Originally Posted by HTupolev

How chunky are the trails you're riding, and how often are you getting flats? On 2" tires, the sidewalls aren't very exposed to the riding surface unless it gets pretty rough... the casing on my Rat Trap Pass ELs is some of the thinnest out there on a 26er, and while they show signs of being roughed up a little, so far I've never had to stop on a gravel ride to fix a cut or puncture on them off pavement.

If you want to try a supple slick but want something cheaper than the Rene Herse tires, the Panaracer Pasela is a good option. They're available in 26x1.75".


Gator Hardshell is a more lightly-constructed tire, but it's not available in 26". Marathon Plus is available in 26". If my goal was to achieve a fast and plush ride, I would avoid both of them, especially the Marathon Plus.