Bekologist

Who's found some fast 29er tires suitable for riding long road trips to get to hardpack and back?

I like the feel in the shops of the folding specialized tires as they seem quite supple like faster road tires , but have no input on which low profile 29er tires are actually fast.

Thanks.

Lexi01

I've been wondering about this as well...I quite often ride 20ish kms to some single track do a few runs and ride home.

I haven't found a tire that can give me enough grip on the dirt/rocks and not massively slow me down on the road to/from the park.

I don't reckon they exist.

Dannihilator

It's called a cyclocross bike.

adclark

Or at least cyclocross tires. I have taken my cross bike over some pretty rough single track though . My Maxxis Mud Wrestler tires are a fairly aggressive tread for a cross tire so they get better grip in wet conditions if that is a concern. They aren't real fast on the road but they are better than a full on mountain tire IMO.

Bekologist

A cyclocross bike? I'm not sure what those are.


Dec. 2012 Gorgeous bike ride

There's a lot of sand where i live and a regular ol' cross bike usually doesn't cut it. That bike is running Panaracer T-Serv street tires, by the way.

I'm building up a diamond frame supermonstercross bike that will take up to 2.4" tires that needs some fast, low profile skids.

I didn't want to run the Schwalbe big apples so was hoping there was another 29er tire out there, maybe a tire with low tread and a continuous center treadline for pavement, maybe like the 80's hybrid mountain bike tires?

Any input on a fast 29'er tire would be appreciated. I'm looking for tires that break the cross barrier and are in 29er territory.

Grimlock

Conti GP4000. Fast-rolling, light and grippy on paved roads. They even come in a 25c!

But seriously, Conti Cityride used to be made in a 47c.

ColinL

There are definitely some fast-rolling, trail-worthy 29er tires without having to go to a cyclocross tire. I have ridden my cx bike and MTB plenty on the streets the last ~6 weeks.

Schwalbe Racing Ralph - mucho bucks and short life, but roll fantastically on any surface and grip well on hardpack.
Geax AKA - rolls great, also a hardpack tire, better life, heavier than Schwalbe RaRa, much cheaper
Geax Saguaro - rolls very well, better traction than either of the above on trails, same price as AKA, wears like freaking iron (and yes, it still grips!)

seat_boy

I like a WTB Vulpine rear/Nanoraptor front combo. That seems to roll pretty well on the pavement, and is good on non-muddy trails.

Lexi01

Not really the best solution.

I used to use some 35mm racing ralphs and although they were fast on the roads they can't come close to a set of 2.25" rocket rons on the singletrack.