Road tires on a MTB [Archive]

neilfein

07-24-07, 05:58 AM

Since I do most of my riding on packed dirt and pavement, I'm thinking about swapping out my knobby tires for either road tires or hybrid tires. This is what I currently have on the bike:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/504603203_398d21c82e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/504603203/)

I'm thinking of something along these lines:

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/44-1656-NCL-TREAD.jpg

It's a fairly heavy bike, will I see any improvement in speed? Or is the weight of the bike gonna keep holding me back? Do I need to replace the tubes as well?

Thanks!

vtjim

07-24-07, 06:23 AM

Sometimes I ride with Michelin Transworld City tires. I see 2 or 3 extra MPH out of them. Less drag, after all. The downside is, of course, you're stuck on pavement or near-pavement until you swap back to the MTB tires. :)

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/50-2003-026-TREAD.jpg

Terrierman

07-24-07, 06:36 AM

Putting on slicks will make a huge difference in how your bike performs. It's the first thing worth changing to get more speed for the same effort IMHO.

Shubox

07-24-07, 06:50 AM

I just put Specialized Armadillo Crossroads on my bike almost road tires because it rides on the middle part and you still have traction on the sides for sand and dirt. I got a 1-2 MPH gain over the knobbies

http://www.specialized.com/media/equip/06TireCrossroads_d.jpg

adrien

07-24-07, 06:56 AM

have a look at continental town and countries

Skutrbum

07-24-07, 07:24 AM

I put on some Conti's similiar to this tread pattern in a 1.75. Saw a gain of a few mph and much easier to ride on the tarmac and hardpack. Just don't head down any single-track with tires like this. I learned the hard way :eek:

http://tiger955.smugmug.com/photos/176521890-M.jpg

Pinyon

07-24-07, 08:04 AM

Since I do most of my riding on packed dirt and pavement, I'm thinking about swapping out my knobby tires for either road tires or hybrid tires. This is what I currently have on the bike:

It's a fairly heavy bike, will I see any improvement in speed? Or is the weight of the bike gonna keep holding me back? Do I need to replace the tubes as well?

It depends on what you want the bike to do. I have an old mountain bike with a stiff front-end that I use almost exclusively like a commuter bike, and putting 1.5 inch, high pressure (60-80 psi), slicks makes it ride a lot faster. I can really tell the difference when I'm riding for more than an hour (use it as a road bike, when my road bike is in the shop). Over short distances...not so much. But, you can't ride it in the mud at all on slick tires. They just spin in the mud, and don't grip loose gravel or sand that well either.

I think that you would be able to get more speed on the road if you switched to some of the other tires shown above, and still be able to do some off-road cycling without difficulty. Personally, I have separate sets of slicks and knobbys, and only use the knobbys when I rarely do trail/mud riding (only 3-4 times per year these days).

Have fun out there!

neilfein

07-24-07, 08:38 AM

Tom Stormcrowe

07-24-07, 08:53 AM

It's a hardtail MTB. I do occasionally ride on gravel trails, but I'm trying to work up to a, 18 mile commute on local roads. I did the commute home once, and it took me 1.5 hours of riding time. (Not counting stopping every few streets to check my cue sheet.)

I'd like to get my speed up to 15 mph, but I don't see that happening with this bike.

Obviously the long-term solution woul dbe to get a road bike, but I'd rather see that I actually do the commute at least once a week before throwing that much money at the problem.

What would happen if I put a hybrid tire on the back wheel (knobby on the sides) and swapped out the front tire between a knobby and a full slick as needed?

Look at Geax Evolutions, Neil, a good commuting tire that's a pretty good gravel/pavement/hardpack tire. They're also a Kevlar core tire. Their only drawback is that they are a bit heavy at 880 grams/tire. They roll easy on pavement though and can be aired down for offroading from their rated 65 PSI.
http://www.geax.com/vedit/18/immagini/Image/prod/gomme/evolution.gif

shog

07-24-07, 09:15 AM

Neil I would go for a slick or semi slick. I put a set similar to those you posted on my old mountain bike and use it for rails to trails (packed gravel and loose gravel) all the time and I have been really happy with them. I really don't think tread helps a lot on gravel,as I don't notice much change in traction or handling. I have even taken these on some local MTB trails and as long as I kept my speed reasonable I didn't see much difference.

Shog

astropuppy

07-24-07, 05:53 PM

Neil love your blog!

I got back on my MTB about 5 weeks ago at almost 300 pounds and 49 years old. recently, on open pavement I can crank it out - 85 reps - on the flat at about 14 mph running knobbies for about 5 miles. When I can do the same distance at 15+ mph I'll consider road tires. Until then I consider knobbies as a aid to muscle building. Yeah going slow sucks; But, having little legs sucks more. Are you spinning? before you ever even think about equipment you should be spinning the crank for at least a mile or two before stopping. Crank and glide is something you do to get home from a long ride. Spinning is how to ride a bike. Use your knobbies to build strength. The rest will come with miles.

