Hey. I like this forum the best so I posted this general question here..


I understand having mudboggers, clodhoppers, aka mudtires on a pickup truck that can get stuck in mud.

But

On a Trek 820 or just a simple 'ride-around-town' cruiser, why not have slicks? Do knobby tires protect the rim when off the pavement?

I ask, because, I have this mountain bike yet there are no mountains pretty much in my whole state... I do possibly take slight curbs, ride through grass, some mud and dirt, cut-up in some gravel, etc, etc, but IMO nothing to justify a mud tire that will probably degrade most of my riding which is on pavement.

I have a road bike with near slick tires, so I am not thinking full slicks for a mountain bike, but possibly just a few grooves-not thornbird type knobs.......



I really doubt I can generate enough torque to spin the rear in mud or ride at the edge to tuck the front end around some sand in a curve......




I am referring to what I think are the stock Bontrager 26X2.00 LT3 tires.




Or is there even a benefit to be had by having road centric tires versus what appears to be a 50/50 blend? I typically ride under five miles at a time with this bike, so distance should not be a factor IMO......