy new wheels or not--it's inconceivable to me that you could ride anywhere without knowing how to remove a tire and patch the tube. Maybe that's because I live in Big Thorn country and often have three or four flats a week (about 150 miles on my road bike; I average about one every 40 miles). You mean you've ridden for however long, at least enough that you're thinking about doing more of it, and never had a flat? Do you carry a patch kit and pump?
To answer your question, though: If you can afford it comfortably, I'd say to get a spare set of wheels and mount the road tires on them. You can do it, assuming you just want rideable, sturdy wheels, not trick superlight racing hoops, for $150 or so, and if they're the same width as your other rims, you'll be able to swap from road to knobby tires in a minute or two (you'll also need a new cassette for the rear wheel, but if you tell your shop you want to be able to swap straight over without fooling with anything, they can set you up).
The alternative is to buy a set of road tires (and tubes, since the ones you have are probably too fat for the skinny tires) and swap them on the wheels whenever you need to. You can get perfectly acceptable tires for $15 to $20 each, tubes for $4 to $6 each. You won't have any brake or shifter issues, and once you get the hang of it, changing two tires shouldn't take more than 10 to 15 minutes. I can do a front in less than three minutes, and that's not particularly fast. Rears take a little longer because you have to deal with the chain and derailleur, but this is a skill you absolutely will need if you keep riding.

You are thinking of changing the bike, so I would go with the two tyre/ 3 tube option.

The ideal is to have two sets of wheels- one for the knobblies and one for the slicks, but as you mainly ride on the road, you will only need slicks. I am greedy by the way 3 sets on the MTB (Plus old wheels that can be used in an emergency) One for normal knobblies, one for slicks and one for MUD tyres- We need them in the winter over here. The Tandem is almost as bad with two sets of wheels. One normally with slicks for the occasional road ride and one set with the knobblies. When I do the long enduro's on the Tandem we have both sets of wheels set up with Knobblies as if we Damage a wheel, it is not something that we can borrow from other riders. Our Back up crew have problems fitting in the MPV with all the Tandem specific spares we have to carry and the food, and the water, and the spare clothes, oh and the food aswell.

On the actual slick tyres- there are two different types, The normal one for an MTB is 1.5 with just a bit of tread on them. They run at around 80lbs pressure and have some suspension in the tyre and "LOW" pressure. The other type are as thin as the roadie tyres, run at around 110 lbs PSI, and are rock hard. They also require that the wheels are in good condition as that extra pressure will put the rim under strain that can blow a rim when it is worn. And that happened to a friend of mine about 3 weeks ago. Not a normal problem, but worth getting the shop to check out.

Thanks, Steve!

Kinda thought that would be the answer. I'll stop by my Trek store today and see what they have available. I figure slicker tires might make my MTB a little more fun on the road -- until I get that road bike (or tour bike, or hybrid...) next spring.

You did your metric century on knobbies??!!??!!

Man, that is the equivalent of a full century on a roadie.

More power to you.

Okay, dumb question (seems like i should know this already)...

If i want to put some slicks on my MTB, how do I do that?
...snip...
Reason i ask is this: seems it would be easier to keep both sets of wheels up and ready, so that depending on where I'm going today, i just use the quick release and lock and load the appropriate tire. But, maybe that's just silly and quite expensive (spokes, rims, hubs, etc.)
Well, I've never done this, so how is it done?

Back some years I did the same thing. I opted for a 2nd wheelset with an appropriate gearing for road (and loaded). Glad I went that way.
This is my daily "Gas Pipe" miyata MTB commuter/shopper/tourer/do-everything bike and it with the slicks wheelset see a lot of action, way more than the MTB tires. Aside from the daily commute, I shop with the bike alot, and do a weekly hillclimb on it with the slicks (and loaded) rather my roadbike, cause climbing with it is a SOLID workout.

