Originally Posted by
NormanF
Schwalbe Big Apple 26 X 2.0 will make a huge difference in riding comfort and you can ride fast compared to knobbies.
I'm going to take that a step further and suggest that you consider the 26" X 3.5" Big Apple, if it will fit your frame. I rode my old GT Outpost MTB on semi-slick Specialized Nimbus 1.5's for a while, but then I decided to try these fatboys. I wasn't impressed at first, but now I don't think I would ever go back to narrow tires for either commuting or touring. They run about $45-50 each, though, so be sure this is the direction you want to go before investing.
I also agree with the suggestion to go to a rigid fork. In my opinion, suspension ANYWHERE on the bike turns everything to jelly and takes all the power out of each pedal stroke.