Mountain Biking - Mountain Biking and Commuting Tire

I currently have a mountain bike with Kendas (26 x 2.10). I am looking for a thinner tire and not as knobby however I would also like to continue riding my bike on dirt trails (nothing major, as in no jumping off 3 foot ledges, etc.) So I'll probably do 75% pavement and 25% dirt riding. So what is a good tire and what width should I get?

I have read some good things about this tire but I would appreciate some feedback on other tires for my dilemma here.
Kenda K838 Slick Wire Bead Bicycle Tire, Blackwall, 26-Inch x 1.95-Inch

http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Bicycle-...pr_product_top

I am also interested in this tire as well, however $50 seems like way to much for it.
Schwalbe Marathon Supreme HS 382 Touring Road Bike Tire (26x2.0, Triple Nano Triple Nano Folding, Reflex

http://www.amazon.com/Schwalbe-Marat...cmu_pg__header

Might take a look at WTB Nanoraptors. I have them on my 29er and I use it to commute. Fast center section rolls well on pavement.

maybe a CX tire http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/kenda-k847-kross-plus-26x195-tire

or something designed for road and dirt http://www.biketiresdirect.com/product/maxxis-holy-roller-26-tire

Other popular option is to pick up a 2nd set of wheels and switch when needed. then you can have as aggressive as you want for off-road.

190500 190501 Here they are on my current ride. Bontrager Connection Trails, There pretty decent off road, and still fast rollars on the road. Here is a couple short
video clips of them on my Trek.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJB1gMaB2aQ Road Ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WtN686oBGw

190499 Close up shot on curent ride, same tires. Richard

yeah, Nanoraptors (now just Nano) are good. Not very good cornering grip for front use though, so consider yourself warned.

Anything you try to make work in both roles is going to have big compromises, but I would at the very least go for some sort of knobby that has a reputation for being long-wearing, like the Nanos.

x2 on a cyclocross style tire, maybe something like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Kenda-Kross-Plus-Front-Slick/dp/B000ALEJF6/ref=sr_1_5?s=cycling&ie=UTF8&qid=1298175683&sr=1-5

+1 on the Kenda Kross. I put it on the front and a Michelin commuter slick on the back. O was a good dry season option. I never tried it on wet surface. But it was good for Dry trails and all road surfaces.

Thanks for all of the replies, I have some brands to choose from. Should I buy two of the same tires? Or get different ones for the back and front? Reason why I am asking is because my bike has the stock tires on and the front one has the tread pattern going like this <<<<<<<<<< while the back tire has this pattern I I I I I I I I I I I.

Sounds like you have a Smoke and Dart or maybe Velociraptors. They are directional specific. The tires you buy will have directional arrows on the sidewalls if they are direction specific.

The Kenda Kross and Michelin combo is two different tires and makers completely. But they work Together very well.

I'm thinking of getting the Kenda Kross Plus Front/Rear Slick XC Tire, 26 x 1.95"

Are those two different tires? (Kenda kross plus AND a Slick XC Tire) or are they both the same tire, just two of them?

Good choice?

Sounds like you have a Smoke and Dart or maybe Velociraptors. They are directional specific. The tires you buy will have directional arrows on the sidewalls if they are direction specific.

The Kenda Kross and Michelin combo is two different tires and makers completely. But they work Together very well.

The kenda Kross is a 1.95" tire and the Michelin one is a 1.75", is that ok to mix and match different width tires together?

The Kenda Kross Plus Front/Rear Slick XC Tire, 26 x 1.95" is a single hybrid tire.