Since when are thinner tires 'more road friendly'?? One of the bikes I commute on is a modified Giant Seek hybrid with Schwalbe Marathon Supreme tires -700x50 in front and 700x40 in back. Some of the guys I work with have some 16 and 17 lb Cannondale and Giant carbon techno wonders equipped with DuraAce and 700x23 tires.

Ocassionally we'll ride together on the same commute and it surprises them that I have no issues keeping up to them. In fact one of them tried to drop me the other day and ... it didn't happen. We were riding into a headwind and his higher gearing was of no use - grunt power was all that counted.

The front suspension on that Roam is more of an issue than the tires, but slicks would be an improvement without dropping the size.