General Cycling Discussion - I'm considering giving up before I even get started.

I suspect I've reached the point where my posts are annoying. I'm looking for 26x1.95 tires, and I've read a few suggestions (though I can't remember where), but the suggested tires are either too expensive for me or don't come in 26x1.95. With my apologies, I think I'll stop posting. Getting back into bicycling was a good idea, but...oh, well. :(

Try these (http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Kross-Plus-Front-Slick/dp/B000ALEJF6):

Cheap and durable. I've never had a flat on them. FYI, they are more suited for road than off road. Not sure if you were looking for knobbies or not.

DON'T GIVE UP!!

I suspect I've reached the point where my posts are annoying. I'm looking for 26x1.95 tires, and I've read a few suggestions (though I can't remember where), but the suggested tires are either too xpensive for me or don't come in 26x1.95. With my apologies, I think I'll stop posting. Getting back into bicycling was a good idea, but...oh, well. :(

There are lots of 26" tires out there. It's been a standard size for, literally, decades. Dick's Sporting Goods has a Bell 26" x 1.95 slick for $9. How much cheaper do you need to go? There are more expensive tires out there and they do have a benefit over the ultra cheap ones in that they give a better ride and are lighter but if these will do, $9 is damned cheap.

I'm thinking $20 per tire is my budget.

These look interesting, but I can't find any reviews on the tires:

http://www.amazon.com/Maxxis-Knobby-Tire-1-95-Wire/dp/B000C1275I/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2/002-6231102-7992069?ie=UTF8&qid=1179769591&sr=1-17

There are lots of 26" tires out there. It's been a standard size for, literally, decades. Dick's Sporting Goods has a Bell 26" x 1.95 slick for $9. How much cheaper do you need to go? There are more expensive tires out there and they do have a benefit over the ultra cheap ones in that they give a better ride and are lighter but if these will do, $9 is damned cheap.

Yes, there are lots of 26'es, but, it seems, precious few 26x1.95's.

I'm thinking $20 per tire is my budget.

These look interesting, but I can't find any reviews on the tires:

http://www.amazon.com/Maxxis-Knobby-Tire-1-95-Wire/dp/B000C1275I/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2/002-6231102-7992069?ie=UTF8&qid=1179769591&sr=1-17


See my post, there are reviews in my link.

And my review is 3000k miles on Texas roads with lots of glass and rocks and nary a flat.

Plus, they're cheap....


<tap><tap>Is this thing on? :)

Why is 1.95 such an important number? Your rims can take a range of tire widths.

There are lots of 26" tires out there. It's been a standard size for, literally, decades. Dick's Sporting Goods has a Bell 26" x 1.95 slick for $9. How much cheaper do you need to go? There are more expensive tires out there and they do have a benefit over the ultra cheap ones in that they give a better ride and are lighter but if these will do, $9 is damned cheap.

I found Kenda 1.95" slick mtb tires at dicks for 9.99. They seem to have the bell tires on sale at there web site for 8.99. not to sure how wide they are? But my Kenda slicks are 1.95" wide.

Link
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=712947&cp=2367824.2712461.2712468

See my post, there are reviews in my link.

And my review is 3000k miles on Texas roads with lots of glass and rocks and nary a flat.

Plus, they're cheap....


<tap><tap>Is this thing on? :)

3000k? 3 *million* miles??? DAMN, you like to ride!!!

3000k? 3 *million* miles??? DAMN, you like to ride!!!


Oops. 3k. :o :D

Why is 1.95 such an important number? Your rims can take a range of tire widths.


Stock tires & specs on the bike say 26x1.95. That tells me, that's as big as the tire should be.

Stock tires & specs on the bike say 26x1.95. That tells me, that's as big as the tire should be.

Umm... unless you have some very weird type of bike, that's just wrong.

Stock tires mean those were the size that the manufacturer shipped the bike with, which has no relation to the _maximum_ size the bike can take.

I haven't read your other posts, but you are sounding kind of passive aggressive and hysterical.Maybe i'm missing something and you have some very special needs which you did not mention in this thread, but threatening to give up riding because some online forum members didn't hold your hand in finding a very, very common item is a bit silly.

