Folding Bikes - Best Tires for Chicago Streets

Hi Gang,
While I've been on these forums for several months now, I'm still a relative newbie when it comes to bikes. I recently started using my Giant Halfway to commute to work. I had bought it used with, of course, used tires. The tires will need replacement soon and I'm wondering which tires to get.

I'll freely admit that most of the miles I ride are on fairly easy suburban neighborhood streets. However, there is some riding over rough, pot-holed Chicago city streets too. Comfort is probably more important than speed.

Thanks for any advice and suggestions you folks can give me.
--sam

p.s. The current tires are Kenda Kwest 20 x 1.50

Hi Gang,
While I've been on these forums for several months now, I'm still a relative newbie when it comes to bikes. I recently started using my Giant Halfway to commute to work. I had bought it used with, of course, used tires. The tires will need replacement soon and I'm wondering which tires to get.

I'll freely admit that most of the miles I ride are on fairly easy suburban neighborhood streets. However, there is some riding over rough, pot-holed Chicago city streets too. Comfort is probably more important than speed.

Thanks for any advice and suggestions you folks can give me.
--sam

p.s. The current tires are Kenda Kwest 20 x 1.50

Is there a lot of space for wide tires? See if you can fit the Schwalbe Big Apples in there. I forget the range for the 20 x 2.0" tires, but if you keep the PSI low you will enjoy a comfortable and compliant ride without suffering much of a loss in performance.

If those are too wide, then try 1.75" tires ... there are several brands/models out there. I am thinking about trying the Avocet Fastgrips but my Marathon Racers have a teeny bit of life left in them and I just had knee surgery. So no need to rush out and buy a new set of tires.

These guys have a wide selection of tires ... http://www.calhouncycle.com/

Is there a lot of space for wide tires? See if you can fit the Schwalbe Big Apples in there. I forget the range for the 20 x 2.0" tires, but if you keep the PSI low you will enjoy a comfortable and compliant ride without suffering much of a loss in performance.

If those are too wide, then try 1.75" tires ... there are several brands/models out there. I am thinking about trying the Avocet Fastgrips but my Marathon Racers have a teeny bit of life left in them and I just had knee surgery. So no need to rush out and buy a new set of tires.

These guys have a wide selection of tires ... http://www.calhouncycle.com/

+1 what he said. I love the Big Apples. I have them on four of my bikes. Even a tandem.

I have the Kenda Kwest tires. Being from Chicago, my main concerns with potholes weren't the tires, it was the rims! Make sure you have sturdy rims for all those potholes you'll be encountering. I have some great touring rims I picked up that haven't failed me once, and I also use Mr. Tuffy inside my tire rims. I went over a huge pothole going pretty fast about a week ago, and I rode around with a totally split tire for about three days before I was able to get my new Kendra Kwest tire. Mr. Tuffy was practically poking through the hole (about a fourth of an inch in length) in the tire and did the job.

koffee

Thanks for the great info everyone. Sounds like the Big Apples will do the trick. (goes off to search for them).

--sam