Recreational & Family - Replacing MTB knobby tires with hybrid tires - need help

I'm a road bike guy, but am helping out a friend who wants to replace the MTB tires (26" x 47/54) on his Schwinn MTB. The MTB is used on paved multi-use paths, with the occasional ride on the road from the house to the MUP, a less than 1 mile distance.

I don't know anything about the MTB tire sizing system, but a few interweb searches explained that the 26" x 47/54 is equivalent to a 26" x 1.85".

The largest 26" tires sizes I've seen from Specialized and Bontrager's websites is 26 x 1.5, and I've seen 26 x 1.75 on Continental's website.

I think that either of those two sizes will work on the MTB , but I'd like to know if anyone has done this, any recommendations, and any problems encountered. Also, feel free to recommend any specific tires.

Thank you in advance for your replies. :thumb:

Did this years ago on my mountain bike. The first tires (slicks) finally wore out last summer and I replaced them with these Contis-
http://www.rei.com/product/709110
Love the tires, though I wish they came in a 1.5" width. They roll flat and smooth but do have a bit of tread on the sides for cornering in the dirt (although I'm not entirely sure how useful it is).

These are quite a bit faster than the Travelcontacts, they also come in a narrower 1,3 version but that is perhaps pushing it if you go off road occasionally.
http://www.rei.com/product/711641

thanks guys.

i found the answer here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=212497) on BikeForums.

Did this years ago on my mountain bike. The first tires (slicks) finally wore out last summer and I replaced them with these Contis-
http://www.rei.com/product/709110
Love the tires, though I wish they came in a 1.5" width. They roll flat and smooth but do have a bit of tread on the sides for cornering in the dirt (although I'm not entirely sure how useful it is).

thanks. i think those continental's may be just right.

I recommend Schwalbe Big Apples.

Big slicks can roll fast and the large tire size provides suspension on rough roads.

Perhaps not quite what you're after, but I use Schwalbe Land Cruisers and am happy with them. They are the type with side lugs and a smooth central tread, so pumped up fairly high, you roll on the smooth strip on the road. Running at a lower pressure or on a soft surface, the more aggressive tread on the sides comes into play. I had them since living on an old farm and they were great on the dirt paths to civilization, and I'm hoping they'll be useful in the dusting of snow we call winter. They have a kevlar layer so are supposedly puncture resistant. On the downside they are quite heavy and chunky, but I haven't found this to be much of a disadvantage for commuting.

I have the Kenda Qwest 100psi tires on my hardtail, and it's great around town. Plus, they make the bike feel much lighter compared to a 2.1 or 2.3 width mtb tire.

tk