jdowdy411

Shopping for new road friendly tires to put on my MTB that I use as a commuter. I like the Kenda K838, but I also like the Continental Comfort Contact and Sport Contact. Any recommendations on 26" road tires?

DX-MAN

Intense Micro Knobby. Michelin Country Dry rolls pavement pretty well, too, but if you want a more urban tire, look also at the Michelin City or the Michelin Country Rock. (Can you tell I like Mich's?)

Some actual 26" slicks:

Ritchey Tom Slick; Maxxis Xenith.

Look here: https://www.biketiresdirect.com/searc...20tx%2029%20do for good prices.

AusTexMurf

conti cruise contact

or

schwalbe big apples


However, wife loves her new conti city ride 2 tires. Look great, too.

Papa Tom

I like Specialized Nimbus. Been using them on my mountain bike since the early 2000's, when I started touring with it. Now I use them to commute.

Worknomore

I run Tioga city slickers. They are cheap and mine have last a long time. For 26's they come in 1.0 1.25 1.5 & 1.95. I run the 1.25's on my MTB.

https://www.tiogausa.com/city-slicker.html

rumrunn6

I put Maxxis Holy Rollers (BMX style) on my kids and my MTBs a few years back and we really enjoyed them for around the campground and paved bike trail. It was a real step up for us from the knobbies. But for regular paved riding I would go smoother. Can't see as how it matters much, whatever you can get your hands on. you'll be replacing the bike before long anyway when you realize the smooth tires on a MTB still aren't fast enough and the gearing on a MTB isn't appropriate for road riding.

azgreg

For the budget minded I have the Panaracer High Road V City Tire on one bike ($11.00) and the Geax Street Runner ($20.00) on another and am quit pleased with both.

Bill Kapaun

Fast enough for what?
I guess some people aren't aware that you can change gearing????

I've been pleased with these in 1.25"
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...et-runner-tire

Yo Spiff

I have Panaracer Paselas on my hybridized MTB. The standard version can be had for under $20 and the tourguard for about $5 more.

rumrunn6

good point Bill

alan s 

I'm as fast as or faster than most road bike commuters on an MTB with slicks. I really don't want to go any faster than I already do on crowded MUPs. Riding too fast starts getting a little dangerous. I get a better workout than the guy next to me on a road bike with skinny tires, which helps me meet one of my objectives...getting a great workout in the limited time available.

jdowdy411

I do want a road bike in the future, also need a new bike eventually since now I've become just slightly too tall for my current frame. But won't be able to buy one any time soon, so I'm just doing simple mods to improve this bike for the time being. I'm also pretty attached to this bike I have now; it was my first project bike (turned out way better than I expected) and replaced a beater hand-me-down MTB that I was using.

GuyWood

If you want to go off road occasionally, take a look at Conti Travelcontacts. I run 'em and love 'em .

fietsbob

Good Plan , get what you like , you need endorsement for your shopping decisions?

Dont Obsess over specifics *, just get a smoother tread tire , ask at your LBS.

* the I got this so its projected to be just the the thing for you, syndrome, is rampant on BF.

Bill Kapaun

Just because the LBS might have the size and type tire you want, doesn't mean it'll have the tire that best suits your purpose.

I've bought relatively inexpensive 28mm tires from my shop with a "Flat Protection System" (Serfas Seca's) Only tire I've had flats with and it was multiple times.
I've bought these in 26mm at a similar price and been VERY pleased with them-
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/produ...t-tire-folding

If someone is looking for a similar tire, I'm going to recommend them.
Ditto for the 26x1.25" I recommended in my previous post.