I just purchased the Nashbar slicks (26x1.25 width) as replacements, at $9 ea., and they are quite nice tires... Prolly get another set as backup.
Also believe I saw some okay MTB wheelsets on their site for under $100, just need the rear cogset and you;re done.
Can't believe I'd do it any other way...

You are thinking of changing the bike, so I would go with the two tyre/ 3 tube option.

On the actual slick tyres- there are two different types, The normal one for an MTB is 1.5 with just a bit of tread on them. They run at around 80lbs pressure and have some suspension in the tyre and "LOW" pressure. The other type are as thin as the roadie tyres, run at around 110 lbs PSI, and are rock hard. They also require that the wheels are in good condition as that extra pressure will put the rim under strain that can blow a rim when it is worn. And that happened to a friend of mine about 3 weeks ago. Not a normal problem, but worth getting the shop to check out.

my set are std width MTB rims with 1.25 tires - the older Avocet slicks (shows how old they were) have done almost 6K miles without wearing out the rubber (but the sidewalls were ripping from age). Both they and the new Nashbar slicks are rated to a max of 85 lbs. I run them at 70#s back and 65#s front and find them plenty 'hard' enough. I tried 85#s - way to hard on the butt-skie... My next purchase is a suspension seatpost for the 'gaspipe special', since all my roadbikes already have rockshox seatposts (except the softride...)
I won't ever ride ANYTHING without a suspension or sus-post anymore.

I tried 85#s - way to hard on the butt-skie... My next purchase is a suspension seatpost for the 'gaspipe special', since all my roadbikes already have rockshox seatposts (except the softride...)
I won't ever ride ANYTHING without a suspension or sus-post anymore.


Cane Creek Thudbuster. Whos Needs Full Suspension

Well, I stopped at the LBS and brought some some basic slicks. $50 got me two tires and three tubes. I made the switch tonight, and couldn't resist a teensie tiny ride (at 10:30 p.m. with no lights) out under the streetlight.

Whoa! I can already feel a difference. Looks like it's going to be fun.

Only problem is they look too skinny from my perch over the handlebars. They remind me of those spare tires for cars that don't fully inflate -- they get you to a service station.

I must be getting some mechanical aptitude (knock wood) because I swapped them out in half an hour while watching Law and Order. Believe me, for ME that's very fast. :)

Only problem is they look too skinny from my perch over the handlebars. They remind me of those spare tires for cars that don't fully inflate -- they get you to a service station.

I love the way my Stumpjumper looks when I have slicks on it, which is 90% of the time as it has become my commuting bike. When it was my only bike, I went ahead and bought another wheelset for it. I bought the wheels used, so it didn't put me out too much. I find them extremely convenient, especially since I once killed three tubes trying to put on my slicks. I definitely recommend getting an extra pair of wheels if you think you're going to be switching tires with any frequency. Don't worry about the spare tire look, that and their slickness is why they're faster than knobbies.

Do the installation yourself whether you buy new wheels or not--it's inconceivable to me that you could ride anywhere without knowing how to remove a tire and patch the tube.

Oh, I know how. I just don't enjoy the experience! lol

But I got them swapped out pretty easily. And since I'm mostly on the road, I won't be swapping back and forth very often until our rainy season starts...

Having a second set of wheels is a luxury (and a costly one). I switch between slicks and knobbies when the need arises. I'm with mr. thorn who responded earlier. You should be very proficient at tire removal and replacement because flats on the road are unavoidable. Swapping a set shouldn't take more than 15 minutes, tops. If it takes longer than that, more practice would be advisable. It's something you need to know how to do and do well. And quickly.

My favorite budget slicks are IRC Metro 26x1.5. $10 at Nashbar. They wear like iron and have a nice ride. I was without a road bike for quite a while and put slicks on my old Stumpjumper. The increase in efficiency is amazing.

I just got my road bike and the Stumpjumper will go back to knobbies and dirt. The tire change will be quick, because of lots of practice over the years.