Hope you don't mind, just my 2 cents.

fbagatelleblack

07-24-07, 06:13 PM

Slicks will make a huge, immense difference in your riding speed/effort. I always had a set of Specialized Fatboys (26X1.25") around for my ATB, back when I was riding it more. I probably spent the most time riding that bike with 26X2.0" Club Roost Cross Terras on it, though:

http://www.cambriabike.com/Images/product/club_roost_cross_terra_tire.jpg

They were very good balance between road tires (with a nice smooth center) and dirt tires (with big knobs on the side). They were a bit heavy, but I loved 'em none the less. The Fatboys were much faster, but I could do almost any trail riding on the Cross Terras, and they rolled a lot more easily than my full on dirt tires.

Bill Kapaun

07-24-07, 06:24 PM

I've been using the 1.5" Serfas Drifters and have no complaints. I haven't used any other tires other than a 1.95 Bell street tire that I had on the rear. Going to 1.5's on both wheels increased my "level" speed from 12 to 13 MPH with the same effort. (I'm not fast!) EDIT: (as compared to 1ea, 1.50 & 1.95)
Besides easier rolling, a lighter street tire accelerates much easier from a stop. Handy if you do a lot of slow/stop & go. It makes me feel safer, getting across intersections more quickly from a stop.
If nothing else, try ONE smaller tire. I'm sure you'll be looking for a 2nd pronto!
http://www.serfas.com/tires/tires_images/CTR_15_Drifter_1.jpg

v1k1ng1001

07-25-07, 12:49 AM

I've been using the avocet crosses for 15 years. You can pretty much do anything on them. Best commuter/hybrid tire ever.

http://www.bikepro.com/products/tires/tire_jpg/bb_a_cross_15_tread.jpg
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/oldertires/product_86184.jpg

http://harriscyclery.net/merchant/370/images/large/cross2.jpg

neilfein

07-25-07, 06:01 AM

Everyone, thanks for all the great tire recommendations! I'll probably bring a lot of these names to my not-so-local LBS. Money is very tight and my wife is dubious about spending money on new tires right now, so I'm going to have to continue to commute for a few weeks with the tires as they are to convince hwe this is needed.

Until then I consider knobbies as a aid to muscle building.

astropuppy, thanks, there's a lot of good advice in your post. But my commute is currently 1.5 hours of driving time, and I need to shave off as much of that as possible or I'm not gonna want to keep it up.

I love knobbies, and my long-term solution will be to get a road bike when I can save up the money for it. That way I can maintain the MTB with knobbies again. But for now, a quicker commute is a priority.

Neil I would go for a slick or semi slick. I put a set similar to those you posted on my old mountain bike and use it for rails to trails (packed gravel and loose gravel) all the time and I have been really happy with them.

I wouldn't have thought that, but I'll certainly try it.

The Historian

07-25-07, 06:07 AM

Since I do most of my riding on packed dirt and pavement, I'm thinking about swapping out my knobby tires for either road tires or hybrid tires. This is what I currently have on the bike:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/223/504603203_398d21c82e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/504603203/)

I'm thinking of something along these lines:

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/44-1656-NCL-TREAD.jpg

It's a fairly heavy bike, will I see any improvement in speed? Or is the weight of the bike gonna keep holding me back? Do I need to replace the tubes as well?

Thanks!

NO! Don't get faster! I can't keep up with you as it is!

astropuppy

07-25-07, 01:07 PM

But my commute is currently 1.5 hours of driving time

Sounds more like a vacation ride then a commute. Good luck with it.

neilfein

07-25-07, 01:35 PM

NO! Don't get faster! I can't keep up with you as it is!

With you shopping for a road bike you're complaining?

jorda

07-25-07, 03:06 PM

I second what adrian said above.

I am a clyde and I bought a set of the Continental Town & Country tires in 2.1" width.
I keep them pumped up to around 60 lbs. of pressure and I have gone over 1000 miles
without a flat tire!!

Before using the Town & Country's I tried the WTB SLickasaurus & Richey Tom Slick both
were 1.5" which I feel is just not wide enough for us big boys as I had multiple flat problems.