26"x1.95 mountain bike tires are a standard size, albeit at the skinny end of the spectrum for off-road tires. You can get them almost anywhere if you bother to look. Online, in stores, etc.

If $10 per tire really is your budget, you aren't going to exactly be able to pick the cream of the crop, but this one, for example, should do fine. There's even a 10% off coupon if you check the front page. link (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=121&subcategory=1250&brand=&sku=2461&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%2026x1%2E8%20to%2026x2%2E1)

Unlike a car, bike tires don't always need to be that exact. The manufacturer probably spec'd what was the most economically feasible that week.

Umm... unless you have some very weird type of bike, that's just wrong.

Stock tires mean those were the size that the manufacturer shipped the bike with, which has no relation to the _maximum_ size the bike can take.

I haven't read your other posts, but you are sounding kind of passive aggressive and hysterical.Maybe i'm missing something and you have some very special needs which you did not mention in this thread, but threatening to give up riding because some online forum members didn't hold your hand in finding a very, very common item is a bit silly.

26"x1.95 mountain bike tires are a standard size, albeit at the skinny end of the spectrum for off-road tires. You can get them almost anywhere if you bother to look. Online, in stores, etc.

If $10 per tire really is your budget, you aren't going to exactly be able to pick the cream of the crop, but this one, for example, should do fine. There's even a 10% off coupon if you check the front page. link (http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?category=121&subcategory=1250&brand=&sku=2461&storetype=&estoreid=&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%2026x1%2E8%20to%2026x2%2E1)

No passive-aggressiveness intended.

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Bicycles-All-90236-Raleigh_SC30__2000

Tires 26 x 1.95"

Unlike a car, bike tires don't always need to be that exact. The manufacturer probably spec'd what was the most economically feasible that week.

So, a 26x2.15, as an example, would be do-able on a Raleigh SC30?

No passive-aggressiveness intended.

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Bicycles-All-90236-Raleigh_SC30__2000

Tires 26 x 1.95"
Now I see where you're coming from...
According to the listed link review, the front tire is $270.00!!!
The listed weight is 22.2"!
The year is 41.5"
And the top tube length is 26 X 1.95 Kenda 847!

To answer your original question, YES!
Any 26" x X.X" will fit your rim. 26 x 1.5, 26 x 1.75, 26 x 1.95, 26 x 2.1. Beyond that, it could also take bigger, but you'll have to check frame clearance.

Hope you find what you're looking for! :)

Yes. The 26 is the important part, the 2nd number is the width, and pretty much any bike can deal with a little less or more, as far as width goes. They will all fit on your rim - 1.75 to 2.25 should not be a problem.

Now, weenie up and ride!!

I suspect I've reached the point where my posts are annoying. I'm looking for 26x1.95 tires, and I've read a few suggestions (though I can't remember where), but the suggested tires are either too expensive for me or don't come in 26x1.95. With my apologies, I think I'll stop posting. Getting back into bicycling was a good idea, but...oh, well. :(
Nooo!! don't consider giving up nefore you even start!!
Feast your peepers on these....

http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/10980-320_IRCMX9_SET-3-Parts-73-Tires/Mountain/IRC-Mythos-XC-Slick-Tire---Buy-2-%26-Save!.htm
Not bad tires, pretty fast on pavement, fireroads & the likes. Flats & sort of fast wear can become a prob lem though.

So, a 26x2.15, as an example, would be do-able on a Raleigh SC30?
I wouldn't go that big of tire now. If you are only riding mild terrain trails & pavement 1.9 is more than enough.

Now I see where you're coming from...
According to the listed link review, the front tire is $270.00!!!
The listed weight is 22.2"!
The year is 41.5"
And the top tube length is 26 X 1.95 Kenda 847!

Hope you find what you're looking for! :)
lol

I couldn't say for absolute certain that a 2.1 would fit, but generally the manufacturer's leave room for it.

