Touring - Touring tire decisions.....

:confused:

I'm trying to decide between two/three tires.. I ride a mid eighties schwinn sierra comp MTB, 26 inch rims of course. I've done the reseach, I've read almost every single post on tires on this forum as well as on MTBreview. I've narowed it down to three... kind of. The conti top touring 2000, REI has it for $36.00 and I'm a member in their club so I think I get a small discount.
conti tire (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?productId=12206034&storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&langId=-1)

http://a1072.g.akamai.net/f/1072/2062/1d/gallery.rei.com/regularimages/685179.jpg

Then there is the either the Specialized nimbus armadillo OR the Specialized hemisphere armadillo.

specialized tires (http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqSection.jsp?san=03EquipTiresArmadillo&browselevel=tires)

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2003/equip/tirenimbusA_d.jpg NIMBUS

http://www.specialized.com/OA_MEDIA/2003/equip/tirehemisphA_d.jpgHEMISPHERE

What I'd really like is an exact replacement of the Tioga street slicks I've been using for the last 8 years or so. This tire has been discontinued and it did have one drawback, the sidewalls generally start looking worn within a year. I've put thousands of miles on them though and have NEVER had a single flat... that's with my 250 ish pound frame, often off roading, with the kids bike trailer behind me. The hemi's look super agressive... although many touring cyclist have said they love them. The nimbus look alot like the tiogas I ride.. but not much info can be found about them. I don't have access to a LBS. I need to get 4 of them, two for both my wife and I and it's money that we can barely afford right now so I'd like to make an informed purchase and be happy with what we get. From what I can tell you need to buy the specialized either online or from a LBS... We'll be using them for loaded touring and commuting.
Any help?
Doug

Those Hemisphere tires look a lot like the Schwalbe Marathon XR's, my choice for a tire. I chose them becuase of their reputation for being bulletproof all over the world. They have a kevlar belt under the tread and the new ones have the reflective ring around the sidewall to make you stand out more at night. They can be a bit pricey, but I'm of the opinion that tires aren't a good place to try and save money. (A bit like buying a saddle because it was the cheapest one. . . )

If you had such good luck with your last tire, I'd stick with the same manufacturer and go with his replacement if he isn't offering the original.

Take care and good luck.

I've been rideing top touring (28's** for two years without a flat, except when I ran over some razor slab of alumumn in the road. They have treated me well. I can't imagine them failing you.

Hi,
best choice depends on the roads,weather, and sort of riding you'll be doing. I admire those armadillo tires, but they're heavy. I have had really good luck with Ritchey Tom Slicks in the 26x1.4 size. Just got a pair for my 700c bike.
They are lighter than most 26 inch 'city tires'. But they are tough enough to be reliable.

As far as I know, the Hemispheres only come in 1.95" or wider. Good tyres, though, but I'd look at the Armadillo (for ultimate puncture protection and long wear), or at the Conti (for best ride and handling, but still having good puncture and wear values).

I use conti allways on tours nice ride and they go for many many miles . in the years Ive usesd them had only 1 flat,
Catfish

I've used the Conti Top Touring 2000's for the last couple of years, local rides and commuting, with no problems. They're hardly showing any signs of wear yeat at around 5000 km's. That's for the 700C's, though.

If you like slicks, you might consider Avocet Cross IIs (http://www.avocet.com/tirepages/cross_2_specs.html). It's a fast tread, and relatively high pressure for a larger cross-section tire. I'm currently using them on my commuter.

I rode a pair of Specialized Nimbus tires cross country a couple summers ago. No flats in 4100 miles.

Thanks for all the advice folks.
Here's what we did...
Nimbus armidallo's on the front of both of our two-wheeled-giddy-up's and the hemisphere armidallo's on the back. I am REALLY glad we did it this way as the hemishperes are actually kinda "tready"... not exactly a slick and the nimbus, which is more like the tioga city slickers, made the Mrs. kinda nervous... but the combination of the two, the wider hemi with "traction" on the back and the narrower nimbus on the front is perfect.
For those of you that might come across this thread in a search of tires note that these are 26" tires.
The tires were not hard to mount either.
Thanks again,
Doug

Doug, It's a little late now, but Cambria has the Tioga City Slicker on sale in their hot deals section for $12. Nashbar also has it and will price match if you like to deal with them.
I don't know if it would be close enough to what you were looking for though.

Rick

Originally posted by RHNiles
Doug, It's a little late now, but Cambria has the Tioga City Slicker on sale in their hot deals section for $12. Nashbar also has it and will price match if you like to deal with them.
I don't know if it would be close enough to what you were looking for though.

Rick

That's just my luck LOL
Oh well... I've ridden my trusty old city slickers for the last 8 or 9 years... it was time for a change... I went from a blond sidewall to a redhead LOL
I might pick up a set though... I DO like them!!!!
Doug

Trust me and get the Conti Top Touring Tyres I didn't get a single puncture in over 1000 miles even with an enormous bald spot on the rear one!