Yes, the speed increased a couple of mph with using these smoother street type tires.
I have been riding with the Town & Country's for nearly 6 months and they are awesome!
They still have alot of tread left and someday when worn out I will buy a new set of them.
They cost about $30 per tire.

see: http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/de/en/continental/bicycle/themes/tires/city/town_country/town_country_en.html

sykerocker

07-25-07, 03:20 PM

I put Bontrager Select Invert K gumwalls (26x2.125) on my Raleigh Seneca that I'm using as my lunchtime errand hopper at work. I've got a blackwall set on the Bianchi Nyala that I've got a home as a heavy duty tourer. Admittedly, I'm not heavy, but they work well, reliability in the city is good (no punctures), and I'm normally running 65lbs in them

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q10/sykerocker/RaleighSeneca2.jpg

The Historian

07-26-07, 04:42 AM

With you shopping for a road bike you're complaining?

The road bike will have the same engine as the Navigator.

Shubox

07-26-07, 06:59 AM

The road bike will have the same engine as the Navigator.

My wife kicks my butt with her Navigator 2.0 I should have gotten one of those over my 4500 :P

neilfein

07-31-07, 09:23 AM

Tom Stormcrowe

07-31-07, 09:46 AM

Will these fit on a standard MTB rim? I have a 1.95 tire now.

Yep, they sure will!:D

Bill Kapaun

07-31-07, 01:30 PM

And they'll LOOK like they belong there too!

Raiyn

07-31-07, 03:31 PM

And they'll LOOK like they belong there too!
Oh jeez not an OCP Clydesdale! :eek:

I find it funny that you think a set of 1.5" slicks don't look like they belong on an MTB.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6691/stealthreflectorconceptnv0.jpg (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4408101&postcount=1806)
The (NOS) Continental Avenues I have on my daily rig look fine to me. Now if I had a set of Sport Contacts on there, that would be perfect.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/tt/images/pagemaster/newSportContact.gif

However with the dirt angle tossed in I'd have to say go with the Serfas that was listed above

Bill Kapaun

07-31-07, 07:14 PM

My point WAS- that they don't look like some undersized aberration when mounted on a MB rim.
Of course, seeing who the comment is from-

Tom Stormcrowe

07-31-07, 11:00 PM

Raiyn, does it make me OCP if I just bought a TI-89 Titanium Graphing/Scientific calculator?:pOh jeez not an OCP Clydesdale! :eek:

I find it funny that you think a set of 1.5" slicks don't look like they belong on an MTB.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6691/stealthreflectorconceptnv0.jpg (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=4408101&postcount=1806)
The (NOS) Continental Avenues I have on my daily rig look fine to me. Now if I had a set of Sport Contacts on there, that would be perfect.
http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/tt/images/pagemaster/newSportContact.gif

However with the dirt angle tossed in I'd have to say go with the Serfas that was listed above

B Piddy

07-31-07, 11:09 PM

Tom, TI-89's are the shizzle. I wouldn't have made it through engineering school without one

Edit: happy August everyone

Raiyn

08-01-07, 03:40 AM

My point WAS- that they don't look like some undersized aberration when mounted on a MB rim.
Of course, seeing who the comment is from-

I'm sure there was more to that comment Bill. Care to continue? For the record, they don't look undersized at all and those are on Rhynolites.

Wogsterca

08-01-07, 07:40 AM

Raiyn, does it make me OCP if I just bought a TI-89 Titanium Graphing/Scientific calculator?:p

They still make Graphing/Scientific Calculators??? I thought that everyone would have switched to computers for that stuff by now.:rolleyes:

Tom Stormcrowe

08-01-07, 03:00 PM

They still make Graphing/Scientific Calculators??? I thought that everyone would have switched to computers for that stuff by now.:rolleyes:

Links with my computer via USB and can be carried in my pocket!:D

neilfein

08-03-07, 05:48 AM

I used a TI-83 at work until we all got moved to standard calculators. Amazing machine.

neilfein

08-03-07, 06:06 AM

I settled on the Continental Town & Country MTB Tire, gonna place the order this weekend. (Performance is having a double points thingy.) I'd prefer the Michelins, but Performance doesn't have them and I'm too weary of all this to shop around more. Better to save my energy for actually putting the tires on the bike... Will I need different tubes with these, or will the tubes in my 26x1.95 MTB tires fit? Gonna order an extra set of tubes in any case.

http://www.performancebike.com/product_images/250/00-3300-026-TREAD.jpg (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?sku=14384)

Gonna do a round of maintenance when the tires show up, to get ths bike in shape for the Lancaster metric (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=298962) and the Neils on Wheels hilly training ride (http://nowbtt.blogspot.com/) the weekend before. Lessee, if I have lots of time, I'd do most of these:

Degrease the whole bike, concentrating on the rear deraileur and the rear hub
Check for spoke tension and placement. Learn how to use the spoke tool in my multitool.
Throw on the new road tires. New tubes?
Adjust grips handlebars, yadda yadda.
See if I can stop the saddle from squeaking when I bounce. I think the springs that lay flat against the inside of the saddle surface may be rusty. I'm thinking, put a piece of a plastic bag in between the springs and the inside of the saddle and go to town with degreaser, a small wire brush, etc. If I oil these lightly while I'm at it, will it protect against this happening again? It's a cheap saddle but a very comfy one.
Relube the chain and drivetrain and take a ride in the shiny clean bike!