That said, you don't need bigger than 1.95. I see the Raleigh SC30 is a comfort bike, so you're not going to be needing the traction of full knobbies. In fact, there are tires as narrow as 1.25 that should fit your rims, which would give you a little extra speed at the cost of a slightly bumpier ride.

I personally have this set of 26x1.5 slicks (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=2311&subcategory_ID=5425) on my hardtail, which came with a 2.1 tire. I swap them with the originals depending on the season for road or mountain riding.

I found Kenda 1.95" slick mtb tires at dicks for 9.99. They seem to have the bell tires on sale at there web site for 8.99. not to sure how wide they are? But my Kenda slicks are 1.95" wide.

Link
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=712947&cp=2367824.2712461.2712468
I just took a pair of Kenda 26x1.95 tires off with a tread pattern that is almost identical to the Maxis, and they worked fine. They took more effort than the slicks I replaced them with, and I never had a flat or the worries that my friends had with the less sturdy tires they have on their bicycles. Try'em and see what you think.

Go get yourself a set of Conti Traffic's. Eor what you want to do you'll love 'em! They're about $25 a pop, but price be damned, get good tires!

I'm thinking $20 per tire is my budget.

These look interesting, but I can't find any reviews on the tires:

http://www.amazon.com/Maxxis-Knobby-Tire-1-95-Wire/dp/B000C1275I/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_2/002-6231102-7992069?ie=UTF8&qid=1179769591&sr=1-17

I have those. Well I have the Kenda Connect, and the Bontrager Connection Trail, all 3 are the same pretty much. Knobbies with a center line going out in a V. it's called the "chevron" tread. If you look at the Chevron gas station logo you can see the same pattern. They are Nice on the road and grip well on trails. I used to have hardcore knobbies but they sucked bad on the road, then i got street slicks. Fast as heck but sucked bad on trails. So I got one's like what you posted. It's been 600 miles and they've been great. You could look at Kenda Kross's if you want them to be a little more roady, with the kenda kross's they are likely to be better on the road but might slip more on the trails, you can deflate them a little to get better use of the side knobbies. For me, i went with the ones with a little more knobbies, because a little less road efficiency i can tolerate, sliding down a muddy trail with no control is not my cup of tea.

I have those. Well I have the Kenda Connect, and the Bontrager Connection Trail, all 3 are the same pretty much. Knobbies with a center line going out in a V. it's called the "chevron" tread. If you look at the Chevron gas station logo you can see the same pattern. They are Nice on the road and grip well on trails. I used to have hardcore knobbies but they sucked bad on the road, then i got street slicks. Fast as heck but sucked bad on trails. So I got one's like what you posted. It's been 600 miles and they've been great. You could look at Kenda Kross's if you want them to be a little more roady, with the kenda kross's they are likely to be better on the road but might slip more on the trails, you can deflate them a little to get better use of the side knobbies. For me, i went with the ones with a little more knobbies, because a little less road efficiency i can tolerate, sliding down a muddy trail with no control is not my cup of tea.

Hi, mlh122. I was bored earlier today, so I thought I'd weed through my browser history & print out the tires I've been 'looking at'/considering online. I'll apologize in advance, as the list is a bit long. In alphabetical order, they are:

Bontrager Connection
Continental Traffic
IRC Mythos XC
Kenda K-Rad
Kenda Karma DTC XC
Kenda Karma UST
Kenda Komfort
Maxxis Holy Roller
Maxxis Ignitor
Maxxis Knobby
Maxxis M-Tread
Maxxis Maxx Daddy
Michelin All Mountain 60TPI
Michelin Country Trail
Michelin DH Mud 3
Michelin WildGripper Hot S
Panaracer Cinder
Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Performance Forte VersaTrac/K
Performance Topo XC
Specialized 03 Spanky Sport
Specialized 04 Crossroads Armadillo
Specialized Assfault
Specialized Crossroads EX
Tire Pyramid Pro K850
WTB All Terrainasaurus

Comments, suggestions, recommendations welcome & appreciated.

Thank you.

