Hi all, I got a bike a month or so ago and have been riding it around town with some friends a few times a week. Getting up to 16-ish miles a trip without feeling like I'm going to die. Me and a buddy are talking about riding to work and back everyday and my question is should I get different tires?

The ones i currently have are Mountain bike tires (I have a Schwinn Sidewinder 26") and while I can keep up with everyone just fine, he tells me it would be an easier ride if I had hybrid or road tires. The whole trip is on the street so maybe he's right, what do you guys think?

Also, I have another Schwinn sidewinder I've been fixing up and going to sell and the back rim seems to be slightly distorted. Any idea where I can buy rims online for a good price?

Finally, with Christmas getting near and me getting more serious about riding, I'm thinking of getting a better (lighter) bike and was wondering if anyone knew of a really good bike in the $200-400 range?