Commuting - Bike Tire Question

I am currently using my Mt bike as a commuter because the roads here suck and because I just prefer a mt bike to a road bike. I have an old road bike I am fixing up to ride but it has a long way to go. So my question is, I would like to get some less agressive tires than what I have to decrease my rolling resistance. I am looking for some suggestions.

Here is what I currently have.

Bontrager Jones XR
Front: 26x2.25 {52/52** on HB 575 Rim
Rear: 26x2.20 {52/50** on HB 575 Rim

Thanks

Nykon

I am currently using my Mt bike as a commuter because the roads here suck and because I just prefer a mt bike to a road bike. I have an old road bike I am fixing up to ride but it has a long way to go. So my question is, I would like to get some less agressive tires than what I have to decrease my rolling resistance. I am looking for some suggestions.

Here is what I currently have.

Bontrager Jones XR
Front: 26x2.25 {52/52** on HB 575 Rim
Rear: 26x2.20 {52/50** on HB 575 Rim

Thanks

NykonDo you want an all-out road-commuting tire, or does it still need to be able to go off-road too? How heavy are you, and how much extra weight do you carry when you're commuting?

I currently am 240 (blech, can't wait to lose it) and don't carry a whole lot of weight. Just my food for the day, cel phone, clothes, and water bottle.

I would like them to be able to do some trail riding, no serious mt biking or anything. If need be, I can always swap my tires back before I go to do some serious mt biking, but mostly it will be used for road use or gravel trail kinda stuff.

Try Conti Town & Countrys or Serfas Drifters or another inverted tread type tire.

If it were just road use, then I'd think a light 26 x 1.5" like this Panaracer Pasela: http://aebike.com/page.cfm?PageID=30&action=details&sku=TR2262 I think the lower air drag of a narrow tire, plus the lower weight of a light tire & light inner tubes, would be even more beneficial than just the lower rolling resistance by itself. If you could tolerate swapping tires as necessary, you might consider some of those, along with lightweight smaller inner tubes.

If you do put on significantly-smaller tires, watch out when pedalling through corners. The small tires put your bike closer to the ground, and you'll drag a pedal at shallower bank angles.

I'm still looking for anything a little trail-worthy in a ~1.5" lightweight tire. If WTB still made the All-Terrainasaurus in anything narrower than a 1.95", that would be one to consider. I use the 1.95" on my mountain-commuting bike and it's not what you'd call "fast" :(

Yeah, another option might be getting some new wheels and discs and swapping them instead of just tires. A lot quicker but also a lot more expensive... I will look into those options.

Since you are a big guy on rough roads, consider a fatter slick tyre.
The 1.5" is a good, fast, tyre that is pretty std for commuters, but check out the Schwalbe Big Apple.

I've got some Schwalb Marathons 26x1.5 on my Cannondale F900 MTB that is my current commuter. Indestructable. They have about 1 year of 30km round trip on them, and no flats. The back tire is getting a little thinner than the front though.

Try Conti Town & Countrys or Serfas Drifters or another inverted tread type tire.

I rode the conti Town and country 2.5's on my MTB 2 seasons ago over trails and phila streets. They give a nice ride on both condititions. Never had a flat...........just a bit on the heavy side.

Try Conti Town & Countrys or Serfas Drifters or another inverted tread type tire.
do tires with inverted tread have noticably more rolling resistance than slicks?

I've got some Schwalb Marathons 26x1.5 on my Cannondale F900 MTB that is my current commuter. Indestructable. They have about 1 year of 30km round trip on them, and no flats. The back tire is getting a little thinner than the front though.

Yes me too on my "road/commuter" MTB, great tires.

Yeah, another option might be getting some new wheels and discs and swapping them instead of just tires. A lot quicker but also a lot more expensive... I will look into those options.
I too recommend a slick/smooth/no-tread tire. I would not get a slick center/outside knobby x-over type tread as you loose/change the grip you need when cornering.
I swapped tires on my cyclocross bike nearly every weekend for about a year. You only need to swap the tires on Friday night (or Sat. AM) and swap them back Sunday night (and if you get lazy you can ride to work on the knobbies Monday and swap that night)

It really is not a big deal, you get very quick at it and its gives good opportunity to check on condition of your wheels and tires. I'd try it for a while before you get a different wheelset.

Al

Well using your advice and the advice from the guy at Bike Gallery I went with the Continental Town and Countries. I am going to put them on this afternoon after lunch and go for a significant ride and see how I like them.

Thanks for all the help.