Hi, mlh122. I was bored earlier today, so I thought I'd weed through my browser history & print out the tires I've been 'looking at'/considering online. I'll apologize in advance, as the list is a bit long. In alphabetical order, they are:

Bontrager Connection
Continental Traffic
IRC Mythos XC
Kenda K-Rad
Kenda Karma DTC XC
Kenda Karma UST
Kenda Komfort
Maxxis Holy Roller
Maxxis Ignitor
Maxxis Knobby
Maxxis M-Tread
Maxxis Maxx Daddy
Michelin All Mountain 60TPI
Michelin Country Trail
Michelin DH Mud 3
Michelin WildGripper Hot S
Panaracer Cinder
Panaracer Fire XC Pro
Performance Forte VersaTrac/K
Performance Topo XC
Specialized 03 Spanky Sport
Specialized 04 Crossroads Armadillo
Specialized Assfault
Specialized Crossroads EX
Tire Pyramid Pro K850
WTB All Terrainasaurus

Comments, suggestions, recommendations welcome & appreciated.

Thank you.

Often it's hard for one area to recommend tires for another area. Condidtions can vary a lot from place to place. It's usually best to ask at a local shop and see what other people around your area use.

For relatively dry hardpack, I've found that the Panaracers Fires work pretty well.

........................

Comments, suggestions, recommendations welcome & appreciated.

Thank you.

I use the Kenda Kross Plus recommended by lecterman in post #2... of course, they were not on sale when I bought mine :D. I ride mostly on rough pavement and hardpack gravel roads. It's been a good tire for my purposes. I don't think it would be the first choice for off-road but might be ok for occasional, short cross country jaunts.

Often it's hard for one area to recommend tires for another area. Condidtions can vary a lot from place to place. It's usually best to ask at a local shop and see what other people around your area use.

For relatively dry hardpack, I've found that the Panaracers Fires work pretty well.

My LBS recommended Bontrager Connection Trail B's or Michelin Country Trail's, in 26x1.95. That, however was before I made the list above.

I use the Kenda Kross Plus recommended by lecterman in post #2... of course, they were not on sale when I bought mine :D. I ride mostly on rough pavement and hardpack gravel roads. It's been a good tire for my purposes. I don't think it would be the first choice for off-road but might be ok for occasional, short cross country jaunts.

That's what's on my bike now, in 26x1.95.

Semi Slicks are a great option if you aren't riding in mud and heavy sand often. Pick your favorite and ride. I think you are overthinking the tire issue here a bit. If you need a knobby tire, buy a knobby tire. If not, buy a semi slick and carry on. On the bike it's hard to notice vast differences unless you are again, riding very agressive terrain.

Semi Slicks are a great option if you aren't riding in mud and heavy sand often. Pick your favorite and ride. I think you are overthinking the tire issue here a bit. If you need a knobby tire, buy a knobby tire. If not, buy a semi slick and carry on. On the bike it's hard to notice vast differences unless you are again, riding very agressive terrain.

...or, I suspect, if you ride knobbies or other mountain bike tires on pavement (with or without potholes).

Segue: Now, if I only knew how to post a pic of my bike without having to shrink it to 3 inches x 2 inches, I'd do it.

I don't know where you're from but just about any Canadian Tire has 26x1.9 to 2 tires in stock all the time for cheap. That's one of the most common sizes out there.

If you're in the US, try Nashbar:

http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1250&category=121&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%2026x1%2E8%20to%2026x2%2E1

The very first tire on there is 26x1.95 and is $10.


It took me about 3 seconds to find that tire ... which makes me wonder .... are you looking for excuses to avoid cycling?

I don't know where you're from but just about any Canadian Tire has 26x1.9 to 2 tires in stock all the time for cheap. That's one of the most common sizes out there.

If you're in the US, try Nashbar:

http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?subcategory=1250&category=121&browse=&storetype=&estoreid=&brand=&searchbox=&start=1&orderby=price1&pagename=Shop%20by%20Subcat%3A%2026x1%2E8%20to%2026x2%2E1

The very first tire on there is 26x1.95 and is $10.


It took me about 3 seconds to find that tire ... which makes me wonder .... are you looking for excuses to avoid cycling?
Nope. I just don't think the Kenda Kross Plus is an off-road tire. Being away from a bycycle for 25 years, I want to be sure I have the right tire, that's all.

