I am really digging these tires because not yet have I lost traction even on the slickest roads and tightest turns. And even with such good traction they ride just as smooth as my 27x1/4in tires on my road bike. They have preceeded my expectations and I will be purchasing another pair of these size 1.5 before I go on this trip. I have size 1.9 now but want to go with something a bit skinnier for the real ride (correct me if I am thinking wrong here unless it is personal opinion). If I do so I will put the wide tires on a monster fixie I plan to build from an old MTB frame.