Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Tire question

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maximan1
08-17-08, 11:03 AM
I have a fixed gear that I will be riding to school on, and there is a shortcut and its a dirt road. I wanted to put tires like these http://biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=SCCXP&tn=0 on my fixie for a long long long long time, because they looked cool, but now I actually need them to save some time on my commute.

My question is, what are the best recommended tires that are knobby like that, but can still be used on road?

Thanks, Max.

haywireII
08-17-08, 05:11 PM
They're not as crazy as the ones you posted but Conti Contacts are pretty knobby and you can get up to 30 something, I believe.
maximan1
08-17-08, 08:57 PM
Thanks

mihlbach
08-18-08, 05:05 AM
Knobbies will slow you down on the road. You don't really need knobbies in the dirt either. A touring tire such as the Conti top contact is the ultimate compromise...enough tread for dirt, but still fairly fast on the road.

http://www.bicycletires.com/Images400x267/COCLJ-1.jpg
maximan1
08-22-08, 11:23 PM
Sorry about the bump, but what about these?

Continental Conti Top Touring
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa233/Rockymountaincyclery/1%20Line%20Items/conti_tires/2.jpg
mihlbach
08-23-08, 06:03 AM
Those are good tires, but, I think, no longer being made. The Top Contact I posted above replaced the Top Touring 2000 tire as the top touring tire in Conti's tire lineup. I commute on a pair and love them. Sounds like they will do the trick for you. You should also look into Schwalbe tires...I've never tried them but they make similar tires and have an excellent reputation.
krusty
08-23-08, 08:04 AM
I'm occasionally confronted with dirt roads. 2 of my bikes have Conti Sprinters on them. Tubulars, running 120psi. I just ride the dirt roads with them when I have to without any second thoughts. If the bulk of your riding will be on pavement, and only a short distance is on hard packed dirt, you should probably just select a good durable road tire. Your road riding will be far more pleasant.
bornagainst
08-23-08, 01:45 PM
Knobbies on the street are no fun. I run Vittoria Randonneurs on all kinds on terrain and love 'em.
onetwentyeight
08-23-08, 01:55 PM
Check out the vittoria randonneur cross

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/vittoria%20rand%20x%20zoom.jpg

get the widest one your bike will fit, and run the pressure on the lower side. basically, you want a wide tire thats mostly slick in the center and has lugs on the sides. Most tire manufacturers will have at least one option along those lines.