Nope. I just don't think the Kenda Kross Plus is an off-road tire. Being away from a bycycle for 25 years, I want to be sure I have the right tire, that's all.

Let's see ... "The unique checkerboard tread pattern provides good traction and control on both the street and on dirt." Sounds like a good all-around tire to me.

What about the Nashbar one right below it ... a multi-purpose tire.

A tire is a tire is a tire. I go through 6 or more of them a year. Buy a couple of two or three different brands and try them out. You probably won't even notice the difference between something like that Kenda or the Nashbar one and something 5 times the price.

Let's see ... "The unique checkerboard tread pattern provides good traction and control on both the street and on dirt." Sounds like a good all-around tire to me.

What about the Nashbar one right below it ... a multi-purpose tire.

A tire is a tire is a tire. I go through 6 or more of them a year. Buy a couple of two or three different brands and try them out. You probably won't even notice the difference between something like that Kenda or the Nashbar one and something 5 times the price.

I'm sorry, but I don't see where you're reading "The unique checkerboard tread pattern provides good traction and control on both the street and on dirt" about the Kenda Kross Plus.

As for 'a tire is a tire is a tire,' if that was true, all tires would be made of the same materials, usable under all the same conditions, and cost exactly the same. I think we can agree that this is not true.

I'm sorry, but I don't see where you're reading "The unique checkerboard tread pattern provides good traction and control on both the street and on dirt" about the Kenda Kross Plus.

As for 'a tire is a tire is a tire,' if that was true, all tires would be made of the same materials, usable under all the same conditions, and cost exactly the same. I think we can agree that this is not true.

The description is for the first tire that comes up when you click the link I posted: Kenda K-Rad ATB Tire.

And honestly ... I highly doubt you would notice the difference between one tire and another (unless of course one was slick and the other was knobby). Just get a tire, any tire, and go ride! You're new at this ... for the type of riding you'll do, it really doesn't matter much what kind of tire you get. If you were going to race or get into really technical trails, you might want to upgrade, but for now, any basic all-around tire will do.

I ride 10,000 kms + each year and I use relatively inexpensive tires. I've never seen the point of forking out mega-bucks for something that will wear out. In fact, many of the more expensive tires wear out faster than the less expensive ones.

+1

You can sit and analyze the crap out of this for the rest of your life, or you can buy a farkin set of tires and go riding.

The choice is yours. :)

+1

You can sit and analyze the crap out of this for the rest of your life, or you can buy a farkin set of tires and go riding.

The choice is yours. :)

Point taken.

Also, if this will help clarify things: 'Now, if I could just get the damned tire monkey (Should I get new tires? If so, which ones?) off my back, I might actually start getting somewhere. To that end: I live in the northeast/snow belt, with the added fun of potholes. I'd like to use the bike in the winter (gas prices are going up again), and there's a local bike trail. Current tires are Kenda Kross Plus K-847 (a cross-country tire?), 26x1.95.

Continued thanks for any assistance.

That's from my 'Wast to get back on a bike after 25 or so years' thread.

OK, so you're just getting back into riding, you have what seem to be nice tires on the bike already, and you think you can't actually ride until you replace them with "the perfect tire"?

Get on the bike and ride!!!! It's spring - you don't have to worry about snow, potholes stink no matter what tire you have, and you're not going to be riding so hard you'll notice the difference between knobbies and slicks anyway. FWIW, my semi-slick 1.95" commuter tires do just fine on dirt trails and mud. I ride my roadie commuter with 1.25" tires on a wide dirt path, and that's OK too.

Change the tires later, after you have a feel for what you want to do, and where you're mainly going to be riding. Serious snow riding is going to require special tires anyhow, so you might as well ride out on what you have now.

I'm exhausted just reading your screed here - stop overthinking this and go ride! :rolleyes:

Get the @#$@#$ tires and get back to riding :D

There's a term for this, it's called: "Yes, but..."