The Historian

08-03-07, 06:22 AM

Gonna do a round of maintenance when the tires show up, to get ths bike in shape for the Lancaster metric (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=298962) and the Neils on Wheels hilly training ride (http://nowbtt.blogspot.com/) the weekend before.

http://historian2wheels.blogspot.com/2007/05/climb-every-mountain.html

You have been warned. One of the hills on the route is jokingly called part of the "Tour de Himalayas."

Bill Kapaun

08-03-07, 03:09 PM

" Will I need different tubes with these, or will the tubes in my 26x1.95 MTB tires fit?"

What size are you getting? I'm assuming 1.5", but....
When I switched to "street" tires on my (used) MB, it had some humungous slime filled tubes in it, although they were 2.1" tires. There was no way I'd fit those into the 1.5" tire without creasing the tube. On another bike, the tube in its 1.95" tire would fit a 1.5 and still have adequate room to expand and prevent creases.
Maybe the shop you bought the bike from might have an idea?
Personally, if the tubes were 2 years old, I'd put new ones on, since I'm going through the effort to change tires anyway. $3-4 apiece doesn't seem like that much additional expense, considering you do some rather long rides.
I found some inexpensive ($3) tubes at the local "Sports & Fitness" type store that are marked 26"X1.75/2.0" and they fit my 1.5's fine. They had the same brand marked 1.75/2.25 that I didn't buy, but assumed were larger, for the same price.
I've noticed that some of the online stores seem to sell a "generic" 26" MTB tube. I think I would buy locally, just to make sure I got the smaller size I wanted.

Can you post a link to the tires?

mike

08-03-07, 07:25 PM

Tires can be beautiful, can't they.

I was looking at the photos on this thread and just thinking how cool all those different tread designs are.

I remember grandpa going to the auto store and talking tires with the guys there like it was a big deal. These days, most folks don't pay much attention to the tires on their cars, but if YOU are the engine, tires become infinately important. Now, I understand grandpa's appreciation of good tires.

neilfein

08-09-07, 01:35 PM

bdinger

08-09-07, 01:55 PM

The new tires seem pretty good, it'll take a little while to get used to them, I suppose. But I think I threw off the rear wheel when putting it back in. (The bike fishtails a little when branikg hard.)

Anyone know how to true the rear wheel without getting too technical or using a truing stand?

Tighten the brakes up until they are as close to the rim as possible without actually touching it - in the straight parts. Then move the rim and tighten spokes where the brakes catch the rim. Not that you have to remember the spoke "pulls" the rim, essentially. So if your rim is pulling to the right, you want to tighten the spokes on the left side. Tighten at least two spokes, and only tighten in quarter turn increments.

Also remember to never ever loosen a spoke. That's.. bad I'm told :).

I've used this method a couple times, and it works. Not the most elegant but.. it works :).

astropuppy

08-17-07, 09:21 PM

Put 1 1/4" Cheap-o performance slicks on my MTB tonight. Took a short ride and my o my; I actually can get my fat ***** down the road.... We'll see how I do in the morning on my routine 20 mile ride. $27 2 tires and 3 tubes delivered. $14 LBS Mr. Tuffy's.

Time to roll.

nismosr

08-17-07, 10:17 PM

When I did the 2007 NYC 5 Boro BIke Tour - I slap a Panaracer 26x1.5 slicks on my Specialized Enduro rides great.

Bizurke

08-19-07, 06:26 AM

I've used both bontrager road/mountain tires that have a traction with the middle part being slick. I rode those for a couple weeks and wasn't impressed at all. The day before RAGBRAI '06 I switched to Specialized Fat Boys (just a name) that are completly slick and 1.5". Since then I've switched between knobbies, the bontragers, and back to the fat boys. After lots of trial and error I'm sticking with the fat boys because I like the way they roll, the speed I get etc. The only problem I've experienced with slicks and mountain bikes is that the gearing is made to push knobby tires. You end up running out of heavy gears before you're used to when you use the slicks.

Stujoe

08-19-07, 07:00 AM

Are the Fatboys 1.5 or 1.25 inch? I used to have them many a year ago and I thought mine were 1.25's. They were certainly fast.

I have 1.5 inch tires on now. I don't know whether they look 'right' on an MTB but I do know I think the red sidewalls look funny. lol But they are smoother rolling and quieter than the knobbies.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/1160590616_daa3574018.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stujoe/1160590616/)