Folding Bikes - 20" tires - dual duty - suggestions

I'm riding DT FS IX, and looking to set it up for some light trail duties. One of our camping trips scheduled this year will have a 50KM stretch of fire road covered with fine gravel, the current Kenda K west is not good enough.

I hope to get a replacement tire that will have good rolling resistance on pavement, but can handle some trail use.

So far here what I've looked at:

PRIMO v-track II: for off road (in case there is no dual duty that is satisfactory)

Conti Contacts
Kenda Kontact
Primo V-monster
Schwalbe Marathon Plus
--- all four have block pattern threads, but not sure how well they will hold on soil.

looking for any suggestions/comments... experiences would be even better. :)

I know its better to have two rimsets, but I don't want to have to shell out some more $$$ for an extra set of rims and cassettes, at least not right now.

Unless mud or soft sand is involved, I think the only consideration for a tire to be used on gravel is width. I'd go with something that has a relatively smooth tread, and is about 1.5" wide. I'm happy with my IRC Metros (406 x 1.25") for the gravel riding I do, but must of that is on stretches of less than a mile. Actually, if it were me, I'd probably try the 2.0" Big Apples, just because I'm curious about all the praise they get. The important thing in terms of pavement performance it to stay away from anything knobby.

Jack

You might want to consider Schwalbe Big Apples or Maxxis Hookworms.

I use the 20" Hookworms on a recumbent tandem and have the 16" Big Apples on my DT Mini. Both are 2" wide. I think the wider tires make for a much safer ride on dirt and gravel. Both tires have tread that is relatively smooth and goes up the sidewalls of the tires making them making them very good for non-paved roads.

Big Apples. Deflate them to less than 40psi for the gravel rd. Unless you intend to do serious cornering, you needn't worry about knobblies.

MAxxis ringworms have large 'block' tread that hooks up well on dry off road surfaces when a little deflated, and a wrap around tread which grabs when it gets a bit 'sinky' but can be pumped up to 110 PSI as well, if you like that sort of thing. I've also been recommended Odyssey Dirt Path, MAxxis Holy Roller and Snafu Rim Job as good 'hybrid' tyres. The V-monsters look pretty good- i do a lot of 'freeroad' type riding i.e. combined road and trail rides, and i stick with knobblies, they may be a little slower but the extra grip and cushioning on the gnarly bits makes up for it...

My vote goes for the Primo Vee's, I had them for quite a while on my BMX and ran them on the dirt and road with no troubles.

I would also take a look around danscomp for some tyres, take a look at the odyssey tyres, they're also some of the best.
http://www.danscomp.com/products.php?cat=PARTS&show=TIRESBMX

I went through some soft sand yesterday and I have Schwalbe Big Apples on my bike and they didn't want to grip they just started sinking when I powered on , but I am running 60psi in them .

I'm riding DT FS IX, and looking to set it up for some light trail duties. One of our camping trips scheduled this year will have a 50KM stretch of fire road covered with fine gravel, the current Kenda K west is not good enough.

I hope to get a replacement tire that will have good rolling resistance on pavement, but can handle some trail use.

So far here what I've looked at:

PRIMO v-track II: for off road (in case there is no dual duty that is satisfactory)

Conti Contacts
Kenda Kontact
Primo V-monster
Schwalbe Marathon Plus
--- all four have block pattern threads, but not sure how well they will hold on soil.

looking for any suggestions/comments... experiences would be even better. :)


I went with the Schwalbe Marathon Plus 20x1.75 tires for my DT FS which sees a ton of light trail riding.. The puncture resistance to thorns and such, in and of itself, is worth the price... They also roll well on pavement.

thanks for the comments/responses...

I've heard a lot of good things about the big apples, but 2.0 is a bit too big...

I like the threads on the v-monster, and the psi rating or the marathons...

BRUCE: the marathons rolling resistance on pavement, better or worst than the Kenda Kwest??

thanks for the comments/responses...

I've heard a lot of good things about the big apples, but 2.0 is a bit too big...

I like the threads on the v-monster, and the psi rating or the marathons...

BRUCE: the marathons rolling resistance on pavement, better or worst than the Kenda Kwest??

I didn't spend much time with the low pressure Kendas as I tired of fixing flats quickly... the Marathon Plus tires do seem to roll well for me, but there is some more info on the Schwalbe Site (http://schwalbetires.com/marathon_plus_page)

Bruce