OK, so you're just getting back into riding, you have what seem to be nice tires on the bike already, and you think you can't actually ride until you replace them with "the perfect tire"?

Get on the bike and ride!!!! It's spring - you don't have to worry about snow, potholes stink no matter what tire you have, and you're not going to be riding so hard you'll notice the difference between knobbies and slicks anyway. FWIW, my semi-slick 1.95" commuter tires do just fine on dirt trails and mud. I ride my roadie commuter with 1.25" tires on a wide dirt path, and that's OK too.

Change the tires later, after you have a feel for what you want to do, and where you're mainly going to be riding. Serious snow riding is going to require special tires anyhow, so you might as well ride out on what you have now.

I'm exhausted just reading your screed here - stop overthinking this and go ride! :rolleyes:

Yes, but... ;) ...over-thinking comes as naturally to me as breathing does to most others.

I can sort of appreciate your tire fetish. I've had all sorts of fetishes of the years. Tire and rear derailleur fetishes were two of my worst. Than after buying all sorts of rear derailleurs from the top of the line to the bottom, and more tires than Emelda Marcos has shoes, I learned that there is....(pay attention now) ------->>>>>>>>>>>>> VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANY OF THEM. In other words while you are fiding, you will never be able to tell if you have an XT or an Alivio derailler, unless you look. And you won't ever be riding on one semi slick versus the other, and be thinking...."man this semi slick is so much better than my other ones." You are wasting energy fretting over it. :p

There's a term for this, it's called: "Yes, but..."

My kids start it with "No, but..."

That's a whole different animal!

My kids were always "But dad..."

Do you know how bad it sucks to be a butdad? :(

Yes, but... ;) ...over-thinking comes as naturally to me as breathing does to most others.



There are two basic types of people in this world...those who make excuses and those who make it happen. Who do you want to be?

Point taken.

Also, if this will help clarify things: 'Now, if I could just get the damned tire monkey (Should I get new tires? If so, which ones?) off my back, I might actually start getting somewhere. To that end: I live in the northeast/snow belt, with the added fun of potholes. I'd like to use the bike in the winter (gas prices are going up again), and there's a local bike trail. Current tires are Kenda Kross Plus K-847 (a cross-country tire?), 26x1.95.

Continued thanks for any assistance.

That's from my 'Wast to get back on a bike after 25 or so years' thread.

Get summer tires and winter tires. Ride the summer tires in the summer, then change them and ride the winter tires in the winter.

Right now, all you need to worry about are the summer tires. You've probably got a few months before it snows again to agonize over what you want to get for winter.

Really ... this isn't complicated. If you are so hesitant about buying some tires ... what were you like when it came to getting the bicycle??? Or what will you be like when you decide you want to change the saddle or pedals ... or when you decide you want to add a rack, or bar ends??

Go with whatever tires seem good to you. If you don't like them, you can buy others. It isn't as though you are deciding right now to purchase something that will have to last you for the rest of your life. Tires are relatively inexpense and they wear out. You'll eventually toss whichever ones you get and get something else. It doesn't really matter all that much.

Or maybe you'd really rather agonize over jogging shoes or something like that??

Get summer tires and winter tires. Ride the summer tires in the summer, then change them and ride the winter tires in the winter.

Right now, all you need to worry about are the summer tires. You've probably got a few months before it snows again to agonize over what you want to get for winter.

Really ... this isn't complicated. If you are so hesitant about buying some tires ... what were you like when it came to getting the bicycle??? Or what will you be like when you decide you want to change the saddle or pedals ... or when you decide you want to add a rack, or bar ends??

Go with whatever tires seem good to you. If you don't like them, you can buy others. It isn't as though you are deciding right now to purchase something that will have to last you for the rest of your life. Tires are relatively inexpense and they wear out. You'll eventually toss whichever ones you get and get something else. It doesn't really matter all that much.

Or maybe you'd really rather agonize over jogging shoes or something like that??

In that case, I've already got the summer tires on the bike: Kenda K-847 Kross Plus police tires, 26x1.95.

Good, now go ride! :)

Good, now go ride! :)

Yeah. And don't come back until you wear 'em out.