Mountain Biking - Quick tire question

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reiko
02-28-03, 07:38 AM
I would like to put slicks on my mountain bike and I am wondering if I have to put on the same size as my knobbies?
I know they have to be 26 but does the width have to match?

The Toninator
02-28-03, 07:40 AM
Nope they don’t have to be the same "width" in fact if they're narrower it's more efficient. I was running 2.1 knobbies and switched to 1.5 slicks for an Ms150 ride and gained about 2 mph without any extra effort.
The Toninator
02-28-03, 07:41 AM
You might have to change innertubes though

reiko
02-28-03, 07:45 AM
Thanks that's the answer I was looking for.
a2psyklnut
02-28-03, 09:13 AM
Heck, if you've got a pretty narrow rim, you can get tires in 26 x 1.0. Now, those are some skinny tires, and they're rated at 110 p.s.i. Those will make you nearly fly!

L8R
The Toninator
02-28-03, 10:12 AM
a2psyklnut very true. But if your going distance the little wider lower pressure ones have a slightly cushier ride.
a2psyklnut
02-28-03, 11:50 AM
Who needs cush, when you've got slicks on a full squishy? j/k

Life is full of compromises!

L8R
Jim311
02-28-03, 01:20 PM
Speaking of tires... I just got in my Michelin XLS tubeless tires! Man.. these things look nice and beefy. Should be good for the muddy rides I'll be doing this weekend. Now if only I could get them to mount properly :(

The one thing I hate about tubeless is getting them mounted and inflated.. takes some serious pressure to inflate them. Forget about your little wimpy hand pump you carry with you...