I had this same thing come up. I ended up sticking with my mtb as a commuter but fitted her with a rack, fenders and I didn't like the slicks that were available to me. I ended up with a kevlar banded something from ...forte....continental....randys. I don't know but I haven't looked back. It was an inverted tread that is 1.5... Select Invert from Bontrager with kevlar. That's them. I'm not racing to work. I get the speed I need with the ability to hit bumps and not stress. I have a road bike now and would NEVER try to make that commute. SOOOO, yah.