Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 5,974
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Nishiki Blazer, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
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A few years ago I switched the tires on my MTB-based commuter from sturdy but slim(ish) 26x1.25 road tires to fat, but light and supple WTB 26x1.85 slicks. The change was amazing! I picked up 1 mph average speed.
More recently I swapped out some old, stiff (but smooth) 20x1.75 tires on my folding bike to lighter, more supple 20x1.75 Schwalbe Marathon tires (not the heavier sturdier Marathon Plus version) and gained 2 mph average speed.
Also a few years ago I ditched the light, supple Kenda Small Block 8 "micro knobby" tires for slightly less supple Forte Metro ST smooth road tires from Performance bike and gained almost 1 mph average speed.
Also on my MTB-based commuter, my soft but sturdy Suomi Nokian W-109 studded snow tires yield average speeds 2mph less than the WTB slicks (although the studded Nokians are decidely faster in snow and ice than the big smoothies...lol).
So tires can definitely make a difference in performance, as well as feel and comfort. And the older I get, the more I value feel and comfort over speed.