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Which tire to pick for smoother ride?

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Old 11-27-08, 09:02 AM
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Which tire to pick for smoother ride?

Happy thanksgiving to everyone, i am currently using the stock tires (26x1.5)on my comfort bike,it's not totally slick or knobby like those mountain bike tires, i want a smooth rolling ride bcz 99% of the time i will be on smooth surface,any name and type recommandation is welcome,
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Old 11-27-08, 09:16 AM
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I have a set of 26x1.5 WTB Slickasaurus tires on one of my bikes, and I like them. They are very smooth riding, and yet still have enough grip for some riding on dirt roads. And Nashbar has them for a great price. I think $8.99 last time I looked.
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Old 11-27-08, 09:18 AM
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If you get a lot of flats, Schwalbe Marathon Supremes.
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Old 11-27-08, 09:27 AM
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Smooth riding - long lasting - puncture resistance. Those are 3 separate things and, to a degree, you can maximize any one at the expense of the others.

For smooth riding you want a smooth tread and relatively thin, supple sidewalls.
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Old 11-27-08, 10:17 AM
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Out of these tires, I'd probably go with the Conti Gran Prix (on page two) or the Michelin XC.

UNLESS I was riding in the dark a lot, then I'd sacrifice a little slickness for safety and go with a Schwalbe Marathon or Vredestein Perfect Moire.

Schwalbe has a fancier tire not shown that is purported by many to be the bees knees. You'll see it if you look in the commuting section. Marathon Super, IIRC.
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Old 11-27-08, 01:31 PM
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What tires are on it now?
Chances are, you won't see much improvement by changing brands vs the expense, if you stick to the same size.
A "fatter" tire would be more "cushiony", at the expense of weight and probably more rolling resistance,

I find the 26x1.50" size a very good compromise for my 250 lbs.
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Old 11-27-08, 03:51 PM
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For a comfort bike, and if you are looking for 'smooth' rather than reduced rolling resistance, I'd give the Schwalbe Big Apple. Not cheap, but they are on sale at Wallbike.com. I've been extremely impressed with their tires (I run Marathon Supreme's and Snow Stud's on my commuter).
https://www.wallbike.com/tires.html
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Old 11-27-08, 08:35 PM
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I run 26x1.5" Primo Comet slicks on my Mesa. They ride super smooth.

To make yours smoother, get a tire with a bit more air volume and run it at a lower pressure. The thinner the sidewalls, the smoother the ride (for the most part).
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Old 11-28-08, 05:02 AM
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Usually, the higher the threads per inch (tpi) on a tire will indicate less rolling-resistance (smoother ride - faster), than a lower tpi. But this comes with a premium cost. Though not necessarily it being more delicate. The more threads - the harder to penetrate. Usually. So that's one thing to check out prior to purchase.
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Old 11-28-08, 12:05 PM
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Schwalbe Kojaks - a light weight slick (no tread) with a large cross section for smooth riding and easy rolling. Puncture protection, too. I love them.

https://www.schwalbetires.com/kojak
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Old 11-28-08, 03:31 PM
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Originally Posted by jdott
For a comfort bike, and if you are looking for 'smooth' rather than reduced rolling resistance, I'd give the Schwalbe Big Apple. Not cheap, but they are on sale at Wallbike.com. I've been extremely impressed with their tires (I run Marathon Supreme's and Snow Stud's on my commuter).
https://www.wallbike.com/tires.html
+1 There is a small penalty to pay for the size of Big Apple (26x2.0") but it is a lot less than you would expect, and they are very smooth rolling, with remarkable grip, and haven't had a puncture since putting them on in Spring.
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Old 11-28-08, 03:43 PM
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+1 on the Primo Comet slicks.
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Old 11-28-08, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Glynis27
I run 26x1.5" Primo Comet slicks on my Mesa. They ride super smooth.

To make yours smoother, get a tire with a bit more air volume and run it at a lower pressure. The thinner the sidewalls, the smoother the ride (for the most part).
+1

Smoothness, as in less rolling resistance. Do you have a floor pump with a pressure guage? You might acheive the results you desire by monitoring and maintaing certain pressure. This will be true on your new
tires or old ones. Tire pressure is a big factor in ride quality. I run a 26 x 1.5 at 85 psi more or less.
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Old 11-28-08, 06:59 PM
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for me to recommend a certain brand of tire and not the next would be pointless cuz there are alot of good tire makes out there. just remember if your frame/forks can accept it, i recommend going to a fatter tire, like a 26 x 1.95 up to a 2.125. what they will take in slight rolling resistance, they will make up for it in comfort. they are not the best for speed but will give a more cushioned feel as going to narrower will decrease rolling resistance but also decrease comfort.

on my commuter cruiser i run 26 x 1.75 michilin slick rocks. they are a few years old, have enough of a cushioned ride for most riding and the file like tread gives a very low rolling resistance for a tire of that width, yet with semi aggresive side "blocks", can handle most hard pack conditions as well. happy hunting.
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