BobbyG

After last week's blowout I inspected the street tires on my commuter/utility bike, and decided new tires were in order 20 years ago I believe it came with 26x1.95 knobbies. Then I tried 26x2.25 hybrid knobbies (horrible cornering), before a succession of 1x1.5 and 1x1.65 street tires althoughwith mildly aggressive tread. Of course for the last two winter's this bike gets the 1.65 Suomi Nokian studded snow and ice ties. This morning I mounted a new pair of 26x1.85 slicks. What appealed to me were the rounded shoulders and supple sidewalls. Since my number one commuter recently got 700x32 Continental touring 2 tires which are really more like 28s and very firm (although sticky), I thought I would put something a little more cushy on this bike

they really fill out the fenders and even at their 65 PSI Max, they seemed comfortable on the up and down the block run through. Sometime in the next week I will ride it to work and see how that goes. Of course I have mr. Tuffy Tire liners to protect them from Colorado's ubiquitous goat head thorns.

canklecat

I've been very satisfied with the Conti SpeedRides on my hybridized mountain bike for all around pedaling. And Michelin Protek Cross Max on my errand bike.

But after seeing a friend's gravel grinder fitted with some fat new shoes -- Schwalbe Big Ones -- I'm having tire envy. Balloon tires with just enough tread where needed, not enough to slow ya down, and weigh less than 500 gm each. Rolling resistance is supposedly the lowest of any mountain bike type tire.

I keep looking at my Univega Via Carisma trying to figure out how to make the Big Ones fit. Front, no problem. Rear, the front derail cable clamp bolt would get in the way. I'd need a different bolt, derailer, or switch to a double instead of triple chain ring.

JReade

Or do a 1x setup. I have a 1x6(?) on my commuter bike, and when it's loaded down, there are only a handful of times that I wish I had a lower gear. It's 42t up front. All I did was pull the big ring off, get the chain line about right, and then use single speed chainring bolts to firm it all up.

alan s 

I like them big and bouncy, too. Tires, that is.

Craptacular8

Could also try Compass Rat Trap Pass 2.35" They are 454g in standard casing or 418 in extra lite. They also offer a 1.8" if clearance is an issue, also two casing choices 350/300 grams. Almost wish I had a 26" to try them out on. I just put the Jon Bon Pass 700x35 on another bike with the extra light casing, love the ride. Very smooth and fast rolling.

canklecat

I'll probably stick with the Conti SpeedRides on the Univega. They're really good tires for the money, great compromise between grip on dry grass and gravel, smooth rolling on pavement and comfort at 50-60 psi. No problems with clearance. And I really can't give up the triple. On my longer hilly rides I use the full 3x7 gear range. There are a few short but steep 10%-15% grades where I need the 30/28 combo on days when my legs are dead. Wouldn't want to be limited to one chain ring or even a double.

But I'm browsing the used ads for another good but inexpensive bike that already has enough clearance for fatter tires.

TenSpeedV2

I don't mean this in a bad way, but is there anything that you don't have mounted to that bike?

mcours2006

He doesn't have a kitchen sink.

KLiNCK

Same here - how much does your bike weigh kitted out like that?

BobbyG