I try to support my LBS and buy a lot of stuff from them (first name basis) I could get on line, but pay a few $ extra to help keep them in business.
Tires (for me) just aren't one of the items I buy there.

droy45

I have been using the Nashbar Streetwise 1.5 with treadguard for extra flat protection and they wear very well. 2 years on them now (snow less part of the year)

dynaryder

Schwalbe Marathon Supremes are expensive,but worth every penny. Excellent traction in the wet,smooth rolling,zero flats,reflective sidewalls. Big Apples are good for comfort if you don't have suspension. Vittoria Randonneurs as also good,and cheaper than the Supremes.

gregjones

I got these $11 tires just to get my commuter rolling while trying to keep costs down. Everything is paid for and finally working great and new tires are in the budget. But, I haven't found any reason to replace the tires. As soon as they give me any trouble, they're gone. So far I've been surprised in a good way. I think I'm gonna try Michelin Wild Run 'R Light next.

Don't buy into any claims of "water dispersing channel grooves" or any nonsense like that. On a road bike tread does nothing except make the rider feel safe.

At least according to Michelin:
"The oval shape of a bicycle road tire contact patch permits effective water evacuation to help keep the tire from hydroplaning.The footprint of a 23mm tire (approx. 7 sq. cm) is so small that the bike would need to be traveling at about 120MPH in order to hydroplane.
Nevertheless, some road tire models are designed with specific tread structures – primarily for cosmetics or to comfort the consumer."

Best assortment of MTB commuter tires that I have found. Not that I endorse that site for purchase of any particular tire, there just happens to be quite a few in one spot to compare.

DX-MAN

As if your riding experience is the standard -- I've been commuting/utility riding on MTB for 15 years now, no desire or need to go to a roadie/touring/whatever bike. Keep the assumptions private, as in within your own cranium.

jdowdy411

Not looking for endorsement, jut recommendations. I'm just now getting into commuting and I've never used anything other than knobbies up to this point, so I just want a better feel for what's out there.

fietsbob

Go visit your Local Bike Shop , where you can hold them in your hands and feel & see the differences
between a $20 and a $60 tire.

hartphoto 

Just to throw another option out there.... I recently went through this decision, and ended up with the Schwalbe Kojaks. Bike is a heavily modded 2001 Gary Fisher Solstice (hybrid). Great tire, IMO...after about 5 months of daily use (kids to school, exercise/grocery getting/fun). Would buy them again.

I've had the Geaux option/brand mentioned above on another MTB 'conversion'. Not bad. Same for Kenda. Splurged a bit and went with Michelin City tires (couple years ago). Nice tires, grippy, bullet proof, but heavy.

Splurged again and went with the Kojaks (and put barely worn City slicks on our MTB style tandem), as the Kojaks were reviewed to be lighter (they are) and grippy (definitely grippy), and less harsh (cushy even) than the City tires. I always keep/kept my tires around 50-70 psi to avoid pinch flats (a small Clyde I am).

FWIW, I've somehow managed to have 'No Flat Pixie Dust' coming from my tire pumps most of my riding career....with all sorts of tires/tubes combinations.....I just don't have the flats and leaks or issues that some seem to have...(hurriedly finding a piece of wood to knock on). So, while I read about all the flat protection stuff...it's not been a big consideration for me (but I do carry pump and patches).

As mentioned, go visit LBS if you have one that has a big selection...you can definitely see/feel the difference in the Kenda tires ($), to the Michelins ($$), and then the Schwalbes ($$+).

Hope this helps.

awfulwaffle 

Kenda Kwick Trax have never done me wrong, and I've got 4000 miles on my set. Tread's a little absent in the center so they could probably use replacing, but for $17 a tire at the LBS I think they're a great value.

Astrozombie

That's funny, so grooves aren't necessary other than to make the customer feel better? But making the contact patch smaller (with grooves) actually makes them a little less functional no? Ironic?

Like Apple having to make the "random play mode" less random on the ipod because people think the same song coming up twice in a row isn't "random".........

hilltowner

+1 on Schwalbe. I use an older Marathon that takes 100 psi and have been happy with that. Not as expensive as the Supreme. The Green Guard would be the closest to that now. I'm going to replace them (probably with the G.G.) in the spring when I switch back from the studded Marathon Winters I run during ice season.